The Life of a Working Mom

Its all about attitude.

 I am fortunate enough to not have to work the day after Thanksgiving.  Usually I spend the day at home, and possibly getting a tree.  this year I decided to brave the masses and check out the sales.  I figure if my littlest guy is going to wake me at 5 am anyway, I may as well be productive.

 Everyone thought I was crazy when I said I was going, I figured how bad can it be.  I have to say I actually enjoyed myself. 

 Jack kept me company during my shopping excursion.  We did see a lot of holiday madness and bargain hungry shoppers, but it didn’t bother us.  Long ago I learned that I cannot control what others do and how they react (as hard as I may try), what I do have control over is how I react, and how I respond to others.  Before leaving the house I decided that I would not let anyone get to me, no matter what the scene was like. 

I entered our mall through the big, new Target, almost immediately I nearly got run over by another shopper as she sprinted past us with her cart.  I tried to imagine exactly what toy it must be for her to run like that, what her young child would do to her if she didn’t get it.  Jack and I had a giggle.  In the Disney Store the crowds were as staggering as the sales.  In line I was all but run over by yet another shopper.  Wordlessly she tried to push and elbow her way in front of me, finally I asked her if she was in line, just trying to figure out what she was trying to do as she bumped and nudged Jack’s stroller (mess with me fine…mess with my baby that’s another story)…”no” she replied, she was trying to get to her daughter who was standing at the front of the line, apparently we were in her way.  I scooted over and let her thru.  After a deep breath, I struck up a conversation with the shopper in line behind me, we agreed, what’s the use of getting mad, either way we would get to cash out and continue shopping.  The shopper who butt in front of us was clearly stressed, we were okay…we chose to be.

Overall, my baby and I had a great day shopping.  Macy’s was uninspiring, the deals were ok, and the lines modest, really not much to talk about.  Old Navy was surprisingly uneventful - no more than any other busy day.  I was even fortunate enough to not have to wait in line at all to check out.

  I did see the angered shoppers, the stressed out Moms and Dads, and the confrontational, sleep deprived masses.  But I was ok, I made that pact with myself before I left the house, and I promised Jack we would have a nice day, I chose to be happy and unaffected and I was.  It was a great day.   I will definitely do this again, I will plan on it next year.  And my number one priority will be to walk out of my house, in a relaxed state, with the outlook that I am going shopping because I want to and that it will only be as good or as bad as I let it be.  And I will have every intention to walk back in the house in the same relaxed state.

‘Tis the time of year for baking.   I love it….I love having the excuse to make cakes and pies, and anything else I feel like making.  I will admit to using pre made pie crusts.  I have tried to make my own in the past and it just hasn’t turned out quite right.  So while I can’t make my own crust I have found a fun way to make the crust mine.  Pies with full top crust require some way for the steam to escape, most cook books will suggest that you cut a small slit in the crust…I find that too boring.  My solution….I use a small cookie cutter to make several cut outs before I place the top crust on the pie.  I save the cut outs and then replace them after I put the top crust on the pie.  the top crust stretches a little and you get space.  If you are going to try this I would also reccommend saving the excess crust cut from the outer edges of the pie, if the top crust stretches too much you might need this extra crust to cut out a couple extra little shapes.  This is a really easy way to spruce up your pie and get a great wow from everyone!!

If you want to check out all the tips and tricks that work for so many others out there, head on over to Rock In My Dryer’s Works for Me Wednesday!!

Whether we are stay at home moms, work at home moms, or moms that work outside the home, most of us are on the look out for tips and tricks that help us in our day to day activities.  Anything that makes cleaning quicker, easier, and potentially cheaper (cleaning supplies can get expensive!!) I am all for. 

My favorite budget friendly, multi-use cleaning product….Baking Soda.   Many of us are familiar with the odor absorbing, smell eliminating benefits of baking soda - my fridge is never without that little yellow box.  But did you know that baking soda can go far beyond that? 

 My favorite use:

A gentle scrub for my ceramic top oven.  Pour a small amount of baking soda onto the cook top, add enough water to turn it into a thick paste, grab a cloth and scrub away.  This is by far the most effective stove top cleaner I have found, and I don’t have to worry about it scratching or damaging the surface at all.  This is much more effective than the polishing solution that was given to me with the oven, it is also safer and much less expensive.  This wonderful scrubbing power doesn’t have to be limited to the stove, it can be used on  just about any surface that you need to clean.

You can also use baking soda….

To remove strong odors from your hands, wet your hands and rub them hard with soda, then rinse. 

To relieve sunburn: use a paste of baking soda and water. 

If your baby spits up on his shirt after feeding, moisten a cloth, dip it in baking soda and dab at the dribbled shirt. The odor will go away. 

Soak and wash diapers with baking soda. 

Considering that I can buy a small box of baking soda for under a dollar at stores like Walmart, I consider to be my most effective (in cleaning and cost) cleaning and household product.

Want more tips and tricks?  Check out Tuesdays Tip Jar over at Blog Mommas

I realize my posting has been sporatic - at best.  I must admit that I am still working on exactly where I want to go with this blog and what exactly I want to write about.   I am very dedicated to the idea of a blog that works for other working moms…but welcomes my SAHM friends too.  I think regardless of our chosen profession or where we spend the majority of our time, all moms really want the same things for their families, and do their best. I am trying to plan out exactly what I am going to write about, what content will best serve my readers (well…maybe reader right now….I think there is one of you :)  I have some ideas, I know the sorts of things I would like to read about, and what I like to/want to read about.

I say that to say this…please stay tuned….I promise I am dedicated to getting this blog up and running…I have ideas (and am open to more)…you will be seeing a lot more of me….

I work partly because I like to partly because I have to.  My family relies on my income and, in part, my benefits, and I am happy to help support my family…most of the time.  There are those days that I question my decisions, I question what am I really gaining by working out of my home, away from my children, what do I get from it other than just a paycheck?  

When I come home most nights it is in a flurry to get dinner on the table, the boys cleaned up and ready for bed, and hopefully some time to play with my little guys.  We have little time for quality activities, little time to go out and explore together as a family.  Once the boys are in bed it is try to get some cleaning done and still get to bed at a reasonable hour.  We do our best to make up for all of it on the weekends, but two days to me just isn’t enough.

So now here I struggle, and here I feel the guilt.  I am sorry for the time that I can’t spend with my boys, I am sorry for the moments of their lives that I miss because I cannot be there.   There is so much I want to do with them, so much I want to experience with them, and sadly so much of it might not happen.  That is my guilt as a working mom.

I made a comment the other day on my family blog, about how I am really feeling the Christmas spirit this year.   The big guy is old enough now that he understands a big day is coming up.  He is constantly asking us about Christmas trees, and has even gotten into watching “Merry Christmas Charlie Brown” with us.  There is a joy about this holiday that I love and that is still so pure and true in the eyes of a small child.  He has not been tainted by the commercialism, by the “gimmes” and “I wants”.  I am excited for him to see our Christmas tree, with the lights and ornaments.

I received a response from another blogger, saying that they are having a hard time getting into the spirit, the economy being so unsure.   I have to admit I can understand this sentiment as well.   With fear of layoffs and job uncertainties hanging over my house, I feel the pinch, I feel the strain that the current state of things is putting on us all.  I find at the same time there is a certain joy, a very hard to see silver lining.  More and more people are being forced to reconsider their decisions, what really is important.  Finding family entertainment, at home, is becoming more and more important, as the money just isn’t there or isn’t secure enough to be able to take the family out for fun everytime boredom strikes.

My holiday spirit comes from my joy in seeing the lights in my babies’ eyes.  I look forward to the little traditions that we can start as a family, not the presents that we will give and receive, not even the fun TV specials and great Christmas movies, but the special things we will do together as a family to make this Christmas special just to us.  I have the Christmas music playing already.  I have plans to make sugar cookies with my Big Guy and any of his little friends that want to join us to decorate them.  We are planning where the tree will go, how we will clean up our house better to be able to decorate with what we already have.  I am also looking for ways that we can make our own ornaments - special little items for us to hang on our tree, that every year we can put on the tree and remember the fun we have making them together.

 I am in the holiday spirit and I can’t help it.  I am in the holiday spirit and I am more than happy to share it.  I am in the holiday spirit and no amount or lack of money or financial security can change that!!

Welcome to day one of my new blog.  What can I say I’m finally going “pro”.  Lets see how this goes!!

 After surfing the blogosphere, I have discovered that there is a definite shortage of working mommy blogs.  I have found a slew of blogs that focus on the stay at home mom (SAHM) or the work at home mom (WAHM) but very few that spend time on the highs and lows that are part of the working mom’s everyday life.  Now don’t get me wrong, I am not suggesting staying home is at all easy, I just find there are a different set of hurdles that the working mom must overcome, but no one seems to have the time, desire, or passion to blog about these, or give any suggestions to make it any easier.     Ok, well maybe some of the “tips and tricks” blogs are universal - most moms would prefer an easy to make nutritional meal, but I think there can be a more refined focus.

 So what tips and tricks do I have?  Where am I going with this?  I guess you will just have to return to find out!!  I will admit that this is definitely in every way a work in progress.  I do not have anything set in stone yet, I am just as curious as you are to find out exactly where it is that I am going. 

 Well, with all that said, welcome to my blog, I hope you enjoy it.  And please if you have any ideas, thoughts, or suggestions let me know.  I would really like to see this blog become something meaningful and helpful to as many mommies as possible!!