Mommy Groups R Important!

Since moving to town, I've found two different Mommy groups. One was from the Meet Up.com website. The other, a kind stranger mentioned at the library one day.

Now, with an infant and a toddler running around it is not easy to get motivated and out the door in the morning. But I would say it is the single most important thing I've done for both my own sanity and my kids' social development. I'm meeting some great friends and starting to feel like myself again... My daughter is starting to find her social bug she had temporarily lost after removing her from daycare. And my son is slowly starting to realize he doesn't need Mommy around all the time. I stress slowly since he is very clingy...

We try to get out 3 or 4 times a week - even if it is just to the store or a McDonald's with a play center. But I will admit I am looking forward to Spring, some sunshine, and the chance to get the stroller back out and hit some parks!

New Adventure - Discovery Toys

So I've decided "just mom" wasn't working out for me. I was either the kids “mom” or my husband’s “wife”. Hello – I’m still Sarah! But every time I think about having to juggle both a full-time job and my family I start to panic. (Needless to say, multi-tasking is not a strength for me!) So... I am starting a "business" out of my home. I've joined the Discovery Toy team and am now an "Educational Consultant" (EC). Discovery Toys is a company who makes quality educational toys for children ages birth to early school years. Their toys have a life-time guarantee and they actually stand behind this! I’m just getting started, and plan to have my first “party” mid-February. Sales are not really my thing. I’m not good at being pushy and when I do succeed at being pushy I later feel guilty… So we’ll see how this adventure pans out! For those interested, please check out my website: www.discoverplaying.com

The biggest things that appealed to me were the idea of being my own “boss” and setting my own schedule, making some extra cash, gaining some products I would actually use in case I failed or didn’t like it, and meeting some people who might have things in common with me. It will also give me a chance to get out of the house a few times a month without feeling guilty since I’m “working”.

Life has Changed...

Life has changed since I've been at home all day - every day. I don't get done NEAR the amount of stuff I'd like to b/c raising kids is actually a full-time job. In fact I sometimes think I get less done now... I often think I am going completely crazy for even attempting this stay-at-home mom thing - like when lunch is dumped on the floor, I'm cleaning spit-up, or the oldest wants to play w/ permanent markers. The shower has become my "escape" and sadly doesn't happen daily as it once did. And when both the kids are asleep (as they are now) I do not feel the urge to turn on the TV, radio, or even call anyone. I just want to listen to the quiet... Awe... That is nice!

Stay At Home Mom - Me?

Ever since having my daughter, Katelyn, 2 years ago, I have dreamed of quitting work and becoming a stay-at-home mom (SHM). But it just didn't work out for our family situation; we needed my income, plain and simple. After having my son, Alex, in June, the situation was even worse since my husband became a victim of our economy the month before he was born. And truth be told, I actually liked my job as a civil engineer. I had great coworkers and most days enjoyed what I did and who I was when I was at work. It was part of who I was.

Then, my husband, Adam, got an interview. He is rather specialized in his field, and an interview alone in this market took over 5 months. Turned out he was a good fit and they offered him the job. Wonderful for him! So far it seems to be a great company - thriving in this economy and good to their workers. But it required us to move... We had just bought a house. We loved our kids' daycare. We had good friends. And I had a good, stable job I enjoyed. But in the back of my mind was that nagging voice - this could be your chance, Sarah...

Well, there is no suspense to my story... We obviously took it or I wouldn't be sitting here typing & keeping my fingers crossed that both kids keep sleeping! Darn it - why did I even type that? Alex is waking... Keep checking back to see how we are doing... to see if I'm maintaining my sanity... and if this SHM thing will stick. There is suspense to that...