Cuter than when I dropped him off

Last week I went "back to work" (if you can call working one day a week "back to work") I am tutoring at a Home School Co-op. I am tutoring Alg. 1, Alg. 2, and Advanced Math. It is the perfect job for me right now. I only work 4.5 hours a week. I get to teach math and there is FREE daycare for my son. It all sounded so great to me until I had to drop off my Little King at the daycare.

The daycare is great. The people who run are good. That was not the problem. I was the problem. I did not want to leave my son for 4.5 hours. I had never left him with anyone for that long. As I drove closer and closer to work the more and more I got nervous, and sad. But I sucked it up and went to the nursery and dropped him off. He waved and said "bub-bye" to me as I walked out the door. I walked quickly to my room to set up for the first class (can you call 9 students a class?) I didn't look back, I knew if I did I would be right back in the nursery! So, I started to teach. Time went by pretty quickly as I got back into my teacher role. But, I was SO SO SO SO SO excited to go and pick up my Little King at the end of my teaching time. When I entered the nursery, I couldn't believe it. I don't know how it happened but...

My son had, some how, gotten cuter in the last 4.5 hours. I didn't think that was possible, but he was so ADORABLE! I just wanted to eat him up, kiss and snuggle him! So, I did! And he loved it!

When I told my friend, Joy this story she said: "I know what you mean, coming home to my kids is like coming home to a present every day! I am always so excited to see them!"

It is totally true what they say: Absence makes the heart grow fonder.

Home Remedies

I think I am the lone working mom of our little Motley Moms blog. Working outside the home, that is. I am a teacher at a local high school and interestingly enough I teach parenting courses. Officially called Parenting Skills and Child Development.

One assignment that I give during my course is to research a childhood sickness or disease. All of my students pick an ailment out of a hat and then they have to find out what to do about it. I give them the American Academy of Pediatrics book, Dr. Spock's Childcare Guide (an oldy but a goody), the Internet (don't you just love WebMD?), and I make them ask their mother. Isn't that what we do? We call our mom's when we aren't sure what to do.

This last on is what I really love. I am always amazed. On teething, one mother told her child to put an egg in a sock and hang it from the doorknob, another recommended giving the baby a clothespin to chew on. For rashes, rub the baby's feet with Ivory soap. For cradle cap, use lard or Crisco if you don't have lard. Babies with colic need hot water from a bottle.

I always love when I ask my mom something and she says, "Let's ask Mimi [my grandmother], she's a nurse!" I am then compelled to remind her that she was a nurse during WORLD WAR II. I have a feeling that science and health care may have change a little since then. I still ask her, though.

And if you happen to stop by my house, don't worry about that sock hanging from the front door, the baby is teething right now.

Tell me about your home remedies! I'd just love to know.

Dumping the Working Mommy Guilt

I work. Not only at being a wife and mother. I work outside the home. I am a school teacher in my working life. Ever since the birth of my daughter three years ago, I have been consumed with guilt because of this. I don’t stay home with her. I go to work and she goes to childcare. We have a recent addition to our family, the King of the Jungle, and he will go to childcare next week with THE Princess, as school resumes for teachers.

I have heard or have been told all of following regarding working:


“Working moms aren’t willing to put their children first.”

“You must want too many worldly possessions.”

“You aren’t willing to sacrifice for the good of your children.”

“You are leaving your child to be raised by strangers.”

“Single moms have to work, but married mothers should be willing to stay home.”

“You can’t have great kids if you work, since you aren’t with them all the time.”

“How can you possibly do everything well? You are to busy for that.”

“Good mothers stay home with their children.”

“Oh, you won’t be able to do [insert activity] with us, you work.”

“What kind of children do you expect to raise?”

“Your child is so well behaved, you must stay at home.”


I could go on. Seriously.

Most of the time, I try to disregard the comments. I smile and don’t answer the questions. I change the subject. I suddenly remember that I have a phone call to make or an errand to run. I sometimes think of a very sarcastic response, but don’t have the nerve to say it or it’s later that evening and the opportunity has passed.

I work for many reasons. I work because as a family, we have goals, financial and otherwise. There are some circumstances beyond our control. And, it feels good to do something OTHER than mommying sometimes. I like being good at what I do. However, I know and my kids know that no matter where I am or what I am doing, I would rather be with them. They are my most important things.

I have had to give up things, too. I can’t do everything I want to do. I can’t do everything as perfectly as I would like. I can’t be part of everything I am interested in. All I can do it try. Give it my best shot. I decided that was okay about a year ago and dumped the mommy guilt. I love my kids and they know it.

And guess what? I would stack my kids up against any kids out there. They are as smart, as fun, as good natured, as polite, and as creative as many others with moms who stay home and moms that don’t. I have plenty of other things to feel guilty about, like, most recently, how often I slathered THE Princess in baby lotion or not sanitizing the paci after it hits the floor. Bring it on.