Dear Unsung\u00a0Heroes:<\/p>\n

I would like to begin by saying I truly believe the majority of us chicks are doing the best we can within whatever situation we find ourselves.\u00a0 The “mom” job is the toughest in the world and there ain’t nobody with all the answers.<\/p>\n

Any-shmoo, some background.<\/p>\n

I joined the ranks of the morning-noon-night shift moms full-time back in 2003 with the birth of my\u00a0second kiddo,\u00a0Jack.\u00a0 At the time it was actually a hand-wringing decision to quit my 20-hour a week job.\u00a0 I actually really enjoyed my job and working part-time seemed the best of both worlds.\u00a0 But, like most families, my hubs and I weighed the pros and cons of two kids in daycare and decided that it made more sense to take the risk of me screwing up both kids full-time than to pay the professionals to\u00a0raise\u00a0them correctly.<\/p>\n

Fast forward seven loooooooooooong years.<\/p>\n

A couple of months ago I toyed with the idea of picking up a seasonal shift with a gourmet food and gift company.\u00a0 The idea of schlepping fruit baskets to folks was strangely appealing.\u00a0 I went through the application, then interview process and KA-POW!\u00a0 I was seasonally employed.<\/p>\n

I broke the news like this:<\/p>\n

Me:\u00a0 Jer, so you know I have that new job.<\/p>\n

Jer:\u00a0 Yep.<\/p>\n

Me:\u00a0 That means you’re going to have to pick up around here for me.\u00a0 Y’know.\u00a0 Get the kids ready for school.\u00a0 On the school bus.\u00a0 With backpacks. With shoes.\u00a0 And coats.\u00a0 And lunches.\u00a0 Right?<\/p>\n

Jer:\u00a0 Yep.<\/p>\n

Me:\u00a0 I mean, you understand that means you’ll have to have everything ready?\u00a0By 8:00am?\u00a0 Get them out the door.\u00a0 To school.\u00a0 With their backpacks.\u00a0 And shoes.\u00a0 And coats.\u00a0 And lunches.<\/p>\n

Jer:\u00a0 Yep.\u00a0 No problem.\u00a0 I’ll have it under control.<\/p>\n

Ummmm.<\/p>\n

Considering for years I’ve been the point person for initialing folders, calculating reading minutes, cutting crusts off peanut butter sandwiches, honoring yogurt preferences, remembering fruit, styling completely uninterested children, finding left shoes, checking for clean teeth, brushing through snarled hair and rushing kiddos out the front door, my hubs did an outstanding job filling in as a substitute.<\/p>\n

But what I had forgotten about my “time off” from the morning routine was all that was waiting for me upon my return from the salt mines.<\/p>\n

Everything.<\/p>\n

Although my foray into the working world was but a brief one, I was wholeheartedly reminded how hard it can be to try and do it all.\u00a0 On my last day of work I drove home furiously, ran in the front door, locked it behind me and fell against it clutching my purse to my chest vowing to never leave the comforts of my sweet-albeit-filthy home again.\u00a0 After taking a few hundred collective breaths I took off my coat, set my purse down and started cleaning up the remains of that frantic morning all-the-while thanking God for my life.<\/p>\n

So, Working Moms, I salute you!\u00a0 Your job is not an easy one and so many of you do it with such finesse and expertise you unknowingly convinced me I could step right in with as much grace.<\/p>\n

I was wrong.<\/p>\n

Please know there are a whole bunch of us who support your efforts and look up to you as Unsung Heroes!<\/p>\n

Mindy<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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