Are you working, or taking a break from the kids?

I'm responding to a blog post of a friend Mrs Hawk - here at Just Me. In which she is NOT happy at those that question her returning to work an extra day is "a break from the kids". Sarah says NO!

I however say YES!

So everyone has a different situation....so therefore those that ask that may well be in a similar situation to mine which is why they might ask the question....maybe even with a smirk.

Cyclone was an "unsettled" baby. From the moment he was born he was distressed. He fed every 90mins- 2hrs (if I was lucky) until he was 4 months old. I still remember (5 years later, with some fondness) of him being passed back to me by Scorpio with his little mouth opening and closing like a goldfish. Numnums boobies.
I still have the notes I took of his sleeping patterns in sheer desperation, showing he was sleeping 8 out of 24 hours. O my goodness.
He screamed, he sobbed, he arched his tiny little back and I stayed in bed with him for 3 months.

When he was 5 months old I was to return to work. HELL YEAH I said. 2 days per week, I can do that...I welcomed the prospect of feeling "normal" again. I attached myself to the breastpump dreaming of wearing real clothes and makeup again.
Keep in mind I worked at a Government agency well known for having to deal with tanties and chair-throwers. A veritable walk in the park compared to the battle zone of my home.

In a little while Betty Boo came along. 2 under 2!

By this stage I had started my own business working from home. Not all it's cracked up to be. I was taking calls with my foot wedged against the door trying to talk over the tantrums and mummymummymummy MUMMMMEEEEE!
Scorpio was recovering from a knee operation back then so he was at home. I bought a laptop and bought me some time too.

The only way I could get any work done was to leave the house. And go to the PUB. Yep, there I sat, laptop on the table and a frosty pot next to it. The amount of work I got done in 2 hours was phenomenal.

I got sucked back into aforementioned Goverment job with tanty throwing customers. Still it WAS a break from home. No stereo mummy mummymummymummyMUMMMEEEEE! If someone was rude I hung up on them. If someone threw a chair I ducked, laughed and spoke firmly about respect and boundaries. THEY listened.

And best of all - no one followed me into the toilet. I went alllll by myself. In peace.

The one time I ooops! said to a colleague "mummy has to do wees" - she didn't bat an eyelid. She knew.

So in conclusion - sometimes it IS a break from the kids when you go back to work. Sometimes it's not....after all, there is always the washing to be done and beds to bed made.

MWAH