This week was supposed to be one of celebration. Kids love Birthdays, and when it’s moms, it’s always a fun time where they get to have cake and go out to a fancy restaurant. But, this week it’s been anything but fun. Yes, my Birthday was Monday, and my husband had planned a great dinner Sunday night at one of our favorite local restaurants, and then a day out on town Monday. We did both, but I dosed myself with Tylenol so I could make it through, and couldn’t taste much of what I was eating. Monday night my oldest couldn’t even eat dinner with us because he wasn’t feeling well. When he came out to sing happy birthday I made my husband take a photo of me and the kids to mark how crappy we all felt and looked! By Tuesday morning I couldn’t get out of bed, and neither could Cory. We had a slow morning and then pulled ourselves together to go to the walk-in care clinic. I thought a diagnosis of the flu was inevitable, although it turned out to be Strep & an Ear infection for Cory and a very bad cold for me. Here I am on Thursday still in bed. Dinner with my girlfriends canceled for this week, tentatively rescheduled for next, and no work has gotten done.
My poor husband is stressed from taking care of a sick wife, needing to run our business, and our house and take care of the kids – “Mr. Mom” for the week. THANK GOD we found a babysitter last week. Literally, her first day was Monday, and if we didn’t have her this week, I’m not sure how we would have survived it.
Let’s back-track. How did we just have a babysitter starting this week when I have 2 businesses to run plus 3 kids? Because I’m insane/stupid!
When we decided to move last year (tomorrow marks 1 year since we closed on our Maine house!!) I wanted to take a step back from work and try to spend more time with the kids, and less on work. So, when we moved up to Maine full time in August, I didn’t look for a babysitter right away.
Well, I found out that even with reducing my hours there still was too much for me to do to not have any help. By me reducing my hours Nic had to pick up more to make up for it. And, I’ve been working on building my Beautycounter business more and more because I really feel like people are in the dark when it comes for what companies are putting in their products, and they need to know the truth!
Anyway, I was finding myself stressed, and never finding any time for me, just to relax, I had to work at night after putting the kids to bed, I couldn’t find time to do something as simple as a 1/2 hr of Pilates without being stopped and asked 15 questions, crawled on, etc. I tried Marie Kondo-ing our whole house so everything had a place and everyone could stop asking me questions (that still didn’t work, but at least makes me feel like things are cleaner).
I finally came to the reality that I needed help with the kids so that I could get some work done during the day. And so, I started my search for a sitter. We finally found someone on a local Facebook group that connects parents and childcare providers 2 weeks ago, met with her last week and had her start on Monday!
As I’ve laid in bed the last 2 days completely congested and exhausted I hear the laughter of my kids playing with her, and know we 100% made the right decision in having her “join our family.”
My kids are getting the attention they deserve, and they’re having fun. And now, my attention won’t be split. I’ll be able to work while she’s here, and turn off and be with my kids when she’s not.
A weight has been lifted and I’m excited to begin this new, less stressful journey.
Now, if I can just find someone to clean my house for me…
xoxo
