The Night A Stay At Home Mom Returned Home

I’ll never forget when this Stay At Home Mom returned home one evening. It happened to be a Monday. Though a lot of people aren’t a fan of Monday, this Momma is. As bad as it sounds it’s a daycare day. My kids go part-time so I can work and write from home. I am passionate about my writing so it makes me happy. It was a typical hair pulling, hold my breath so I don’t loose it, hurried kind of morning. Apparently the ants are out already since we are having an early Spring this year. They are attracted to the kitty food we keep out. Each spring my daughter goes through the fear of bugs all over again and this year I get the joy of double the cries because my almost three year old is now scared of them as well. I do the usual explaining of how they can’t hurt us etc etc and usher them into the foyer for coats, hats and shoes. I placed their lunch boxes on the bench and help my son put on his sneakers. We head down to the garage and the cries start again when both kids see at least three moths on the ceiling of the stairway. I calmly placed the lunch boxes down and slowly touched one of them in hopes it would show them that there was nothing to be scared of. Backfired. It made them cry more for some reason. I took them by the hands and yanked ushered them down the stairs. Not a proud mommamoment of course.

We played our usual what letter do these words start with and I spy games on the way to school but when I pulled in and realized the lunch boxes were not in the passenger seat I said well a bad word. Another not so proud momma moment. I sat there looking at the clock contemplating do I go home (we live 10 min each way) or do I run across the street to the pharmacy and grab a few snacks. That is when I said a secret prayer thanking god my kids daycare provides hot lunches. I had a meeting scheduled on-line in 25 minutes so off I went across the street. We buy our snacks, yes I even bought a few of those recycle bags to put them in, I give my hugs, kisses and love you’s and off I go.

I worked my normal work day, cooked dinner for my husband and kids and headed out the door for an appointment I had at 5pm. After my appointment I decided I’d stop at the store across the street because my running sneakers had officially expired the week before when my toe popped out through the top. I figured since I was in town, why not check out the sneakers. Let me note that this was the second time I was in town that week and stopped in to shop for new sneakers, however I forgot my coupon (hey 25% off is worth it.) so I never even went inside. I purchased a new pair of sneakers minus that said coupon because I didn’t read the fine print and the brand I chose was excluded. I head home.

I pulled into the garage and my door wasn’t even closed when I heard my kids bound down the stairwell of the garage, not bothered by any bugs of course. I couldn’t wait to hug their sweet little bodies, I may love my Monday’s but man I love when they come home from school just as much. I came in with both kids on my hip and said to my husband “this is the best homecoming I’ve ever had!” My husband looked at me and said “Is that what it looks like when I come home everyday from work because it’s super cute? Yes, the kids do this to him every day. My eyes filled with tears, I took the extra hugs, joined in the dance party they were having, let them stay up an extra 30 minutes, and snuggled with my daughter in her bed as we talked about her day.

What is the moral of my story, well besides the fact that this Momma needs to get out more? Some mothers don’t get that reaction from our kids. I don’t get to come home five days a week and feel the love of being missed all day. I try and explain to my husband that I don’t ever get to miss my children. Then I live with the guilt of why would I want to “miss” my children. He thinks it’s sad that I feel this way. I shouldn’t “want” to miss my kids.  I know a lot of Mom’s who would give their right arm to stay home with their children and though I’m very blessed to have that right, I also believe it’s healthy for us Mom’s to be missed too. I believe it teaches our kids to be a bit more grateful for Momma.

All I know is that I will always remember that night and the feeling I felt as my children rushed towards me and wrapped their sweet little arms around me.