Room Rep training? Is that like a Room Mom? Why do I need to know when the Room Rep training is?
Oh that's right, because I SIGNED UP to be the Room Rep.
Apparently I got a little overzealous with my check marks on the Volunteer Survey.
I want to be involved in the school. I want to be a familiar face, I want to know what goes on there, etc. But didn't want to be Room Mom. At least I didn't think so, but I learned at my training this morning that there are actually three of us for the classroom and we can work together.
So now I can see my life coming in to focus: I change diapers. I drive a mini-van. I am a Room Mom, and I need to sign the kids up for soccer, stat!
Really, I kid. I saw a tiny portion of some weird show on TLC last night, My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding or some other such nonsense. But the narrator said something about how the girls in this culture only want to get married and take care of their kids and their husbands and along the way implied this was a backward notion. And I couldn't help but think that, in my opinion, that is where things have gone so wrong. When people started to believe that taking care of home and family was a bad thing, that surely a career outside of the home would be so much more important and fulfilling than staying home to take care of your family, that's where we've gotten off course as a society. Yes, women are good workers. Yes, women can do great and important things in society and industry. But, YES, taking care of your home and family is a valid, worthwhile endeavor. Worthy of a woman's time and effort, and certainly a job of importance and fulfillment. It's a shame that it's looked at as a "less than". I didn't settle to be a mom, I chose to be a mom and I chose to stay home. I understand that some people's circumstances don't allow the mother to stay at home, but I just wish that the view of those of us who do wasn't so skewed.
Some days I want to search the want ads, but it's not because I want a job, more because I want a break!
I bit the bullet and joined Pinterest this week. I had been trying to stay away knowing full well that I don't need any more reasons to peruse the internet. But I realized that not joining did not mean that I would suddenly stop perusing the internet and therefore I could save myself some trouble by at least being organized with it!
The truth is I really don't read many blogs, just the ones on my sidebar and a handful of others. But my little bookmark tab seems to grow by the day. So there you go, Pinterest.
I am converted. If you aren't familiar with it, you can click on that little button right over there, but beware, it is fun and stimulating and addicting. Enter at your own risk!
Speaking of addictions, when I got Max up to take Ava to school this morning, I could not find his bottle, which is his customary drive-to-school beverage of choice. It is also his all-day, any-time-I'm-feeling-sad/mad/frustrated/happy beverage of choice. Dan and I have been saying for a few months now that it's probably time to let it go.
That bottle has probably been our crutch as much as his. And as I have had more kids, things like bottles and paci's and thumb sucking and pretty much everything have become so much less of an issue for me. I really don't care. It will all come out in the wash in the end anyway. When my kid goes to college I am positive he'll be potty trained and binky free.
But, Max and his bottle were becoming a little much, even for me. Even though we'd only give him a couple of ounces at a time, it was like we were running a full day bottle filling operation. And he has been known to turn down food for the bottle. I know what you're thinking; that kid does not need to eat more food! But better, food than gallons of whole milk.
So today when I couldn't find it, I decided-- Today is the day!
He has now been bottle free for 18 hours. Sure, he was asleep for 11 of them, but those other 7, he's been a trooper! He thinks about throwing a fit when I remind him that his bottle is "lost" but then gives up on it mid scream.
I'm thinking this might be easier than I thought.
4 comments:
I read an article stating that working moms have more of the super-mom complex of needing to do everything perfectly which is stressful but that statistically, stay at home moms have more issues with depression. I've been thinking about reasons why that would be the case because I could easily see that to be true. And, I'm the same way with binkies/bottles/ potty training etc. Each kid, I care less and less about pushing them to grow up. (: You are a great mom Elise!
I can see how that would be true too, Lara. I hope that I also made it clear that I wasn't making any statements about working moms vs. stay at home moms. I was only meaning that I wish when people ask what I do and I say "I stay home with my kids", that that was a respectable answer and not see it as menial work.
Hope you're hanging in there these last few weeks. I was so happy to see that the baby turned back down!
Love you little sister. I miss you today.
Oh, you know how I feel about people criticizing women for making THE CHOICE to stay at home with their children. ;) If you don't have a choice, then you don't have a choice. But if you do, it should be viewed as a choice that's as worthy as any other.
I think depression tends to come with isolation. I find on days I don't have adult interaction, I can tend to be a little more blue. Even though I usually see my husband every evening, I feel rejuvenated during the day when I've had the chance to talk to other SAHMs. Although this isn't always foolproof.
Good luck with room momming. Hopefully in the end you'll be glad you checked that box. :)
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