I'm a working mommy...HECK YEA!

So, I have heard that working moms are selfish. I have heard that working moms put their desires over the needs of their child. I have heard it said "I don't understand how you could work even though you know the devastating effects it could have on your child!" I will be honest each of these statements rung, LOUDLY, in my ears as I started my first day back to work after my son was born. I shed countless tears as I read research that went back and fourth on the positive and negative impact a working mom could have on her child. I second guessed myself all the time and laid on the mommy guilt thick, but I have made so much progress as a working mommy and there are 3 things that I have been reflecting on lately:

1. I am one person- My son is going to need more than just me to be successful in his life. Who knows what his talents will be! He is going to need interactions with others. My job as a mommy is not to hoard him all to myself but to guide him in making smart choices as to who enters into his circle. Today my son has some amazing people in his life such as his grandparents, Ms. Angie, his uncles, his God parents, his adopted aunties. All these people help me as a working mom...but they help him also. They each bring something to his life that I don't.

2. I have been given a mission- Anyone knows me knows that I believe in God wholeheartedly. I also believe that we have been placed here on assignment. I new from a young age that God gave me an assignment to work with children that it seemed like the world had given up on. The doors that he has opened for me to be able to do that have been amazing. I have finally come to the realization that if God called me to do something and then blessed me to be a mother that does not mean that I must drop one mantle to carry another. I have realized that God intends for me to rely on him to fulfill what he has called me to do.

3. I am not gone forever- I get to spend some awesome time with my little man... No I don't spend every moment with him (and I honestly would want to). Yes I have to leave him sometimes in the hands of another care giver (and that is super hard). But I am still here and able to enjoy life with him. I work 50 hours Monday-Friday away from him, but I truly cherish the time that I have with him.

I would be lying if I said I had it all figured out and that it was super easy but... I don't walk out of my house with a massive amount of guilt weighing me down anymore. I see the positives of the life that my family is leading. I see the positive impact of each and every person that has supported us during this parenthood transition. I see the amazing person that my little man is growing into. I see that if God has given you a mission he will grant you the grace and support to fulfill it. I believe each mommy has an amazing story. Some mommies are stay-at-home moms and they gather so much information on their child and share things with others (saints I call these women lol). Some mommies home-school and they are causing society to ask the question what can we do to better support children in their academic endeavors. I have been called to be a working mommy at this point in my life... and honestly I'm kinda starting to enjoy it. #itwillgetbetter

Daycare tales

When Micah was born my biggest fear as a working mom was sending him to a strangers house for 10 (yes 10) hours a day. That is 50 hours per week. I had already chosen a daycare provider when I was 7 months pregnant and I had spent time getting to know her I was still nervous to say the least. But I would love to announce that I LOVE his daycare. I know that as a working mom daycare is scary so let me tell you some things that made this journey so awesome for us.

1. Getting a referral- There is something awesome about knowing someone who speaks highly of the person who you are trusting to watch your child. This places you at ease a little. So ask those working mommy friends of yours who they trust to watch their little ones.

2. Choosing home daycare- So this was very important to me. I believe strongly that a good home daycare for a little tyke beats a center any day. It gives the feel of being home hanging out with friends. They can only have 8 children at a time with no more than 2 infants which means less of a chance the baby will be sick often, and your little on will really build a relationship with his daycare provider.

3. Spending a day or two- we spent a few days at the daycare during maternity leave so that I could really get a feel for how the day is run.

4. Starting before you start- My little man's first day at daycare was not my first day back to work. I let him start a few days before work so that I could get out all my blubbering (and yes I blubbered bad) before I went back to work. This also helped me to time how long it would take me to drop him off and then head to work. I also felt comfortable knowing I was available if he needed me

5. Spend time- Every now and then see if you could come to daycare a little early and read a story to the children or play a game with them or spend some time with the daycare provider. This will help you feel like you are a part of your little tyke's world.

My little man started daycare at 12 weeks and I am glad I didn't start any later because he adjusted well and didn't suffer from separation anxiety which can happen around 5 month. His daycare provider has truly become a part of the village that it is taking to raise Micah. She has successfully raised 4 children and is now helping to raise the next generation. Is you are looking for a daycare in the DC metro area check out little leaders daycare with Mrs. Angela Chance. She is truly AMAZING. So now you got your get a referral step out of the way!

Why not...

So a few days ago my best friend sent me an e-mail. This e-mail outlined my pre-mommy goals that I sent her in 2011. Among those goals are things that I am striving for and some things that I have abandoned. As I sat looking at my list of goals I said to myself..."Why not just go for it!"

So I have decided to shift my perspective. Instead of thinking of my life as the working mom scrambling to make time for her family I have decided to be the mom who works and shows her child and family just how awesome it is to go after their dreams. So here goes. For those that knew the 2011 Dominique or the college Dominique who was always doing something and pushing the envelope wanting to change the world... Well she's back!!!! I will be blogging about the adventures to come so stay tuned!

Those days when you think...

So this week I had one of those days. You know the days I am talking about. The day when you think that you just cant take one more step without falling flat on your face. Let me tell you my story. So I made the mistake of laying my son down for bed at 6:30pm because he looked super sleepy...Bad move spidey! I went to sleep at around 10:30 and then 1:30 came along and guess who was awake. That's right, you guessed it, My son and me. This night was different from the other broken sleep nights. This night he refused to go back to sleep no matter how much feeding, singing, bouncing I did. 4:30am I gave up and went to my husband with a grunt and said "I can't anymore". I passed him the wide awake baby and I crawled back into bed for one more precious hour of sleep, knowing that this would set me behind on my morning schedule but that was a risk I was willing to take. But there were lessons to be learned from this sleepless night that I hope may help someone not have to go through this (but let's face it I think nights like this are part of the mommy hazing process).

Lessons Learned

1. NEVER EVER stray from the routine. Night time routines are a working mommy's sanity. When you stray from it you run the risk of a baby that is completely thrown off which means you run the risk of writing your own sleepless night saga.
2. Find a routine that works and stick with it! SERIOUSLY!
3. Remember that not all nights are like this
4. Remember many working mommys before you have braved the infamous sleepless night and have survived.


I hope this inspires you that no matter what you are going through at the moment you can make it through! I know that this four hour of sleep fiasco I dealt with is not as serious as some of the things many of you may be going through but you can make it, God is able, and even if you have to stumble...Stumble forward!

Introducing...

I have read so many mommy blogs since I found out I was pregnant in August 2012. I read blogs about mommys who home school. I read blogs about mommys who stay at home. I read blogs about mommys who are vegan. And although each blog I read was about a different journey they all had one thing in common...Mommys who were embarking on some amazing journeys with their family. I found strength in these blogs and so I decided in 2014 I would share my journey as it unfolds and who knows someone may find strength through my journey.

Introducing...Mommy at the teacher's desk

I am a mommy and I am a special education teacher. Every week day I wake up at 4:30am (when I don't over sleep my alarm) in order to start my daily journey of being the mommy at the teacher's desk. With the hustle and bustle of throwing bottles, baby food, and bibs in a bag, dressing baby, and attempting to clothe myself in the most decent way I know how, I somehow manage to make it out of the house at 6:30am with my beautiful bouncing boy on his way to daycare (thanks to the best hubby in the world). Ready to take on the day I greet my students and their parents at 7:45 am all the while wondering what my 8 month old is doing. Is he having fun with his daycare pals? Is he zooming around in his walker? Then I am jolted back to the moment at hand when one of my students gives me a bear hug with a smile that says, "I'm ready to tell you all about my weekend." While listening to my students weekend story I cant help but realize that my new role of mommy has crept into my profession. I feel overwhelmingly honored that someone has trusted me with their child everyday. For the past four years I have been Mrs. Young at the teacher's desk but now I realize that the role of mommy has followed me. I am now the mommy at the teacher's desk, and it is like I am looking at everything through a new set of eyes. I have had an interesting journey thus far and I hope you will join me as I uncover more aha moments, shed more tears, and give out more hugs as the Mommy at the teacher's desk!