Slice of my day

This should give you some indication of the kind of day I had ...

In the span of about 20 minutes ...

I woke NHV from her nap.  Not something I like to do, but I can't let her sleep much past 4:30 for fear of totally messing with her bedtime.

As soon as I opened the door, I knew something was amiss ... the smell that greeted me was of the number two variety.  This is unusual but understandable considering the potty training success we've been having for the past week ... 

And so, I grabbed a handful of wipes and went about the business of cleaning up the mess that had been festering for a three-hour nap.  As if waking her up didn't make her grumpy enough, this little task was made even more delightful by constant whining and thrashing about.

During this time ... about two minutes in ... CJV woke up from her nap.  Thankfully she was patient enough to allow me to bag the stinky diaper, put a pair of panties and pants on NHV, and wash my hands before going to get her.

However NHV did not intend to be nearly as patient when waiting for her post-nap "saaa-nack" and "geeenk."  So I hauled CJV downstairs, poured juice one-handed and grabbed a few graham crackers.  Stomped back upstairs to my awaiting, now less grumpy, and more appreciative toddler.

CJV was starting to squirm pretty hard-core by this point.  She was all like, "Yo, mama, where's the milk truck?  I'm starving over here!"

Plopped down in the glider and got to the business of nursing.  In the meantime, NHV was just outside the nursery playing in her kitchen.  I couldn't see her, but I could hear her banging pots and pans, talking to herself, and having a great time.  And then, it got quiet.  Too quiet.  Followed by the dreaded, "Uh-oh,"  that could only mean she peed in her pants.

Still nursing, but knowing that Natalie would freak out about the wet pants, I asked her if she could take off her pants and panties.  A tiny struggle ensued and then I saw a streak of naked booty flash by the door.  A naked Natalie is a happy Natalie ... whatever, I've got to finish feeding the baby.

Then I hear Natalie say, "Oh, I know.  I get a wipe."  She wanted to clean up the mess on the floor.  I felt a glimmer a pride and even cracked a tiny smile.

Once CJV was finished eating, I changed her diaper, put her under the mobile and went to get clean clothes for Natalie.  As I entered the hallway, I quickly assessed the damage.  Saw a small wet spot that she'd wiped up herself.  And then, did a double-take as a brown clump caught my eye.  Oh no, she didn't!  Except yes, yes, she did!  

I know she didn't purposefully poo on the floor.  I am guessing it was in her panties when I suggested she take them off ... in the hopes of avoiding a meltdown about being in wet pants.  Which technically - in some perverse way - makes it my fault, right?

Yep, the life of a SAHM.  Glamorous?  Not so much.  Interesting?  Sure.  Entertaining?  Always!

I am so glad it's the weekend, and CPV will be home for the next three days.  This mama needs a b-r-e-a-k!

That Excites Me Just Fine!

Teaching was my thing. For 10+ years I was a teacher, and I was good at it. I was good at it because I loved what I was doing. I had a passion for it. I also worked more hours than was expected or necessary. It was a job I couldn't leave in the classroom. It - including a stack of papers to grade - came home with me each and every day and on the weekends. I thought about lesson plans and behavior problems and how to reach that one kid and ... in a lot of ways, it consumed me.

Now, being a mom is my thing. I am so, so fortunate to be able to stay-at-home with my two girls. Honestly, I don't think I am capable of teaching and being a mom to little ones. It's just more than I can handle. I would feel pulled in two directions, and there would certainly not be enough hours in the day. I tried having a foot in both worlds. I taught part-time after NHV turned a year old. I only worked two days a week, and I had the ideal daycare situation. But I wasn't happy. Work still followed me home. And I wasn't the awesome teacher that I knew I could be. My heart just wasn't in it.

Being a mom suits me. We go to the library and playdates and run errands. I even occasionally manage some meal planning and a few household chores. I adore watching the girls grow and learn and change right before my eyes. The thought of missing a moment doesn't sit well with me.  However, there are days when complacency settles in ... and I just get by.

On those days, I have this sneaking suspicion that something was missing. I needed to feel passionately about something. I needed an outlet for my energies and my writing. I added a second blog with plans for a third, and that helped some. I was still looking for a challenge. And that's when Macaroni Kid came into my life ... well, actually, I was first introduced about a year ago, but I wasn't ready then.

I've been a Publishing Mom for 4 weeks.  Working with my best friend.  Writing for a national brand / website.  Building a community resource for moms like us and their families.  Four weeks ago, we planted a seed and now we are watching it grow.  Our fourth Broomfield Macaroni Kid newsletter publishes today.   I am so proud of what we are doing.  This is the something I was looking for.  I feel energized - despite acute lack of sleep ;)  I feel purposeful - like a piece of a bigger picture.  I feel like I can have a little bit of "it all."  I am still a stay-at-home mom, first and foremost, but I am also a Publishing Mom, and that is a title that suits  excites me just fine!

Inspiration for this post: My good friend from college is here visiting for the next few days.  After the kiddos were in bed, I started talking to her about Macaroni Kid and it just hit me ... I am loving it!  I want other moms to know that this opportunity exists.  That it is manageable - even with little kids.  You can work during naptimes and a few nights a week and produce a quality newsletter / website.  You can network with other moms.  You can make connections in your community.  You can reap the benefits of promoting events and businesses.  Anyway, I tired to fall asleep - at a decent hour tonight - but these thoughts kept swirling around and banging up against my brain ... and this is where I go when that happens.