What Not To Say To a Working Mom

A friend shared this article on Facebook:

What Not to Say to a Working Mom

***While though I agree with the comments themselves I do not agree with all of the authors reasons. Some of them are not kind about Stay At Home Moms. I am all for SAHMs and support them.***

Here they are [with my comments]:

(1) Can't you afford to stay home? 
[My reasons for working and my financial status is none of your concern]

(2) I'd give anything to get away from my kids for an entire day.
[Everyone has their own balance of family, work and personal time. Too much of one thing can make you resentful.]

(3) I'd miss my child too much to be away from him all day.
[Me too. Please don't remind me.]

(4) The problem with this country today is that not enough moms are home raising their children.
[I have never heard anyone say this, but its not worth a response.]

(5) Why did you have kids only to let someone else raise them?
[A coworker once asked me "Why would you let someone else raise your kids?" during my first week back from maternity leave. I had to use every strength in my body to stop the tears. Just don't say this...ever.]

(6) I don't know how you do it. It must be so hard.
[This one doesn't offend me. IT IS HARD.]

(7) You must be so organized to be able to balance everything.
[Smoke and mirrors]

(8) There's always time to work later, these early years are so precious.
[Again my reasons (including timing)  for working are none of your concern.]

(9) You look exhausted. 
[I'm not quite sure how I made the drive into work today either.]

(10) At least you treasure every minute you have with your son.
[All mothers treasure every minute their children working or stay at home. We are moms and never stop loving.] 

(11) Don't you worry you're missing out?
[I do. All the time. The guilt never ends. We do have hearts and souls.]

Love,

Working Mom's Can Potty Train

A few months before Teagan turned 2, we introduce her to the idea of using a potty. Months and months went by without any progress with potty training.

We've tried everything. Bribery with her favorite TV shows and candy didn't even work. Everyone and their mom gave us advice. Nothing seemed to help.

The thought crossed my mind many times, would we have better success if I was a fulltime stay at home mom? Then the guilt came. Could me working delay my child's progress? I have to remind myself that millions of children have parents that both work and those children grow up to be adults that don't use diapers. It will happen Kim.....more time passed.

About a week ago, Teagan (she's 2 & 1/2 now)  woke up one day and said she wanted to wear underwear. From that day on she started used the potty. I swear its like a light bulb went off. We are in full fledged underwear mode, even out in public places and are having great success.  Its almost too easy (minus the 8 months of prior trying). Hmm. So Working Moms can have kids that are potty trained.  Goodbye guilt.


Love,

Pregnancy Clothes and Work

Why is it when I shop for pregnancy clothes they are so frumpy or look like cloth garbage bags? I see women with cute pregnancy clothes. Where do they come from?

While I don't mind wearing large t-shirts and sweatpants (more like I prefer to wear large Ts and sweats), these are not most respected clothes at the work place. I'm 5 months pregnant. I'm in between normal clothes and maternity clothes. Most of my dress pants for work have high waists and no longer button. Sigh. I have a couple Bella bands but they can sometimes be uncomfortable and then there's those embarrassing moments when they shift and you stand up at your desk and well....you hope no one noticed you just flashed the office. I do have maternity work pants but I'm not big enough for them to stay up and those slide down too.

Last pregnancy I swelled up like a drought was coming. My shoes no longer fit and I ended up buying VERY comfortable Dr Scholl's Velcro sandals (closed toed). Yes you read that right. I wore Velcro shoes to work.

Falling britches and Velcro. Ah, its great to be pregnant and working.

We only want 2 kiddos, so this will be my last pregnancy. Its very hard to bring myself to buy more maternity clothes when I'll only wear them for a couple of months. So I apologize in advance and ask my coworkers for an open mind when you see my dress the next few months ;)

Love,

I'm Pregnant!

We're excited to announce that baby #2 is on its way. I'm 20 weeks along and due in June. We're going to wait and keep the gender a surprise with this baby.

Now you know why my blog has been slacking the past few months. I was sick the first trimester and now in the second trimester I have zero energy.

The long delay in announcing this pregnancy was due to fact I was in between positions at work, but that will be another post.

This sweet little girl will have a sibling! She'll be the best big sister. She loves taking care of baby dolls and even her friends at school.

Love,

Other Uses for Mothers Rooms?

For those who don't know, mothers room is a "term for a private room where a breastfeeding woman can use a breast pump in private one or more times a day" [source: Wikipedia]. Many employers are providing mothers rooms to encourage moms of new babies to continue working while nursing. 

An incident occurred at my husband's work regarding a mothers room. Since I was a user of a mothers room, he asked for my opinion.  The incident involved a diabetic male who used a mothers room for an insulin shot. The male was reported by a female user of the room.

I'm of the opinion that if an employer provides a clean private place for a mother to pump, why should they not also be required to provide a space for any employee that has a medical need for a similar space? I would hate to use a public restroom to give myself a shot. 

Now if this person was using the room at my schedule time to pump, I would be frustrated. Pumping takes enough time out of my work day as is, let alone having to wait for the room. My employer requires you to register before using the room too. So I'd say who cares if the person is registered for the room and schedules his/her time to use it. 

What is your opinion on the situation? Should mothers rooms be open to anyone with medical need?

I survived Christmas

I'm still here. That means I survived Christmas.

My Christmas break came and went and I felt cheated once again. I had to remind myself it was like this last year. This is how Christmas will be for a while. Working then spending my precious free time running around, preparing for the holiday, parties and family functions. In a blink its over and I'm drained. This is the Christmas of working moms.

In the week and a half I had off from work there was one day of just Teagan and I. I had planned to run some errands but decided not too. I'm glad I didn't. Teagan and I stayed home and played all day. It was a great day.

I wasn't going to let the Christmas preparations and festivities prevent me from doing what I want to do this year. I pushed myself and squeezed more into our full schedule.

-Christmas at the Botanical Gardens

-Professional Light Display Drive
(no pics of this one, but it was so beautiful!)

-Trains

-Making Gingerbread Houses

-Baking

-Watching all traditional holiday movies (Frosty, Rudolph, the Grinch, etc. )

I hope you all had a blissful holiday!

Love,

Parents that "Checkout"

I understand. Parents need a break. I get it. I need breaks. But as a parent, you usually do not get to choose when you get a break.

The other day Teagan and I had lunch at a Chick-Fil-A. After we ate, I took Teagan into the indoor play place. Immediately when I went into the room I noticed the off balance ratio of children to parents. No way did all the children present belong to the two moms in the room.

My sweet little girl climbed up the structure. As she proceeded to do so another small unprovoked girl tried to pull down Teagan's pants. As Teagan started yelling I looked around. It was obvious the girl's mother was not present. I yelled at her. I was that mom. As I yelled at her she looked me straight into my eyes, grabbed Teagan's arm and proceeded to bite it. Oh my! My voice became much much louder and I told her "Do Not Bite Her!" This child was smaller then my 2 & 1/2 year old. I'm guessing she was 2 or a little younger.

Who leaves their barely 2 year old unattended in a very crowded restaurant at lunch time? I understand that you want to gab with your girlfriends and not be a mom for a minute. Your child is probably acting up because you have not been present to correct her behavior or because you're not there and she is acting out. Lets not ignore the fact you're neglecting your child's safety.

There is place and time to checkout. You know when its appropriate to checkout. Be a smart parent.