Being a stay at home mom has its moments when I wish I worked outside the home but when someone gets sick, I'm thankful I stay home. I don't have to juggle two work schedules and figure out which parent is going to stay home and how to get the child to the doctor if needed. The only thing is, as any stay at home mom can tell you, we are never home. There is a seemingly endless list of errands, appointments, volunteering, play dates and carpools that keep us on the go. A sick child throws a wrench into these plans.
Some days I handle the disruption to "my" schedule with grace. Some days I end up in tears because I am so disappointed to miss out on something. This past Friday, I handled it with grace. My four year old came down with something Thursday night so I knew he wouldn't go to preschool on Friday and that we would be home all day. I had time to readjust my schedule and plan for what would and would not get done. Fortunately, there wasn't anything "big" that I would miss during the day. My husband and I did a kid swap in the evening so I could go to the nine year old's basketball game and get out of the house for a bit.
I've had other days that I admit to not being so gracious. I've done some serious pouting, and yes, crying, about what was missed. I've missed out on date nights, field trips, play dates, parties, trips....you name it. The fun stuff. The good part of being a stay at home mom that helps you get through the tough days spent cleaning up puke and nursing a sick child. In that pouting moment, am I still thankful I stay home? Yes. Am I happy about the current situation? Absolutely not.
As a mother, I've learned my schedule is really not my own. I still have a schedule and when it gets disrupted, I'm learning to let it go.
