To work or not to work?

Ok, so after the birth of my son last summer, I initially went back to work for a few months. I felt sure that I could keep all of the balls in the air and still hang on to my sanity. Well, I was wrong. So, after being back in the office for a while, I gave my notice.

That was in November. Booger is 1 year old now, and, well, people keep trying to drag me back to the work force. I've had a few really good offers for jobs from people that I know in my field. I am super-flattered about it, because it makes me feel as though people have admired the work I've done in the past.

But each time one of these offers comes in, I'm forced to re-evaluate my decision once again. Do I want to return to work? In some ways, I really miss my professional life. But in other ways, I am loathe to re-join the 9 to 5 world.

Here's where I am right now - I have had a potential employer show some fairly serious interest in me. I believe in the organization, and I am familiar with it. It's a job with good benefits, salary, and vacation time. But they'd want me to start as soon as possible. AND the job involves a not-fun commute for me, which is practically heresy in this time of insane gas prices.

I'd really like to stay home full time until at least January. Booger would be 18 months by then, and the craziness of the holidays would be over. (Plus, I'd really love to spend the holiday season decorating, and shopping for presents, and making cookies, and actually ENJOYING doing all those holiday things that I'm always rushing against the clock to do.) Also, I really need that time to find a daycare situation that I'm comfortable with. (No luck so far.) I figured that I'd scout for the next few months and maybe find something by the new year.

Lastly, if this kid is going to be my one and only (and I think he is), do I want to go back to work before I'm completely ready? And by the same token, will I EVER be completely ready?

So what's a girl to do? HELP! I need advice! Hubs and I have discussed this, and right now, we are leaning towards declining this latest potential offer. (I guess I should mention that we have been carefully budgeting and are in no financial crisis, etc. This decision hinges purely on what we want/think we should do.) What do you think?

Jack of All Trades

After breaking some Christmas Lights in my office, I sought help from our wonderful vacuum cleaner. To my surprise, it just wasn't doing the job. After some investigation, I found out that the soccer pro had sucked up a sock. When he discovered that he had sucked up a sock , he decided to put the vacuum neatly away...as if nothing had happened. Completely frustrated, I decided to remove the sock. Starting off the usual way... I used a wire hanger...NOPE, that won't work. Turns out he sucked up one of the princess's socks, which had been neatly folded together. (I am still wondering how this happened.) Then I tried a bar that came with our washer. It worked some of the way. Then I tried our broom, which pushed it further. Next, I tried the rake. I was praying not to get a splinter because it is sooo old. That really worked, but it only pushed it to the opening, where it appeared to be indefinitely stuck. Consequently, I had to disassemble the vacuum cleaner, praying once again that I remember where the screws went in. Even that didn't work. I had to dig a sock out with a screw driver. It was a lot of work. But, I finally removed the sock. Now, putting the vacuum back together is another story.

Children with Asthma

This morning as I was bathing my youngest. I heard him wheezing, and I almost panicked. He has asthma, but we haven't had any problems, since he was released from home health in April. After the bath, I set him up for his medicine. A funny thing is he is wayyyyy to big for his old car seat. His little feet were hanging over. Anyway, now that he is older, it was a wrestling match to get his mask on. I felt so bad. How can you feel bad for doing something that can potentially save his life? Anyway, once I turned it on. It was apparent that he needed it because he stopped fighting. I am so afraid that he will start having problems again. It's so sad to see him having difficulty sometimes breathing. Being the paranoid mother that I am, I will have to watch him closely.

Chores

At the beginning of the summer, I prepared a list of chores for my soccer pro to do. Now the rest of the crew wants to participate. As the soccer pro drags the garbage to the street, the princess is right next to him. When he is vacuuming with the hose, the baby is pushing the vacuum. It is nice to see them want to do chores at such a young age. It has helped me have a less hectic day.

What's Your Motivation?

I haven't been really active on the site this month. My plate is beginning to overflow with so much. From being a mother, online MFA student, finishing MA thesis, working image consulting business, recruiting for Mary Kay team, being a homemaker, and being a wife, I am find that my time is so limited. I never thought being so busy could get so hectic. No matter how stressed I am, I can always envision the future. I am just hoping I am setting an example for my children to strive to do their best. I want them to understand that your life is what you make it. I have often been referred to as an overachiever. However, I don't feel that I am. At the moment, I am somewhat young and I believe that I need to continue to work hard to reach the goals I have set. My children and family work as my motivator to continue to succeed. What is your motivation?

What's your dream

A loooong time ago, I went to one of those Franklin Covey Day Planner conferences. (My boss at the time was a Franklin addict. He made us all get one of these planners, and we were supposed to use them religiously. Surprisingly, they work. I still use one today.) Anyway, during one part of the program (which was all about time management), the speaker told us to all write down what we'd do if time and money were no object, i.e. if we had all the time/money in the world. We wrote these things down, folded the piece of paper, and left it on our desks during the bathroom break. When we came back, our papers were gone, and they had this inspirational music playing. Then, one by one, the speaker reached into his box, pulled out each one of our "dreams," and read them aloud.

Now, I am pretty dang cynical (and after returning from break to find my "dream" gone, I was more than a little peeved), but I actually got a little misty as this too-tan guy with the too-white teeth was reading out loud all of the secret hopes and dreams of everyone in attendance. Of course, they were anonymously presented, but it definitely affected me to look around the room, at all of us average Joes, as the guy was reading out stuff like, "Go back to school to study art history," "Work at a winery in Italy," "Backpack across South America," etc.

And I started thinking, "Why the heck aren't we trying to do the things we want to do? What's keeping us from doing them?" Cheesy though it may sound, this experience, and the sudden death of one of my high school friends (a whole 'nother story), has been a major impetus for me to go to grad school and travel more, for me to look at opportunities and ask myself what I really WANT to do (i.e. what will make me happy) and what I feel only obligated to do.

If time and money were no object, what would you do? If only TIME were no object, what would you do? And if you work backwards from what you want, is it possible to start working towards it right now, even in a small way?

Awake at 3:30 am Sleep at 5 am Alarm at 6:30 am

Jakie went to sleep on time. Never would I have thought that at 3:30 we would have middle of the night session. Not normal for him, I was completely shocked. Trying to ignore him and closing my eyes didn't work. Nursing him didn't work. So for almost two hours, I dealt with him jumping on me and pulling my hair. Today, I did intense research to make sure I actually get some sleep tonight. Here is what I discovered.

• Put him in a swing. (Can't do, Jazz destroyed it)
• Drive around. (Gas too expensive)
• Turn on mobile. (Still in package in the garage)
• Turn on ceiling fan. (It's on anyway. I can't sleep with out it.)
• Put MP3 Player on Full Screen in bedroom with sleepy music (Laptop hard drive crashed, other computer in the living room. Too inconvenient. Don't think I have any sleepy music on it anyway.
• Play the guitar. (I can only play the piano and trumpet. I don't own either).

What do you do?

I am happy because...

After reading Deanna's corner, her list about what gets her going made me think about what motivates me. Not really thinking about what makes me happy, I realized that maybe I should focus more one me. When things are not going so great, I tend to wallow and wade in my own misery. Using my mother as my psychologist (for me of course), she preaches that I can't depend on others to make me happy, which includes my husband. Since staying home, I find that my thoughts are usually about what the kids or my husband needs. When they fail to acknowledge my efforts, my feelings are easily hurt. Do you ever feel like this? Am I alone? So after much contemplation, here are things, which make me happy and motivates me.

• Reading a great fashion book or magazine.
• Cutting out images of outfits which I like
• Scrapbooking
• Starbucks
• Talking to friends
• Shopping
• Reading a self improvement book
• Cutting out recipes and putting them in my photo album
• Praying
• Talking to my mother
• Stealing precious moments with my children
• Meeting new people
• Cuddling with hubby
• Giving myself a mani and pedi
• Meditating in the whirlpool

What makes you happy? What motivates you?

Food Allergies and Your Child

My oldest son is allergic to eggs and peanuts mainly. However, the allergy test was about six-seven pages long about other allergies. We have to send an Epi pen to school. He has to wash his hands, if he touches the dogs or he breaks out. He is also borderline asthmatic, has had eczema, and was a preemie.

The baby was recently diagnosed was an egg allergy and has asthma, as well as eczema. I do not eat eggs or egg products, since he is nursing.

The older child is outgrowing some of the health problems he has experienced. However, when he eats watermelon he has an allergic reaction. At the Flowood festival, the Chamber of Commerce was giving out free slices of watermelon. Immediately my son wanted some. I reminded him that the juice would break him out. He said that was okay. So in exchange for a piece of watermelon, my son endured an itchy breakout throughout the rest of the evening. I felt sorry for him. I make sure that each child is never left out and is treated the same as the other children. He just doesn't like to be left out because of his food allergies.

What is your experience with food allergies? When I was growing up, there were not a lot of children who had allergies. Now, there are plenty.

I have to watch him at birthday parties. If a child touches him that has eaten peanut butter, he will have a severe reaction. Sometimes, he has to sit at a different table at school. He doesn't like being different.

How do you deal with the situation? How do you accomodate children who visit with allergies? Do you accomodate birthday parties and kids snacks for those who have allergies?

Your Baby and the Pool

Today I was reading an article about a recent German study. This study of over 2200 children suggests that children, who do not get in the pool before their first birthday, are less likely to have frequent bouts of diarrhea, ear and respiratory infections.

Since I cannot swim, I don't frequent the pool. I am not interested in my children taking lessons because I am afraid they will drown. Do you have children that take swimming lessons? What is your experience with your children, the pool, and being sick?