My Stint as a Domestic Goddess

Tomorrow I start a new job at a new company. I've been off for the past two weeks, which has been a really nice break and couldn't have come at a better time. My older daughter started kindergarten on the 5th, and my younger daughter started preschool on the 10th. On top of that, this past week was the first week of dance class for both of my girls (first class ever for my youngest). I have had the rare opportunity to drop off and pick up both of my girls from school every single day, make their lunches, enjoy their everydayness, their routine. I've been able to thoroughly enjoy and savor every single second instead of rushing through the day. It's been nice. Perhaps a little too nice. I worry how my daughters will do tomorrow when they're thrown back into our "normal" life of grandma as their chauffeur and only seeing their stressed and rushed mama maybe three hours every weeknight. Ok, I worry more about how I will do. It ain't gonna be easy.

Everyone keeps asking me if I'm excited about my new job. It's a nice step up to Editorial Manager and in a new and exciting industry. I'll get to work on magazines and online content instead of textbooks, which will be a great change of pace, and I'll get to manage people. I'll also have an opportunity to write more, which is something I've really wanted to do. So, yeah, I am very excited, but I honestly haven't been thinking about it. During these past two weeks, I have been totally "clocked out" when it comes to my career and 100% focused on this temporary gig as a stay-at-home mom. Besides "mommy" duties, I have cooked dinner almost every night (I can hear you gasping) and have done probably three loads of laundry every single day. I have scored huge brownie points with the husband. I don't think he knew I had any domestic talents. It hasn't been all roses, though. These past two weeks have been much, much more exhausting than any professional job I have ever had. But the rewards of kisses, hugs, and smiles, well no 401k package could ever match that.

So you're wondering if I considered chucking the career and making the stay-at-home mom thing permanent? Of course I have. Many times. And to even further confuse matters, a friend of mine, who was a partner at a law firm at which I used work, called me on Friday about a job. An attorney who shares his building is looking for a paralegal sort and he was wondering if I would be interested. I was pre-law in college and worked at a law firm for a few years, so I know the work. The office is literally just up the street, maybe five minutes away. The job would be part-time and flexible. My friend knew I had played with the idea of looking for something part-time, so he thought this would be perfect for me.

But of course I can't take it. I already accepted this other position, and it is an incredible opportunity - one that might not ever come back around. And in just a couple of years, both of my girls will be in school until 3:15 pm, basically eradicating my reason for wanting to be home in the first place. Meanwhile, my future marketability in the constantly evolving publishing industry will plummet, making it extremely difficult to re-introduce myself to the field when I'm ready to come back. And I know I will want to come back.

So, for now I will enjoy the 14 hours and 7 minutes that I have left as a domestic goddess. It was beautiful while it lasted.