Help You Can Trust

I usually don't offer much advice, probably because I am always looking for some. But if you have small children, whether you have 2 or 20, you need a break now and then. We are currently finding out that just one person can't babysit anymore. I feel like we have to bring in a small team, haha. The dynamic of 5 under 4 is enough to send a person straight off the edge or running from our front door screaming. Especially if you didn't carry them for 9 months and don't have that maternal bond to them, I think that's how I do it alone...God chose me to be their mom, and for that I will maintain my sanity and stay home with them, day in and day out.....and soak up this time that I will never get back. I'm rambling...anyway...

Ideally I would like to have everything in place when the babysitters show up. Laundry put away, floors swept, kitchen cleaned, kids in their pajamas, and me showered, completely ready to go. This never happens when I'm trying to get out of the house. In fact, the exact opposite happens. Laundry baskets sitting out, kitchen is a mess, girls are in princess dresses, and I had just finished drying my hair after showering with a bouncy seat in the bathroom. I'm just trying to get one stinkin' minute by myself without someone yelling my name, whining, spitting up on me, peeing on their pants, or swallowing Lite Brites...that's a whole other post, but believe me, they can swallow multiple pieces at one time.

The Bottom Line? It's really hard to get out...and do you ever have those times when you wonder if the time by yourself is worth all the work it takes to actually get out the door??

Last night for example, I had a meeting I had to be at, and I enlisted my Mom & her husband, and Eric's mom to come watch the girls until Eric could get home around 8:30pm. I get out the front door 10 minutes later than I had planned, which is actually pretty good for me. My cell phone isn't charging right, so I told them to call if there was a problem, but that I might only have 20 seconds to talk about it. 10 minutes after I left, my mom calls.

Mom: Kate, the powers out.

Me: The power is out!? Like the lights are off?

Mom: Yep, completely dark, the girls are freaking out, and I can't find a flashlight.

Me: Up on top of the cabinets in the kitchen there are 2 flashlights...so you are going to have to stand on a chair, in the dark, and feel around for them.

Mom: Got it, don't head home right away, they might come back on soon, and Cheryl is already on the phone with the power company. I'll call you in a few.

I seriously sat there and thought, "Of course the lights are out, I'm out by myself, why would the power stay on!? Now not only are they dealing with chaos, they are doing it in the dark." My mom called 20 min later and said the power was back on, and that things were fine. I couldn't help but think of how amazing and wonderful it is to have our families here to help us. So we can get out a little, and not have to worry about anything. We can relax and enjoy our time out knowing that they can handle the kiddos, even when things get a little crazy. We are completely grateful for the 2 women that literally always take over when Eric and I need to be somewhere, I don't know what we would do without them.

Although it takes a lot of planning to get out for a few hours by myself, it is totally worth it in the end. I feel refreshed and de-stressed...even when there is a minor crisis while I'm gone.

Oh, rumor has it that there is a great new article that has just been published over at Blissfully Domestic...hee hee...go check it out!