…has changed. Changed for the better? Changed for the Worse? Neither really it’s just changed. It’s very different around these parts now that I’ve re-entered the working world after being a stay-at-home mama for 7 years.
I knew when I left the classroom 7 years ago to raise my children that it was the right decision. I never looked back. Well, there were those occasional days when I was dealing with the 5th meltdown of the day that I thought to myself, “Why did I stay home for this?” But like everything that was just a phase, one day of 7 great years of being at home with my two precious babies.
The day came and the opportunity arose for me to just step back in the classroom. I just slipped right in like I had never left. Ha! Well, let’s be honest…it’s NEVER that way. To tell you the truth, the first few weeks were a breeze. It was like I never left, like I had being a full-time working mama all this time. Then Wham, the reality set in and right then and there I knew that life was different. A dear friend of mine went back to work last year. She in some weird way had the same kind of situation happen to her. A door opened and in she walked back into the working world…easy as pie. I remember sitting on the playground one afternoon and her telling me how at different times everyone in her family had this “freak out” moment (or week) where at some particular moment they realized “Mama was no longer home all day, and Whoa what a change. I can’t handle this.” We laughed at how each person reacted to their freak out moment and how they got through it. Well friends, it does exist…the freak out moments from every family member when mama is no longer home all day. I think even our fish had a freak out moment because he wasn’t getting fed like he’s used to. Like everything else we worked through each moment and we are all still alive and well. All body parts are still attached and there are full bellies at the end of the night. We are surviving.
Our life just looks different. I shop and do laundry on the weekends. We have a lot of leftovers and crockpot meals. And sometimes I don’t get anything made before I’m running out the door and we either eat cereal or have take out…and guess what? We’re still living. On those nights when I don’t get a meal made and we’re eating out of a bag or a box and I think I’m a failure and I’m not sure I can do this, I have to remind myself…I am certainly not the first stay-at-home mama to return to full time work and there are many mamas who don’t stay home and work full time. They survive. They can do it…so can I. One (or three) cereal night meals or take out won’t hurt us. Is it my ideal supper, no, but I’m surviving. I’m getting used to this new life I have and it is quite ok, in fact all is good. Yes, I still have my freak out moments where I’m a crying lunatic babbling about how I don’t know how all will get done around the house, or the endless school work. But it does. Somehow, someway it all gets done. And we survive.
People ask me all the time how it has been going back. My answer…It’s an adjustment. On one hand I absolutely LOVE being back in the classroom. I love my class. I love love love my team. I love having a job. I love making a little money and being able to contribute (just a little), but that goes and in hand with whoa this is a huge adjustment. There are so many things I miss about my old every day life. I miss having coffee and catching up with all my friends. I miss being able to call my best friend 3 times a day just to chat. I MISS THE GYM. I miss sewing and crafting and blogging. However, life now is great, just different. The kids are at school with me. We’re on the same track so we’re always together. I love that. The school work does get done and only because I have the best team on the planet. Without them I don’t know if I could do this…well, maybe I could but it sure as heck wouldn’t be as much fun. I have the most awesome husband who is so supportive of me. He hugs me and tells me everything will work out. He’s so patient with me and my rants, and he is always game for cereal for supper. He is wonderful.
Yes, life is very different these days and much has changed around here, but I will be completely honest and say I wouldn’t change it for the world. I miss my friends. I miss my “me” time, but I am so happy to be doing something I was put on this earth to do…teach!
