I'm Jealous of the Babysitter and Other Things to be Thankful For

During the Patriots/Eagles game on Sunday afternoon I commented that I did not want to go to work the following day to which our friend and babysitter Cindy said, "I do!"  At the moment I thought about how jealous I was of her being able to come and spend that time with my little guys, but then I thought some more and realized some things I'd like to share with you...I like my job.  I'm good at it, I care about the people I work with and for.  I'm grateful to God that I have a job, which is something these days.

I actually have two part time jobs, as I've mentioned before, one as a medical social worker for a home care agency in the area, the other as a marriage and family counselor in a local private practice.  I enjoy having my office and seeing clients individually and as couples.  I have a passion for the work and a desire to do it.

I was able to see that I really have the best of both worlds and should be ever grateful for it.  I love my boys and each moment with them is precious.  However, if I need to work, and I must, this is a wonderful situation!  It's a wonderful situation not only because I like my work but also because I am blessed to have a "babysitter" and friend who loves my boys so well and takes such fabulous care of them while I am away.  That she enjoys her time here with them is something that I am also thankful for...she likes her work!

Shout out to Carol at www.wheretheroadgoes.weebly.com who talked to me about the tension between work and home.  When I am at work I'm thinking about home but not always vice versa.  I am not preoccupied to the point of being unproductive, but it's just enough of a preoccupation for me to realize that there is a bit of a tug there.  I'm not sure if it's an overactive sense of responsibility to my children or the home or if I just miss them...maybe a bit of both.  But what I can say in the midst of this struggle is that God gave me work and it is good to have work to do!  I am thankful for the determination and inspiration to do the work that I do, for the desire to do it well and for the opportunities I do have to use my skills in the workplace.

I love being a mom.  I never understood or could have imagined what it would be like to have a sweet little boy look me in the eyes and call me "mom".  This is another role which I feel called to and equipped for; not always well-equipped as the "Trying Twos" are in full swing and requiring much time, energy and thought.  I was blessed with three sons and I will strive to always do what is best for them in the midst of this tension between work and home.  I hope that they see me working hard and using the talents and time I've been given to serve others and in truth to what I believe I was created for or called to do.  Counselor and Mother.      (Or Mother and Counselor).   

I am thankful.  The Patriots won yesterday, Cindy was here today at 7:30 a.m. with a sunny disposition, and I left for work with kisses from all my boys and with a grateful heart that there is good work to be done.