Back To Work, Back To Reality

Just like the old CNA advert, “back to school, back to reality”, going back to work has released the same sort of sentiments for me.  I returned to work on 25 November after a full 4 month holiday!  You’re probably thinking, “Holiday”?  She has 2 kids under 2, how the heck can that be a holiday?  Well I was soooo blessed to have had Seth working from home the entire time that I was on leave, an awesome way for all of us to bond as our new little family plus the girls are actually so good (in spite of my all-to-frequent moans on Facebook – overall they are fantastic – it’s me that is often to selfish/silly/ignorant/sinful to always realise that).

As usual, going back to work has provoked many thoughts, most of them containing some sense of regret that I will be missing out on my kids growing up.  I must say that we have worked every angle (to the shock and horror of my boss I’m sure) to try and get me to be a stay at home Mom, however it just isn’t possible.  I’m not going to elaborate on this, though I know a lot of SAHM’s that have given up lots for them to be home and are probably thinking we should too.  All you need to know is that we have prayerfully considered this option for almost the full 4 months, and on and off since Kyla’s birth, so it’s not just a decision that we are making on our own.  I could write a whole blog on my thoughts on this, but you’d be bored and so would I.  Thankfully we have been truly blessed with Grandparents!  Seth’s Mom a.k.a GrandMaMa has volunteered to look after both girls 4 days a week!  We are so privileged that our kids can be looked after by someone that truly loves them and has their best interests at heart, and most importantly who loves Jesus!!

There have been a few good things coming out of going back to work (besides a salary).  It’s really nice to have adult conversation that doesn’t revolve around how many times my kid vomited on me or the texture of her poo.  Although I love talking with other Mommies about these things (weirdly enough – but you learn lots that way), I was feeling like that was all that I could converse about…  Making for boring conversation with those without kids.  Another good thing is that I am only working half days, so I get the “best of both worlds”, a “full” salary and time to see and be with my kids growing up.

Obviously there are negatives, not being there to see every new thing that Kyla or Riya do the first time they do it, having to get properly up early in the morning and not being able to laze in our PJ’s longer than normal if it’s been a bad night or just plain missing them!  But the real reason for the blog – another negative means that blogging has taken a back seat of note, time at home with the girls has become precious again and not just taken for granted, as it so easily can be.  A true testament to this is that I originally wrote this blog about 2 days after I went back to work and just never posted it.

One thing to celebrate though, is that I still have all my annual leave to take, so I will be off from the 24th until the 10th!  YAY!  So much to do in this time, meet little Elijah David Pitt, spend time with Mia and Ben and just make the most of being with the girls again.

So in case we don’t get around to saying it before it happens

Have a wonderful CHRISTmas, where we can celebrate that God sent His only Son to die for us, so that we can come to know Him as our Saviour and spend eternity with Him in heaven.