Mr. Mom Loses His Training Wheels

It has been six months since I shifted gears from stay-at-home mom to working mom. The transition hasn’t been an easy one, and it just got a little harder. On Friday I started a full-time contract position with Starz Entertainment. This means, Danny is at home full-time with Reagan. Alone. Without a lifeline.

Up until Friday I had been working from home, which was easier for everyone, but me. While I love being able to spend time with my little girl any time I want, it is also extremely unproductive to be so accessible at all times for mommy duty while trying to concentrate on your work. Yesterday, Danny actually noted how much he took my presence for granted and probably abused it a little too much. Nice to hear. Since secretly I had been praying I would get the chance to show him just that. Not that I wanted to stick it to him, but wouldn’t it be nice for him to appreciate how much work being a stay-at-home parent on your own really is? He also remarked how this would be helpful for him to not depend on me so much should I return to working from home. God definitely answers prayers!

I couldn’t help from smiling yesterday when I got a 5pm phone call from Danny asking if I were on my way home yet. I don’t get off work until 6pm. Reagan was crying in the background and Danny was speaking very slowly and deliberately as he expressed his consternation at being unable to calm our toddler in the midst of one of her standard afternoon meltdowns. Usually, I would be there to console Reagan and make things all better. This time, all I could offer him was to pick up a 6-pack of his favorite beer on my way home and pray that by the time I got there, he wouldn’t need it any longer. Lucky for him, I never had to make that stop. And if I had, I’m not sure I would’ve shared anyway.

Photo by Kate at Yr Own Risk, via Flickr