A Secret to Success as a Working Mom: Turn Burn Out Into Bliss and Embrace Joy

Last weekend my youngest was committed to going to the "Water Steps" a man-made water fall in Pittsburgh by the rivers. (Fun Fact: Three rivers converge in Pittsburgh--The Ohio River, The Monongahela River, and the Allegheny River.)  He kept asking. I knew he was serious when he said, "If you won't take me, I'll ask  daddy!" Given that it was highly unlikely that would happen on an unscheduled day, I relented. So, we went. It wasn’t planned in the way most things in my life are. No calendar block. No checklist. No “productive” purpose attached. And, so in some respects it was uncomfortable. And yet, it seemed necessary. It was the idea of my 8-year-old—offered with the kind of urgency only children possess when something is profoundly important to them.

Wordless Wednesday: Snow Day Fun

One of the benefits of maternity leave is being able to spend extra time with my other kids, even if that time is bleary eyed and sleep deprived. Today, is one of those days that I was extra grateful.  At 5:15 AM this morning, just as I was going to sleep because the new baby isn't too good at reading a clock just yet, I got a text message from my son's school saying that school was cancelled. The text lacked any explanation. In my sleep deprived state, I mistakenly believed that I had neglected to keep track of his calendar.
Then, 45 minutes later, because the gods like to mock me, our home phone rang informing me that our daughter's school was also cancelled because of "inclement weather". Although it was beyond annoying to be woken up, I was happy to know the reason school had been cancelled.

The kids and I spent the day, most of the day relaxing and enjoying one another. Then, I walked our daughter to a friend's house for a play date. As you can tell from the photos, she loved it! I am glad that I was there to experience her joy. And I will cherish these memories forever...

Comments