My darling daughter Becky is back to work after a year's maternity leave. Her transition back to work and Emma to daycare has gone quite smoothly but it did bring back memories of having to go to work while my children were still small.
Six weeks after boy wonder was born I started a new job at the area hospital. Because I was a new employee, I had to work full time for the first six weeks on the day shift. Finding daycare for a newborn, 2-year-old, and 4 year old was quite a challenge as we only had one car at that time.
We finally found a sweet young girl who agreed to care for the children in her home for the six weeks orientation.
I had to be at the hospital at 6:45 so it meant getting up at 5 am to shower, dress, and gather up the clothing, shoes, diaper bag, cereal, and lunches for the children. We would put the sleeping children in the car and take them off to the babysitter. Then there was the transfer of children followed by Mr. Wonderful dropping me off for the day shift.
He would go on to work and take a late lunch to go pick me up from work.
I would drive him back to work while he ate his lunch in the car and then go after the children. By the time I had transferred everyone back into the car seats and strapped everyone in, it would be time to go pick up Mr. Wonderful from work. It was hard on all of us but the only way we could juggle our commitments.
The children were grumpy when we transferred them from their nice warm bed into the cold car. One day I forgot to pack their shoes so the girls were very upset with me as they had to stay inside all day. Children adjust so quickly that I really thought they didn't mind all the shuffling around we were having to do. They liked the babysitter and although I felt stressed trying to nurse the baby, work, keep up with the home front I really thought that the girls handle the transition better than I did. One morning as we began the "into the car shuffle" very sleepy Becky looked up at me in her pink-footed pajamas and in the wisdom of a veteran 4-year-old said, "Let's not go to work today, OK Mom?" That's when it dawned on me....they felt they were working too.
Those six weeks were some of the longest days of my life but it helped to know we were all working together.
5 comments:
Your kids came through your day shift days as strong and loving children and great adults...I really liked nights , when I came home in the morning, I was there to feed my kids and get them to school, I could sleep all day then pick them up from school.. cook dinner..and get a short nap if I had to work that night. I would split my nights up and this life style worked for hubby and me..It was easier for me because I did not work until they went to school..
Take care my friend... hugs. Baba
I feel for mother's who have to leave their young children so they can return to work. Fortunately, I didn't have to leave mine until they were in late grade school. Even then it was hard.
Oh my ! your story brought back old memories and I only had one child ! Today I admire myself when I look back and think that it is amazing how I could handle everything together, work, child, housebuilding, moving etc. Today I fall into pieces if my cleaning women takes 2 weeks holidays, lol !
Amanda, Krysti & Derek never had to go through this... But Mathew - from 6 weeks old had to -- and even AT 6 weeks old, he HATED it! That boy has always hated being woken up in the morning!!! It WAS work to him, for sure!!! And it actually caused ME a nervous breakdown... I really DO admire families - and especially the women - who can MAKE THIS WORK! Kudos to you!
Prayers for Derek please today - he's got 'stuff' happening.
I know staying home is a blessing...but I also know that kids from homes where the parents worked don't seem to be any "worse off"...in fact, they are often more adaptable when we get them at school...I love Becky's comment!
:-) Susan
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