And away they go...

The kids have off school for Thanksgiving break. Unfortunately, Phil & I still have another two days of work. So we were faced with something we hadn't considered before - the kids being on their own at home. As Abbie is 12, we knew that legally, this would be fine. We just weren't sure if sensibly it would be wise!

I know I have several wonderful friends that would keep my kids in a heartbeat, but that is a lot to ask when their kids are home too. So we were just planning to do it & pray the house didn't burn down in the process. Well, my sweet sister-in-law offered to care for our kids for the next 3 days. Pray for them, would you? ;)

Before they could change their minds (just kidding!) we packed up, prayed for Abbie to be healed from the flu, loaded the van, and drove up to Wichita to meet my brother. We sent him off with the kids and had a quiet drive home. The reinforcements (aka Grandpa & Grandma) will arrive in Kansas City tomorrow night to help out until we get there on Wednesday night. By then Aunt Natalie & Uncle Andrew might need a vacation of their own! ;)

It's the first time all four have gone off without us, so I had to "document" as they headed out the door with all of their stuff...

They really look too happy to be leaving us. I was hoping for some tears and not all of this unabashed excitement.

Life...as I now know it...

When I took this job in August, I imagined how my life would change...

Five days a week I care for a 5 year old boy with Downs syndrome. But there is nothing "down" about it. He's loving, silly, smiley, cuddly, and a lot of fun. He's a stinker too, for sure, but the good far outweighs the bad. Even on the hard days. And there are a lot of them.

I pick him up every morning at his home, which provides a neat opportunity to get to know his family, and for them to get to know me in turn. Some mornings he's ready to go, and other mornings, like this morning, he is kicking & screaming all the way to the car. We drive 20 minutes to school. Some times we listen to the radio, some times he sleeps and I enjoy the quiet, and every day I have the chance to pray over him and our day before it begins.

We hit the ground running once we get to school. Breakfast, attendance, recess, Speech, and Occupational therapy. 2 hours in and we're working one-on-one: counting, matching, cutting, drawing, grasping, rolling, tracing, sorting...and fighting. Usually he's fighting against what I want him to do. He has every excuse in the book. His tummy hurts, his leg hurts, he's hungry, he's tired, he can't. But my job is to stretch him and teach him and challenge him that he can.

By lunch I can see the end in sight. Another recess and then rest time, my favorite time of the day! I've gotten smart & we do exercises before we lay down to read a book. So instead of listening to him cuss me out for those 10 minutes, we're both getting a work-out & he takes a better nap! ;) Then there are centers and worksheets in the classroom, one last recess, and time to pack up & head home. Another quiet ride home and my day is done...

Not exactly. Once I drop my little guy off at his home, I have a few more minutes of respite before I start my second job. Or should I say, my primary job? And so begins the whirlwind of homework, supper, baths, stories, and bedtime. Deep breath. The kids are in bed. Now what? There's laundry, bills, dishes, piles, email...does it ever end?

None of this should surprise me.

I imagined how busy life would be. I've admired other moms who juggle work & home. But in my fantasy world I had endless energy to maintain it all. I hadn't anticipated what I would be giving up. An organized house for one. And you all know how the lack of it drives me bananas. ;) Free time. Time with friends over a cup of coffee, or over a sale rack at Old Navy, or over a plethora of card stock & scrap paper, or over a piece of pie. I love pie.

Life as I now know it is a little crazy. Well, maybe a lot. But I'm learning some things along the way. I'm learning that I can accept an unorganized home, even if I have to take some deep breaths. I'm learning laundry piles make people feel at home, because chances are they have them too! Supper doesn't have to be fancy. I've never heard the kids complain about Mac 'n' cheese or Ramen or Spaghetti or Pizza. And we're learning to all pitch in as a family to get things done.

So it's not what I anticipated.

But that's okay.