Working Mom

Lies I Tell Myself About Summer Vacation

May 27, 2011 By Blonde Mom 6 Comments

Summer 2010, the Slip ‘N Slide Edition

Originally posted July 2009 – Updated for this summer

It’s the last full week of school for my girls and I’ve already caught myself getting weepy more than once as they empty their backpacks of miscellaneous tokens from kindergarten and 3rd grade—photographs, locker name plates, artwork.

I’m looking forward to letting them sleep in and having less harried mornings. I’m looking forward to popsicles, catching fireflies, and even washing sunshine tinged with chlorine scented beach towels.

There are some things, however, I’m not looking forward to because summer also brings with it humidity and ginormous mosquitos with a side of “I’m bored” and “Are we there yet?”

Here are some of the lies I tell myself about summer vacation.

The lawn mullet look is so in for landscaping—business in the front and party in the back.

It’s OK if the girls stay up until 10 because they’ll sleep in the next day.

When the girls say “I’m bored” for the 800th time it’s just a testament to their determination.

The spider veins on my thighs are signs of a life well-lived.

Tankinis are sexy.

I totally look like that 29-year-old mom in the bikini if I suck in my stomach and don’t breathe!

Popsicles are acceptable before 11 a.m., but not before 9 a.m. unless they are fruit flavored.

The girls need one more pair of cute flip flops. And so do I.

The girls are getting all the summer enrichment they need from watching Sponge Bob and hanging out with my 77-year-old dad when he buys lottery tickets at the convenient mart.

Swatting mosquitos burns off all the margaritas I’ll be drinking.

White legs are in!

But the lie I tell myself that really hurts?

I don’t mind being a working mom in the summer.

The reality is I often daydream of being home with them all summer and having relatively lazy, unscheduled days. That is, until they start arguing. Then I’m kind of OK with the peace and solitude my office offers.

What lies are you telling yourself this summer?

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Filed Under: Parenting, Working Mom 6 Comments

The Summer Schedule Nazi

May 23, 2011 By Blonde Mom 3 Comments

Being the neurotic keeper of the calendar mother that I am, I generally limit the girls to two extracurricular activities.

We’re currently committed to Girl Scouts and soccer, although Miss A’s season has officially ended. Miss C transitioned to travel team soccer this spring and when I tell people this they usually respond by saying, “REALLY? Wow…” followed by stunned silence with a glint of pity. I don’t know if they are truly concerned about my mental health but she ended up playing in just three tournaments this season and a couple of “friendlies” games and while she now has practice for twice weekly rather than once a week, honestly the time commitment hasn’t been too bad although I will be more than happy to take a break this summer.

Now is my last minute freak out time to start planning for summer, since, you know, school is out next week and we’re once again doing the dual working parent schedule shuffle. Thankfully I don’t work full time and can work from home some and hubby can take one week day off once again. The girls will also do two weeks of Vacation Bible School (aka Free Day Camp With Jesus) and we’re going on vacation one week. My older daughter, Miss C, will likely do a soccer camp in late summer but I haven’t signed Miss A up for anything.

This is probably because ~~I am lazy~~ so far Miss A has expressed interest in:

Violin Lessons

Guitar Lessons

Karate (excuse me, martial arts...per her clarification)

Cooking

Gymnastics

Tennis

If all else fails and I completely slack off and don’t sign her up for anything this summer besides bring Daddy A Cold Beer From The Fridge 101 and Keep The Dripping Popsicles Off The Carpet 102, she can always add Cicada Whisperer to her summer activities.

The next person who asks me if Miss A is a tomboy gets sent an autographed copy of this picture of her with the cicada she affectionatly dubbed, Fred the Dead Cicada

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Filed Under: My Girls, Parenting, Working Mom 3 Comments

10 Things I Love About Going Into The Office

October 15, 2010 By Blonde Mom 12 Comments

Fridays are my work from home days for my day job. I work part time as an editor and social media coordinator for a business publishing company and although I love working in yoga pants and flip flops and a t-shirt I also enjoy going into the office. I did the work from home thing when Miss A was a baby and although it was very important for me to be able to do that, I also realized it’s good for me to go into the office occasionally (see also mama goes stir crazy).

Here are 10 things that I love about going into my office:

My morning commute radio time where I can listen to whatever I darn well please without hearing, “Mom can we hear 92 point blah blah blah? Mom can you change it to 107 point yadda yadda yadda? Mom, mom CHANGE IT BACK! I love that song!” every 10 seconds.

No small people walking in on me in the bathroom while I try to a.) pee b.) brush my hair or c.) make sure I don’t have lipstick on my teeth.

Adult conversation that doesn’t center around scheduling soccer practice, car pool changes, or which grocery store has chicken breasts on sale.

Motivation to push beyond my weekend fashion laziness (t-shirt and khaki shorts or capris in the summer or t-shirt and jeans or yoga pants in the fall and winter) and actually wear decent clothing.

The lovely quiet. Oh the sweet, precious quiet.

My office door! My very own door! With a shiny silver door knob and hinges and stuff!

A huge window where I can keep an eye out on the weather and witness the occasional kamikaze bird.

Stashing chewing gum in my desk drawer without worrying that I’ll discover empty wrappers the next day because my girls like to chew the sweet out and move on to the next stick of gum with reckless abandon.

Internet that has never witnessed Club Penguin, Nick Jr., or Barbie.com.

Post It Notes that are MINE ALL MINE minions! (See also highlighter pens and colored paper clips.)

Are you a working mom? Do you prefer working from home or in an office or, like me, do you like the flexibility of being able to do both?