Friday, July 13, 2012

Choices, Choices, Choices....


Recently I was faced with the option to return to my professional career, after being a stay at home since our son was born. For me it was not about returning to WORK because STAY AT HOME MOMS WORK 24/7! We work all day and night caring for our children and staying at home IS a full-time job, for which many moms do not get enough kudos or credit. It the most exhausting, challenging, and simply INCREDIBLE job I HAVE EVER LOVED!! Before I had J.B. I actually thought I would be bored (WHAT WAS I THINKING?? LOL LOL), but being at home with him has made me so very happy, watching him grow and change everyday is AMAZING and there is never a dull moment. I love the quality time I have been able to enjoy with him and I know that it's precious time I will NEVER get back, so I literally cherish every giggle, smile, and milestone met. So when the opportunity to return to my professional career came about I was completely overwhelmed and just riddled with guilt and then I began to actually feel awful because I was considering it and looking forward to the possibility of going back. I could not sleep or think straight and it became an emotional journey! After much prayer, consideration, and wisdom from a great friend who told me, "Christina, you have to give yourself permission to return to your profession, and not beat yourself up about doing something you love, IT IS OKAY TO HAVE BOTH!" For some reason that resonated with me and I realized that I can still be a fabulous mommy to our sweet J.B. who I LOVE with all my heart and return to my professional career which I LOVE AS WELL. It is perfectly fine if I want to do both, and the real person who needs to be okay with it is ME AND ONLY ME! As long as I am okay with it then I do not need to seek the opinions of others, because each mom's decision is strictly their own. I cannot help that some may judge me and I am okay with that because I know that GOD himself is in control of our lives and that our son will be well taken care of and LOVED when I am away from home. I do wonder though if I can ACTUALLY and realistically DO IT ALL? This question is still is in the back of my mind... but when I am flooded with that heavy and loaded question I remember that I have the support of my SAVIOR, my sweet husband, both sets of parents, and our church family and that is ALL I NEED! Is it REALLY possible for moms to have IT ALL? And that my friends is a question ONLY YOU CAN ANSWER FOR YOURSELF! ( For me personally it is YES and it does not make me any less of a GREAT MOMMY to want it all!)

Parenthood Top 10

As we all know parenthood changes us and changes what we do and even how we do it. Right now J.B. is watching EVERYTHING WE DO! To the point that we are so very concise of what we say and do because he is absorbing it like a tiny sponge. Many people say after you have a baby nothing is the same... well of course it is not and why would one expect it to be the same? You now have this tiny person who loves you and is solely dependent on you, parenthood I believe makes you better as a person and stronger as a couple. It allows you to become more patient, you capacity to love is so much deeper, and you become the master of multi-tasking. Below I have listed my top ten, just a few ways our lives have changed and YES these are TRUE as far as our family is concerned, so if you are a parent or becoming a parent.... READ THESE and enjoy every moment with your little one!!

PAMBLANCO PARENTHOOD TOP 10:

10. Loading the dishwasher is now a daily game of Tetris.
9. You will forgo just about anything if it means you can sleep longer.
8. Your bathroom is no longer filled with romantic candles and soaps, it is now overtaken with tiny bath toys and baby soaps.
7. You are willing to do anything to get your baby to smile, including making up silly songs and dancing around the house.
6. You are so exhausted you wash your hair with shaving cream instead of soap (TRUE STORY).
5. Going out means loading up the car which is now at least a 10 minute thing.
4. You have a "back-up" diaper bag for everything including for your back-up.
3. Your purse now contains an "emergency" pacifier in it.
2. You stop wearing a watch, because the baby makes your schedule now.
1. Suddenly NOTHING is more important than holding your baby, including at all hours of the night
(which is THE BEST TIME because times just feels like it stands still for just an instant :).