I'm Ba-aaack!

I'm super excited to announce that Just Like Mommy, home childcare, will be back in business starting March 1st!

It has been a very tough decision for me to make. But after approx 60+ days of praying and weighing out options and pros and cons, I made my decision. Everything is falling into place, confirming that it was the right decision. :)

So far, I have one full time baby already signed up to start March 1st. She lives only 5 houses down from me -on my street. Another mom called yesterday, wanting to enroll her daughter --she lives right next to me (we share the patch of grass on the side of our driveways)! She wants her daughter to start March 1st. One of Chris's friends wants her son to start some time in March . . .

God is amazing! I NEVER thought I'd want to do home childcare again --due to loving my current position as a teen program director/assistant unit director, at the Boys and Girls Club, in Boerne, and loving working outside of my home. However, the fact that I barely have time to spend with KJ during the week, plays a major role in the decision to come back home. I have never been comfortable with being away from her. She is my child, my precious little life. I feel completely responsible for caring for her in every way possibly needed. I have never felt that I would be okay with working while she is being cared for by someone else. It turned into that very quickly and I was letting the joys of promotions, titles, and building a great flowing organization distract what I have always believed in about being a mother. I convinced myself that if Kryssa grew up seeing a successful mommy that she would some day appreciate that (and somehow be okay with not seeing her mommy M-F, and even some weekends?!). However, I see that it is partially, if not fully, the reason she acts out and craves attention. Now that I realized how I had rearranged my priorities, I have changed my 'career' around before it became too late. She's still very young and needs her parents to play a major role in her life. She needs to know and feel that she is most important to us --not our careers, not money, not corporate titles, etc. I was sooooo busy focusing on what I could do for the kids and families at the BGC, that I started pushing my personal/family priorities aside. On most days, I get home after she's already asleep. On some weekends, I have had to tell her to play quietly in her room because I had to work and meet deadlines. Even when she does have the opportunity to go to work with me, it's been on days that she is off from school but I still have to work; and I would, again, have to tell her to go stay with her group because "mommy is at work and has a lot to get done before we go home..."

I never wanted to be "that" mom. I know a lot of families that have a great system with both parents working. I don't think that moms should not work outstide of the home --however, for ME, it just isn't what I know my heart desires for my family. I'm thankful to God for the time that I have had at the BGC. However, I am more thankful for the opportunity to come back home. :)

It has been tough because so many wonderful things are finally happening at work. The club and community is actually "flowing" now. On Wednesday, I had an amazing time, with a group of ten 4th-6th graders, touring the South Texas Blood and Tissue Center. Now I know I wouldn't have had that opportunity while watching babies . . . lol, can you see me at a place like that with babies on my hips?! ha! I'm also taking a group of 6th-8th graders to the Rodeo on the 20th -to see Xtreme Bull Riding, the concert that follows, walk the grounds, eat some of that nasty yummy food (lol), and ride some carnival rides. So, between, curriculum, voluteers, field trips, a working data base system, recycling, and a full functioning 'front entrance' . . . I'm going to miss seeing all the sweat, tears, and hard work, pay off. The community finally knows that we exist and aren't just for 'low income families'. The club is finally looked at an educational after-school program!

I guess I should be grateful that I got to see it bloom at least a little before leaving...

I just really hope that it continues --not saying that it won't run without me. BUT another reason I needed to make a change is because my work load seemed to keep growing and I kept pushing myself to excel and help the club and the community. I've already been told that my work load will have to be "shared" with the new Teen Director ... I can totally believe it!

I love the kids, the families, the opportunity to take an idea and 'run with it' -and actually see it succeed . . . I LOVE what I currently do. BUT I know that it's time to shift my focus, time and energy, back home for my family, MY community . . . I'm praying that I have great opportunities to take an idea and see where it goes --but on a different scale, for babies -before going into school. For the families that really want to trust that there child is receiving loving care, just as they would from their own mommy --and that it won't break their bank either. :) It's my heart's desire to make a difference in lives . . . I trust God and His plan for me. I'm excited to share love with babies and help build their little hearts and lives . . . WITHOUT being away from my own little life, Kryssa.

:)
March 1st, here I come!! I'm definately counting down the days . . .

sweet and salty

ahhh, breakfast. Toasted peanut butter and jelly sandwich, white chocolate mocha coffee, and little round tortilla chips on the side.

lol.
yup!

I must get ready for work now . . . another day, another 60 kids to impact --one smile at a time. (God willing, I have enough kindness and patience to keep it going all day. That's my goal for today -pure kindness, all day long.)

I'll let you know how it goes...

Take #2

So, KJ's first school pictures, taken back in October, were over looked. for some reason, Chris and I didn't communicate well enough. I let KJ choose her own shirt that day and how she wanted her hair done --I had NO idea it was picture day. What did KJ choose? Why, her favorite halloween ghost shirt, of course! lol and a white sparkly matching headband.

I like the picture; it's cute. However, it isn't what we had wanted her "school picture" to look like. So, today is "retake" day. Let's see how these turn out. :) hee hee. I braided her hair and put her in a sparkly shirt she likes (no ghost -lol).







I should have gone to have lunch with KJ. Today, I'm working from home again and I had time; I could have gone. I just wasn't sure if it was a good idea. She's brought home 2 'red marks' from school. very bad. I'll wait until she gets some greens and then I'll plan a lunch with her. :)

I found out today that our modem went out yesterday. I totally freaked out because I knew I had to use the internet for work. My deadline is tomorrow. I have to have the first two weeks of January's curriculum turned in by 3pm tomorrow. Thankfully, I pick up some other network called 'belkin54g' or something like that. I don't know where it's from but I am able to connect to it upstairs. As long as I don't lose this signal, everything will be A-Okay!

Today's another one of 'those days' --the ugh ones. I wish I could just throw on my pjs and curl up in bed, watching movies . . . OH! but I think I am getting my requested days off which will give me some GREAT back to back days off!!! Off on Dec 17 and 18 will give me a 4 day weekend next week! Off on Dec 23 will give me a 5 day weekend the following week. Then off on Dec 30 will give me another 5 day weekend!!! -three weeks in a row!!! :D I'm sooooo excited!! God willing it all gets the final approval...

Well, I need to get back to 'business', I suppose. Have a "Thurrific" Thursday!! lol (corny, I know.)

nothing to share...

I should be working. I got to work from home yesterday -didn't get much "work" done. I get to work from home again today (all week, I think) --I really need to get some work done today! I have a deadline tomorrow and then another on Friday. ((sigh))

KJ's doing soooo much better in school these days! Oh, and since my last blog, I've been chosen to be the "Room Parent" for KJ's class. It's like a part-time job all on its own. Right now I just have to focus on the Winter Party that will take place on Friday, Dec. 18th. I am off from work that day --originally to decorate cake/cupcakes for Jo's first bday party. Now, I have to make time to attend and host KJ's Winter Party and then head to Austin to decorate desserts. :) Fun! KJ will LOVE going to Austin!

We are back in our "should we move out of SA and have another house built or should we stay and change up some things on our house . . . or should we move but stay in SA?!" debate/pros and cons.

Christmas is just creeping up on us! It just hit me the other day --how people say, "time flies when you have a child". I SO get it now!! It's not just because you are watching a little life grow up and form. It's because as they grow up there are sooo many different things going on all at once. Deadlines, conferences, report cards, homework, field trips, lunches, clothes, rewards, etc. --there's not much time to just sit back and enjoy a day. Thanksgiving c, ame and went and I didn't even realize it was happening until the week of. Only because KJ was on vacation. I've been so busy with keeping up with her in school and my full time job and family time that I haven't had time to actually "count down" to the holidays. Before KJ was in school, I looked forward to the Holidays because it was something different and special that took place in that year. Well, now there are so many other different, special, new things taking place in this year that I have to balance it all out. The Holidays don't seem to JUMP out at me this year . . . KJ's first report card does... KJ's first school party does... Planning and looking forward to a special family outing on a weekend does... It's just so strange. I really was so unaware of what others meant when they would say "enjoy it. They grow up so fast." She's like a little busy bee and she's only in Kinder. I have a whole calendar just for KJ and she's not even in any extra curricular activities -like dance, karate, et. It's all just school (picture days, yearbook orders, homework packets, reading logs, sight words to study, holiday projects, field trips, spirit days!! Geez . . . there's soooo much to remember allll the time!!!!! lol

Im really looking forward to the Holidays just to be able to have some time off from work. I'll have more time to be with Chris and KJ. Right now, I wake up to get KJ ready for school, make her breakfast, pack her lunch, and take her to school by 7:45am. Then I see her again at 7pm or so. :( Then her bed time is at 8pm. By the time I get home, most of the time, she is already done with dinner and homework and in the bath getting ready for bed. Such a bummer! Really! I do enjoy my down time before my 9pm or 10pm bedtime. However, I really really look forward to my weekends with my family --and days off. :) Chris, on the other hand, gets off as early as 3:45pm and gets to pick her up and be with her after school. He's also had 3 weeks of vacation, spread out, since her first week of school!! He's about to have another during Christmas break. Lucky him! haha. My "vacation time" doesn't kick in until January.

So, Christmas is just days away and I'm here brainstorming about how to work it all out. :)

Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving; Merry Christmas! Happy 2010!