Observations on leaving kids to go back to work

1. My kids absentmindedly call me "dad" when they want something
2. Absence does make the heart grow fonder. I am a pretty hot commodity now and get lots of cuddles.
3. Lucy prefers David when she's upset.
4. I do tend to spoil a bit more, just as they warn you against.

But, I am getting more into the groove, and less in that psychological shock of "Oh no! I'm a working mom!" I seem to be shifting gears well between work and home.

This week has been hard on everyone, but mainly on my 15 year old cousin, who has watched the kids every day from 1-5 and is a little burned out. My mom has done 7a-1p and actually loves it, and is cleaning my house in the process. She wonders what my problem is that I can't do both. I am really grateful to her and glad she's adjusted to the idea of hanging out with four children without panicking. She is a saint. It is so good to be mothered. I'm sure my kids feel the same way, but at least they are getting mothered by Mommy's Mom.

Today I got home a bit late and Kim, another saint, was feeding my children along with hers, and then she fed me. That was a lifesaver. We came home and reviewed the garden, weeded a bit and set the sprinklers going. And...

I picked my first zucchini!!!

It was an Italian Striped, and a total surprise, I hadn't looked underneath there in several days, so I thought we were still in blossom stage all over the garden. I also picked a globe zucchini--almost the size of a tennis ball, all round and cute, it was buried down in there, too. I picked a small onion and some basil and am going upstairs to fry it up and gobble it down right now. Oh, and I also found a green pepper which I picked, blanched and put in a freezer bag.

I have to keep things picked so they'll keep producing. The chili peppers are kind of wanting to be picked, but I need to decide what I'm going to do with them--freeze, roast and freeze, make salsa verde? Any suggestions?

I have a feeling that soon I'll have a blessing so great that I will not have room to receive it. But, I can always take baskets to work if I get overwhelmed.

Oh, I reviewed my first writing project of about 10 pages with my boss today (which is why I was late home), and he liked my stuff, so that's a weight off. We see eye to eye on style and approach, which is huge. He has promised never to read my blog again, so that's also nice. I also finished a 20 page marketing plan for the remainder of the year today, so let's see if he's up for everything I'm asking for.

David's home tomorrow, we made it!