Wow. This whole "working for a living" thing is no joke. No. Joke.
When I get home at the end of a work day, I just want to collapse and stare at the wall for a little while, but when you have two kids that just isn't an option. Especially two kids that you miss like crazy the whole day.
Work. Dinner. Play time. Bath time. Bed time stories. More bed time stories. Kisses goodnight.
It's exhausting, and it leaves very little "me time."
It isn't all bad. Working is actually very rewarding for me. I like my co-workers. I enjoy using my brain. And the kids grow and learn and surprise me every day with how much they grow and learn.
At 3 years old, Michael is already talking about how when he is 4 he's going to go to "big" school, and Nicholas is pretty much saying a new word every day.
September is a very busy month at work. It's our fiscal year-end, which is especially hectic for the team and I in accounting. We've been working a lot of late nights as well as Saturdays, which means I'm not home a heck of a lot. That's been really hard for me, but I'm lucky that the daycare is in my office building - at least I can go see the kids when Luke comes to pick them up at the end of the day. And I'm still dropping them off in the morning before I have to start my work day.
I always knew Luke was a good dad. During baby-hood, he changed his fair share of the diapers, was always willing to help out with bottle-feeding when I wasn't nursing, and had a special knack for calming a cranky baby. We dubbed it "The Nook," because he would sit on the couch, and tuck the baby into the nook of his arm/hip/leg, jiggle a bit, and - *wham* - baby would settle right down. Luke had infinite patience and pep during Michael's potty training, and I'm sure it will be the same with Nicholas. He's an equal partner in post-dinner clean-up, bath times and bed times.
This month, though, Luke has gone above and beyond with the Super Dad bit. Since I've been at work a lot of evenings, he's been at home with the kids by himself. He's made them dinner every night - AND THEY HAVE EATEN IT. This is a Big Deal. My kids don't tend to eat a lot at dinner because they eat so much and so well at daycare, but mysteriously they are suddenly eating entire meals INCLUDING BROCCOLI when my husband feeds them. I'm a bit jealous.
The boys are having a blast with him, too. They go out for walks most nights, and Michael is learning new tricks on his trike. They have elaborately choreographed wrestling moves. They "body slam," and do "head bonks."
Of course I'm sad that I'm missing all this time with them, but it is also supremely rewarding to see them develop this amazing relationship with their dad. And it's really nice to know I don't have to worry about things when I'm not going to be home. Super Dad's got this.
Thursday, September 12, 2013
Friday, July 05, 2013
My Other Family
I know I've said it before, and I'm beginning to sound like a whiner, but it was really tough to go back to work and leave my boys.
But I underestimated my Other Family. My work family at IKEA.
While I was on mat leave, I didn't think very much about how much I love the people there, and all the reasons that I have stayed with the company for 12 years.
When I first walked into the office last month, the first thing my work-bestie asked me was if I was okay. I was trying not to cry after I had left M at daycare and he didn't so much as look back over his shoulder at me as he ran off to play with his pals.
And then one of our funniest coworkers stopped by in our area, and I didn't want to look like an crying idiot so I pulled myself together and ended up laughing at something ridiculous he said.
And so it went. The first few days were kind of a honeymoon period, where people kept stopping at my desk to welcome me back, to ask about the kids and to look at pictures of them. It was the most popular I have ever felt in my life. It was pretty cool.
While IKEA is a big company, it's also kind of like a small town. I work with people now that I haven't seen in 10 years because we've both been in different locations since we first worked together. One of my favorite coworkers and I had ever only corresponded by email and phone for the better part of 4 years and now work at adjoining desks. The guy who hired me to work as a part time cashier 12 years ago works a few aisles to my left, and my first ever cash manager (from 12 years ago) works an aisle to my right. I've known people since before they were married with kids, and since before I was married with kids. I've been to their homes, their weddings, their baby showers. Hubby is even going to play on an all-IKEA curling team this winter. All of this goes a long way towards making it worthwhile to shlep into work every day.
One of the reasons I think that IKEA is so much like a family is because there are a lot of families there. Obviously with the exceptions of conflict-of-interest and direct-reports, IKEA is okay with office romance, and office family trees. I met hubby when we both worked in the store. Another work friend is expecting baby #2 with a guy she met through IKEA, too. There are husband and wife IKEA employees, brothers and sisters, parents and kids, neighbours... it's really cool when you think about it.
Anyway, I know a few of my IKEA buddies have even been so awesome as to read some of my blogs, and for that I am eternally grateful. Thank you guys and gals for making my work days so great - even when they can be extra-long days and we're fixing a giant mistake or dealing with some crisis. At least we're in it together, right guys? Right?
But I underestimated my Other Family. My work family at IKEA.
While I was on mat leave, I didn't think very much about how much I love the people there, and all the reasons that I have stayed with the company for 12 years.
When I first walked into the office last month, the first thing my work-bestie asked me was if I was okay. I was trying not to cry after I had left M at daycare and he didn't so much as look back over his shoulder at me as he ran off to play with his pals.
And then one of our funniest coworkers stopped by in our area, and I didn't want to look like an crying idiot so I pulled myself together and ended up laughing at something ridiculous he said.
And so it went. The first few days were kind of a honeymoon period, where people kept stopping at my desk to welcome me back, to ask about the kids and to look at pictures of them. It was the most popular I have ever felt in my life. It was pretty cool.
While IKEA is a big company, it's also kind of like a small town. I work with people now that I haven't seen in 10 years because we've both been in different locations since we first worked together. One of my favorite coworkers and I had ever only corresponded by email and phone for the better part of 4 years and now work at adjoining desks. The guy who hired me to work as a part time cashier 12 years ago works a few aisles to my left, and my first ever cash manager (from 12 years ago) works an aisle to my right. I've known people since before they were married with kids, and since before I was married with kids. I've been to their homes, their weddings, their baby showers. Hubby is even going to play on an all-IKEA curling team this winter. All of this goes a long way towards making it worthwhile to shlep into work every day.
One of the reasons I think that IKEA is so much like a family is because there are a lot of families there. Obviously with the exceptions of conflict-of-interest and direct-reports, IKEA is okay with office romance, and office family trees. I met hubby when we both worked in the store. Another work friend is expecting baby #2 with a guy she met through IKEA, too. There are husband and wife IKEA employees, brothers and sisters, parents and kids, neighbours... it's really cool when you think about it.
Anyway, I know a few of my IKEA buddies have even been so awesome as to read some of my blogs, and for that I am eternally grateful. Thank you guys and gals for making my work days so great - even when they can be extra-long days and we're fixing a giant mistake or dealing with some crisis. At least we're in it together, right guys? Right?
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