So after 2 years of staying home with my boys, I’m contemplating going back to work. I had been the Deputy City Clerk here in Princeton for 6 ½ years before I had to quit and stay home. At 3 months old, Hayes caught pneumonia from daycare. When I took him to the Doctor, they told me he had a cold and he would just have to tough it out. He was too small to give meds. After I took him back twice after that, they got a little snippy and told me I’d have to wait it out. Well, I knew something was wrong and so I took him to another Doctor. Turns out he had pneumonia and we were rushed to the hospital, where we stayed a week. He was in a huge metal crib with a tent over it. He was only allowed out for ten minutes at a time, so I spent a lot of my time in the crib, under the tent with him. Talk about uncomfortable. I gave him his bottles in there and changed his diaper in there. Thankfully, the tent was clear. The damage to his lungs caused him to develop chronic asthma and allergies. It would have been avoided if they would have caught it earlier. So, he’s been on a nebulizer everyday ever since he was 7 months old. This is how old he was when we finally were able to take him to a specialist and find out for sure. He is now 3 and is using an inhaler with a spacer. He’s doing really well with it, and it’s great at working its magic. We were told that if he were to stay in daycare, we would continue to be in and out of the hospital. Every sickness he got would go to his lungs. I tried to hire someone to come to our house and stay with him, but the people I interviewed were really young girls that smoked, or girls I couldn’t trust to be alone in my house. So, I made the decision to quit my job and stay home with the boys.
Recently, the Doctor told me he could handle ½ a day at daycare. So, I have to make the decision to send him or not. I’m thinking about substitute teaching a few times a week. I think I’d be a better Mom if I got out of the house, and we all got some time apart. I think it would make our time together more special.
The asthma specialist told me by the time he starts school in 2 years he should be old enough to handle anything he might catch. We are very hopeful he will outgrow most of this.
I miss going shopping and adding to my Coach collection. I miss being able to buy a cute outfit whenever I wanted. I miss getting ready in the mornings and going to work. I may miss those things, but my kids come first. I rather buy them something than myself. I hate when people know I stay home, and they assume I sit on my ass all day and watch TV. I’m quick to tell them I’m way busier now than I was when I worked full time. Now, I’m a full time student and a full time Mom, and I’m fine with that!
I think you should do whatever makes you and your family happy. I think any good mom is always torn between staying home with her children or working. I worked when my children were young and I thought I did a good job juggling between my family and my job. Now that my children are grown and on their own, I sometimes regret not staying home with them. But then again, maybe I'm still going through the “empty nest syndrome”. Good Luck with your decision!!
ReplyDeleteI would have loved to been home with my son but it wasn't possible since his father was a loser and didn't contribute one penny to his well being. Those years are long gone and we have all survived just fine but as I think back I can't helped but feel a little cheated at times. Missing special things. Oh sure I kept a roof over his head, warm food in his tummy, and clothes on his back but a lot of other things were missed. I love him more than words can tell and he is a great young man who although divorced is a great father and son.
ReplyDeleteI understand Jacque. Life is so hard sometimes and it doesn't seem fair. I think what we can be proud of is, we are or have, raised responsible men. That's all I can ask for. I want them to be independent and strong. It sounds like you've done a great job.
ReplyDelete