Observations of a Recovering Former Working Mom

I have pretty much worked since I was 15, at least when I wasn’t going to school. After college in 1995 (gasp) I started working a full time professional job and did that until November 2007. That is when the hard work really began.

In November 2007, right before the birth of my daughter, I became a stay at home mom. Basically it is everything I thought it would be, but it certainly has presented some challenges that I never expected.

First, I can no longer use “a hard day at work” as an excuse for my behavior. Sure, full time mommy is not easy, but seriously – I don’t have to deal with anyone else except 2 people that I have complete and total control over (snort). But at least I no longer have to deal with clients and weather and deadlines and all the rest of the stuff that goes along with it.

Second, at the end of the day there is no longing to “finally get to see my kids,” it is all about trying to get Daddy to take them so I can have a few minutes of peace. Or at least go to the bathroom – finally.

Also, there is an extreme lack of adult interaction and conversation. It’s no wonder so many of us have taken to our computers and created a world of blogging friends.

And finally (and I say finally for the purpose of this post…I could go on for days) there are a number of words that describe bodily functions that I never would have even spelled out loud in the past that now get used practically hourly in my vocabulary.

Here are a few other observations I have made since becoming a stay at home mom:

• I have no idea what day it is. Ever.
• Gerber brand Onsies run very small.
• It’s futile to change into a clean shirt after being spit-up on.
• ‘Time to myself’ is another way of saying I’m going to the bathroom.
• It takes 4 hands to diaper, bathe or change a 7 month old baby (and alas I’m of the 2-handed variety).
• The holding capacity of a diaper is inversely proportional to its proximity to your clothing.
• Babies just don’t care that you have to pee and have had to for the last 3 hours.

All in all, though, I think I’m adapting pretty well. My kids get outside as much as possible, we visit parks and have even ventured out to Chuck E. Cheese. They haven’t made any complaints about my presence in the house and I enjoy that my job is taking care of my kids.

If I could only get the stains out of my shirts and get Abby to stop pulling my hair, then it would almost be perfect!

This post was written as an essay for entry into a Makeover contest where you can ENTER TO WIN a FREE $10,000 makeover from Artefill! Sign-up and entry are easy and the essay just has to be 500 words or less about change in your life. You must be 35 or older though! We’ve all experienced change, go write about it for a chance to win a makeover.

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   Mary, I think I get about 2 1/2 trips per day to the bathroom…the 2 are in the middle of the night and the 1/2 is the one that gets interrupted by a kid barging in, in the middle of the day. hehe

   Posted by Kim | August 10, 2008, 9:30 pm
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   You get time to yourself in the bathroom? Lucky girl! Thanks for the info on the contest – I won’t be 35 til next month :(

   Posted by Mary | August 10, 2008, 7:28 pm
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   Myra,
   {blush}
   Thank you, you are just awesome for saying that!

   Posted by Kim | June 27, 2008, 9:56 pm
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   Elizabeth,
   It’s funny too because I can’t even use a calendar to figure out what day it is sometimes…luckily I have my Microsoft Outlook calendar!

   Posted by Kim | June 27, 2008, 9:55 pm
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   right now I’m thinking you’re a pretty fabulous mom. you’re the real thing kim.

   Posted by myra | June 27, 2008, 8:53 pm
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   I did this essay too, I wrote about how we thought we were done having babies until the “surprise” birth of my daughter, and how now I am a 41 year old mother of a toddler who doesn’t want to look like the oldest person in the pick up line at preschool!

   I never know what day it is either.

   Posted by Elizabeth | June 27, 2008, 6:52 pm
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   Thanks Deb, we should all call ourselves that!

   Posted by Kim | June 27, 2008, 9:02 am
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   I liked reading this – especially since I will be done at work on Monday and (at least temporarily) will be home with my kids for a while.

   I like your title too – ‘Recovering Former Working Mom’. Can we call ourselves RFWMs then? ;)

   Posted by Deb - Mom of 3 Girls | June 27, 2008, 7:45 am
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