One Year Out Of Work

On October 5, 2012 I found out that I was going to be laid off as an Inside Sales Account Manager at UPS Freight.  I had worked there for just less than 5 years.  November 30, 2012 was my last day of work there.  It has now been one year since I have been out of work and I thought that I would share some of my reflections with you.

Not having my own income is suffocating.  I used to be able to run to the dollar store or Smith's two or three times each month and spend $20 and it was no big deal.  I could go out to lunch a few times each month and  get take out/eat out a few times each month and it was fine.  It was my money and if I wanted to spend a little, I would.  I wouldn't consider myself a big spender but I do miss being able to buy holiday decorations and whatever else without feeling like I have to clear it through my husband.  I do have savings that I have been able to use but I don't want to spend any more of it.  From here on out, I'll have to beg money from my husband and hope he gives me some.  (He totally will give me some when we have extra in any given month.  He really is a great guy and not too much of a money grinch.)

Being a stay at home mom is awesome.  I love being able to be there for my kids and being a part of their lives.  I love being able to do play dates, go to the park, and volunteer at Talon's preschool.  Snuggling with my kids is one of my favorite things in the whole world.  It's nice being with them in the morning when they are pleasant instead of just at night for a couple of hours when they are tired, hungry, and just plain grumpy.  It's nice being able to take my kids to the zoo and the aquarium and all those fun places during the week when it is less crowded.  I get to take naps most afternoons!

Being a stay at home mom is terrible.  There is never enough time in the day and yet the days drag on and on.  I get sick of my kids every single day and I can't  wait until my husband gets home at about 7:30is each night to help me take care of the them.  I feel trapped like I can't go anywhere, despite being home and having no other obligations, because it is so miserable to haul the kids around places.  I feel super unproductive so often.  Being covered in other people's bodily fluids gets old fast.

There are a lot of other perks, too.  I like that when I am sick I can just stay at home and not have to worry about sick time or missing too much work.  I love being at home during the day so that I can help others by doing things like bringing meals to new moms, which was super hard to do when I would get home from work at 5:30.  Being able to wear my sweat or yoga pants all day long long is one of the best things ever.  I can eat real food, snack, and bake cookies whenever I want.  I have time to do random stuff like blog.

I really do enjoy staying at home and the benefits far outweigh the bad stuff.  I do plan on going back to school and going back to work eventually, but for now, this is me.

Do you stay at home?  Do you work?  Share some of your thoughts and experiences!

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Hair Rinsing Horror

Today my sister and I were talking about that horrible stage (if for any of you it is more than a stage, I'm so sorry!!!) when kids won't let their parents rinse their shampooed hair.  All through babyhood there is no problem rinsing their hair until one day, it all changes.

First, you might try to pour water on their hair.  They will usually start screaming,crying and flailing at this point.  Next, you might try to get them to lay back in the water to rinse their hair that way.  Not happening!  Since they have already been throwing a huge fit, they are completely past reason and think you are trying to drown them as you try to lean them back.  This, will cause a complete hysterical reaction from the child.  You may now try to splash a little water on their hair to get the shampoo off gently, which, for this child who has pretty much completely lost it, triggers 'fight or flight.'  You are now stuck with a kid who is not only splashing you, but is also trying their best to get out of the tub and run out of the bathroom...with the shampoo still in their hair.  At this point, parents, we all loose it (I'm assuming it's not just me :\ ).  We start screaming, swearing, spanking, and then end up just grabbing the kid and shoving their head under the bath faucet.  It's not like we are going to kill them (unless they keep kicking us...), it's just a little water!  After 30 minutes of fighting with your kid to get their hair rinsed, you are probably soaking wet, exhausted, and could use a warm bath of your own.

Not looking forward to this stage to come again.

Have you gone through this with your kids?