I started working again last week. More or less, I have been out of the work-force since late 1998, when my daughter was born. For those, like me, who are math impaired...that's nine years.

Don't get me wrong, I've kept pretty busy with my two preemie kids. For awhile, my son's therapy, doctor's appointments, insurance hassles and healthcare needs were a full-time job. But now, he's five and in preschool. He even eats lunch there. He doesn't need me so much anymore.

My daughter has become little Miss Self-Sufficient lately. I woke the other day to find her in the kitchen packing her lunch for school. Little does she know, her chore list is about to get a lot longer. Momma's gonna need a hand.

That leads me to the real purpose of this post. I have always given accolades to working Moms and Dads (to the youngsters in the house...that means something like mad props). But, I was short-changing them by saying things like, "I don't know how you do it". I should've been saying, "You are amazing because you do it". People who have something left to give to their kids when they have been working all day...well quite frankly, that's just unbelievable...and at this point, it baffles me.

I'm still trying to find out how it works, how you juggle all these responsibilities. But, I'm excited and ready for the challenge. I want my children to know that you need to be determined and keep your nose to the grindstone. I want them to see that you can have your cake and eat it too. That you can be a successful employee, a caring Mom, a great friend, and still have time to take care of yourself!

Either that, or I'll show them that if you bite off more than you can chew, you end up choking and falling over dead. Guess we'll just have to wait and see.

Labels: Family Life, Ramblings