Day 22: I Am No Wonder Woman

A recent University of Chicago study found for every 5 months a child's mother works, the child's body weight increases 1 lb. That's a scary thought.  That's a guilt trip in print.  In today's economy, there is not a lot of choice. 

I've released myself from unhealthy Mother Guilt.  That always feeling bad for what I should have could have done with the boys when I was taking time to work on myself.  Mother Guilt can be healthy.
Every so often, I complete this sentence:
I feel guilty when...
My answers last week were:
the boys are sick and I'd rather Matt take time off school than myself.
I overreact or raise my voice.
I forgot to throw the boys bath towels in the dryer before they got out of the tub and James told me about it the next day.

When my conscience talks, I pay attention to what I am doing as a parent.  It motivates me.  It helps me change things so that I try not to let James or Toby down and heal our relationship.  It's not a way to punish myself or a way to let myself off the hook from making change.
 
I work a lot of hours.   Most times 50-60 hours a week. This is why I don't watch TV, go to bed around 9 am /up by 4 and sometimes don't realize my shirt is backwards. It also means I depend on amazing people to influence my children's lives.  Toby's daycare is a safe, healthy, lovable environment where he interacts with other great kids and is taught many things, like climbing steps, that he was not able to do even in therapy. He is loved there and loves going to see "Shen".  He brings me his shoes at 7:10 every morning because it's time to, "Go, go, go." 

Grandma and Grandpa Beaver are amazing grandparents.  They are always willing to help juggle our schedules so that I can get extra work hours in on Sunday morning or pick James up every Thursday at 2:30 because there is no bus for him to ride. 

My parents, Grandma and Grandpa Farm are just a 5 hour drive away and they have done it on a moments notice, when they were needed.  Grandpa has come down on weekends when Matt was away to watch the boy so I could still do my long runs when I was training for marathons.  They are an incredible support system.

We all need help.  In one way or another, we are not in this alone. Without this support system I could not do what I do everyday! When we just had 1, I depended on people less, but now with 2 sometimes I have to depend on a babysitter. Do what works for you and your family.  I know that my family needs me to be healthy and interacting with my boys as a good role model.