I have just recently started back full-time, albeit temporarily, while my co-worker is on maternity leave. This has been a real adjustment for our little family as I have not worked full-time in 4 years and Anna Beth has always had mommy home 2 days a week. In the process, I have discovered something very special.
Anna Beth and I had gotten in a rut lately. I have projects going on around the house constantly since we moved in and there never seems to be an end to the painting, unpacking, and the regular cleaning and cooking. The reason Brian and I made the priority of me working 30 hours, 3 days a week had gone by the way-side... our girl! Those special days of crafts and cooking and learning had become a lower priority and were justified by all the "things" that needed to be done.
Since I just started back I have worked harder at listening when she talks and answering her crazy questions. As many stay at home moms know, their voices can at times feel more like a burden than a blessing. I have discovered ways to make those ordinary moments special... like the bathtub. Tonight my girl was in rare form and was full of dramatics. Every sentence out of her mouth was funny and emphasised with hand gestures. (she got this from her mommy) Anna Beth has a thirst for knowledge and it can be a challenge to find things to teach her off the cuff. Tonight bath-time started out with the usual banter and I decided to take the opportunity to talk about the 5 senses. She caught on quickly and understood how God gave us the 5 senses so we can appreciate the world that He created for us. From there we moved to opposites such as, "if you are hot, then you must not be... cold!" Next came the shapes around the bathroom and we ended with our review of our phone number and how to spell her full name. By the end, I was tired and had a renewed appreciation for Anna Beth's personality and discovery of everything around her.
While, there are still some parts of her attitude I could live without, this time has made me grateful for how special she is once again. Even the attitude, I have found ways to delight in. Just for instance, tonight, she was begging for a snack before dinner and I refused to cave. She actually came out and said, "You have got to be kidding me, daddy lets me have one before dinner!" While I did not appreciate the tone behind it, her speech was delightful! LOL Anna Beth has also recently become fascinated with using, "Mommy, did you know...?" before every sentence. I also over-heard her saying to daddy, "Mommy is over there but you cannot see her because her is short and her face can't stick up"
All this to say, while I will be grateful for the time when I can return to my old schedule, I am grateful for the reminder from God that it is not just about the time that you spend with them, but also how you use the time. Those family dinners around the table are to discover how each others emotions have affected their day. Clean up time is about teaching responsibility. Cuddle time is about affirming the love for each other. Story time is about growing the imagination. Bible is about training her to be a Godly woman that seeks God's heart before her own and last but not least... prayer time to to understand where our hearts are at the moment.
