calgon, take me away...

Remember that commercial, long ago (I'm in my EARLY thirties, so maybe it was the 80's or 90's) for Calgon? The one where the woman says at the end, "Calgon, take me away"? Never got it until I became a mother. I was totally there today, except I imagined being taken away with an ice cold Corona on the beach in Mexico. Yum.

I decided to meet my gal pal and her kiddos at the mall today. Crappy day (never ending rain), but I wanted Kale and Oliver to play (they're good buddies) and I needed to visit with another adult other than my hubby. Oliver was even pretending to call Kale last night to discuss all the details. I'm getting ready this morning (I even tried to allow myself some extra time cause I'm ALWAYS late), but Lennon decided that she just couldn't bear to have me put her down and Oliver was taking advantage of that fact that all my attention was going to a crying and screaming baby (seriously, she was crying like she does when she gets shots). I'd pick her up and instantly she'd stop. Then I'd put her down to put mascara on, and there came the tears, crying, screaming, and choking. This went on for 45 minutes. Ugh! Lennon kept getting louder and louder and so did Oliver. Oliver was just running around the room doing everything in his power to annoy me and get in trouble and then run away laughing! I was hitting my boiling point..."THAT'S IT!"

Mike's been working these last two weeks at a rock-n-roll camp and let's just say it's been a challenge to be by myself with two kids. I've been a REAL stay-at-home mom these last two weeks. We're both teachers, so I'm used to him being around to help. I admire and appreciate all of my friends who are stay-at-home moms. I'm one of the few in the gang that's a working mom. It's hard to be a full time working mom (you're always tired and there's always a sense of guilt), but being a stay-at-home mom is just as hard. There's not the typical boss and paperwork, but it's ALWAYS CONSTANT ON-THE-GO. There's never a break, even when they're napping cause then you have housework to do (dishes, laundry, cleaning, blah, blah, blah). Of course, when it rains it pours. Why is it that both kids are hungry at the same time, both kids have poopies at the same time, and both kids are crying at the same time? Ugh!

By being working parents, we're giving Oliver and Lennon things that we didn't have. So I'll work as long as I have to, BUT I'd stay home in a heartbeat if I could. Don't ever under estimate a mom. We ALL work hard. It's the HARDEST job out there, but the MOST rewarding. Kids may drive you crazy, but we moms love EVERY minute of it.

But I'm still looking for a vacation...