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Full Moons and Safety Glass

Full Moons and Safety Glass
Balancing money, time, self, and family
About AmandaS


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April 14, 2008
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November 15, 2009
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AmandaS - > Full Moons and Safety Glass -> Carrier Pigeon
Carrier Pigeon
Today one of my friends had one of the toughest moments in all of Motherdom…the day you first drop of your baby at child care. Dun, dun, DUN!

What an awful moment. I remember the first time I dropped off. I had returned to work weeks earlier but Paul had been home for several weeks with a baby Ava and now it was his turn to work. I had the dreaded task of leaving—nay—abandoning her at day care.  I cried in my car.  I cried at the office. I cried when I picked her up that night.

Little did I know that just four short years later (aka this morning) I would be gleefully running out of day care while Carmen threw a massive hissy fit about not getting to eat pizza for breakfast at home.  HA! The joke's on you, sister! I get to leave and NOT hear you scream about things that only a two year old could possibly care about (your step stool in is the wrong place, I brought out the wrong sippy cup, you want to wear two mismatched socks). Yes, once again…this all happened this morning. You know I am not making this up. Plus, you probably could hear her screaming. I could hear it all the way to my car.

As working moms, we struggle so much trying to balance time, husbands, money, day care, kids, work responsibilities, chores…the list just goes on and on. For example, I work downtown. If it is my turn to pick up the girls from day care and I don’t leave before 4:50, I can guarantee that J Street will be a total cluster and the trip to day care (which should take 20 minutes) will take at least 55--making me invariably late for pick up. This leads to much guilt on my part, stink eye from my provider (sometimes even a fine), and my children crying all the way home about how they were the last ones to be picked up.

Nothing is harder on a working mom, though, than sick kids. Over the past two weeks my entire family has had the nastiest stomach flu I have ever experienced. I swear that I have never seen a thing like it. We thought we were through the worst of it and then, unexpectedly last Friday (yes…two weeks after she first puked) Carmen puked and—ahem—crapped everywhere A-G-A-I-N! Of course, I had to take another day off (make that four in two weeks) and take her to the doctor. Now, I know I am lucky--very lucky. Some families don’t get paid sick time. If they don’t work, they don’t get paid. Nonetheless, I missed a Board meeting and other important work responsibilities during these days at home with Gatorade, rice, and bananas.

And to add insult to injury, you can now add the distinguished title of “Poo Courier” to my long list of motherly duties. Yup. I carry poo. I carry poo in three little plastic bottles labeled with Carmen’s name, date, and time of expulsion. I carry poo to a lab so that they can give me the news that Carmen is suffering from giardia, swine flu, or more likely a bad stomach flu that just won’t quit. Keep in mind that these lovely little samples had to be collected. Yes, collected. By yours truly.

Next time, I am hiring a pigeon to drop the specimen off at the lab. Or even better…get my husband to do it.
Topics: sick kids, missed work, day care, working moms
posted by AmandaS on Monday, April 27, 2009 at 12:20 PM
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6 comments from 6 users

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posted by kellimwheeler on Apr 27, 2009 at 12:25 PM

You know, I immediately thought of your family when I heard about this swine flu epidemic. I hope you are just a plain ol' poo carrier and not a swine flu poo carrier.

What I do know is you're a good mom - don't beat yourself up. But do wash your hands. ;)

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posted by MiaMama on Apr 27, 2009 at 01:43 PM
You are hands down an AWESOME  MOM!!!  I was so exhausted after reading everything you've been through over the past couple of weeks.  I hope everyone is doing much better this week.  You definitely deserve a bottle of wine and some delicious cheese with crackers!
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posted by creatress on Apr 27, 2009 at 02:01 PM

A "Poo Pigeon." I love it. Wonderful blog. You make me never want to work full time AND I think my tubes just tied themselves. I adore the description of how horrid you felt the first time you left Ava at daycare compared to now. Priceless. I'm so glad you're all feeling better (and really missed your blog!)

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posted by hmoeckli on Apr 27, 2009 at 08:33 PM
I didn't cry the first time I dropped Em off at daycare, but I did cry when I realized I liked dropping her off. Felt so GUILTY.

Sorry it's been so rough for you and your family. I hope you are all super healthy super soon. :)
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posted by wifemotherdaughtersister on Apr 27, 2009 at 08:48 PM
well i am not happy that your family was so sick for so long, i am totally happy that you turned it into yet another hilarious blog.  i hope that you all survived it without too much trauma, and nothing will taste as good as that first meal that you can eat peacefully.
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posted by AmandaS on Apr 27, 2009 at 10:04 PM
Thanks, ladies. We should know in the next 2 days what the verdict is on the poo. Everyone seems fine, now, but that has been the pattern....all is well and then Carmen has some massively disgusting relapse. And yes..much hand washing is going on around here these days!
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