“It’s the most wonderful time of the year.” Remember that commercial for Staples office supplies… referring to the beginning of the school year? Well that is exactly how I feel right now. With all my kids back in school–and the baby started Kindergarten, sniff, sniff–I feel positively liberated!
Many people have said to me, with regard to the baby starting Kindergarden, “Wow, now you are finally free! No more kids at home!” But the truth is, as a working mom, having all the kids in school does not change my life all that much in terms of my schedule. I still go to work each day, and most days I try to leave in time to pick up the kids from school around 3:15.
The big difference now that all the kids are in school for the full day is that I no longer feel guilty about working. Not that I had reason to feel guilty before, of course, but I did anyway. Doesn’t every working mom feel a little bit guilty, deep down on some level, even if, like me, you know you are doing the right thing for yourself and for your family by working?
So I feel liberated, but let me be clear what I am liberated from: GUILT!
I hear you!! I feel the same way only I can’t leave to pick him up most days! I miss him so too.
Thought you might get a kick out of something I wrote about that Staples commercial and the kids going back to school. Check it out here: http://www.jackiepapandrew.com/mostwonderful.html
I have learned after going thru a terrible tragedy of seeing my best friend die in a car wreck in front of me on our way home from one of 2 vacations together (she made time for me since I was diagnosed with cancer) that not everything that can be counted, counts and not everything that counts can be counted (Einstein). We need to remember to count the memories, not the mistakes!! Grace and Peace!