A preschool Christmas

Over the summer when we decided that it was time to send the girls to preschool a few days a week I was so excited.  Despite the fact they hated it at first, they are loving it now.  Over this first semester they have learned to read words, master coloring skills, arts and crafts, and so much more. 

I was so excited to hear that they were doing a Christmas program.  I mean really what is better then little kids dressed up and singing.  I was told a few days ahead of time that the prior year it was standing room only.  This is a great tip to get as a parent who has never been to such a production.  Let's just say that Stacey was less then thrilled to hear that I wanted him there an hour and a half in advance of the start to save the seats for us and the nana's and papas.  We ended up arriving at 5:30 for a 6:30 performance to ensure we would have great seats for watching our little stars. 

There is a special place in heaven for the Duncan Academy staff who did an amazing job with the little stars.  The patience they must have had to teach is nothing short of amazing.  As the lights went down and the program began the kids all danced to Christmas songs dressed in special outfits.  Some danced, some stood there looking scared, and some just cried for their parents.  All the while, parents were clapping and laughing and enjoying the best preschool performers ever. 

Watch out the Smith Girls might just become stars!

The kick line

Walking in a Winter Wonderland

The Guilt Trip

Family comes first for me, it always has and always will.  I have never missed anything important for the girls due to work, and I don't plan on it.  All that being said, there is a four year old girl at home who knows how to make her mommy feel bad for working late. 

My job has crazy hours and it is pretty common for me to work at 12 hour day at least once a week.  Sure some weeks I am home every night and other weeks I have two or three late nights.  And don't even get me started about my hours during a school election.  Despite all of that, I love my job! 

When Stacey and I started talking about having kids I made it clear that I was going to be a working mom.  I think that you can do both successfully and don't have to give anything up to be good at both.  Once the girls were born I made adjustments to my schedule to spend more time at home.  Gone were the days of going to almost any Fort Osage School program.  Gone were the days of working two and three nights a week.  Gone were the days of leaving the house at 6:15 and coming home about 6.  Welcome to the world of working at home after the kids go to bed and learning to delegate. 

Now don't get me wrong, the girls loving being home with daddy and having special dinners with him (usually they get to choose to eat what they want and they love that).  They have heard from me since they were young that mommy helps kids and schools and sometimes that means being at work until they are in bed.  Most of the time it works out...not tonight.  I made my usual call home to see how there day was.  Ella was all talks about what was taking place at the minute and what they had for lunch (heck she is my kid and the day is all about what you eat).  Grace gets on the phone and sounds so sad.  When I asked her what was wrong she said, "I just miss you so much."  Now Grace is my drama queen and she really was fine as soon as I hung up the phone (at least that is what I am going to tell myself).  However, it still makes you feel bad when you can't be there to snuggle before bed or read the story or even tuck them into bed. 

Well miss Grace you will get over it and we can have the same talk next week when I am gone Monday night, but for tonight.....  Mommy loves you!  Sleep tight, don't let the bed bugs bite!  Snuggle in and mommy will give you hugs and kisses when I get home!

Hard Conversations

Not that long ago we found out the our dog, Diamond, has an aggressive form of cancer and was given 3 to 6 months to live.  As hard as it was for us to receive this news, we had no idea what to tell the girls.  After keeping it from them for about a month, we decided on Sunday that we needed to tell them.  I mean really how to do explain that to a child without scaring them.

Grace has always tolerated the dog, but it was Ella who loves Diamond.  Maybe it is because she can boss the dog around and for the most part, the dog does what Ella wants.  Maybe it is because Ella likes taking care of people and she can take care of Diamond pretty well by her self.  Whatever the reason, we had no idea what we were going to tell them, especially Ella.   

We decided to have the conversation over breakfast so that I had all day to answer questions and see how they took it.  Grace got a little teary and Ella asked, "so the day she dies can we get a new dog?"  Keeping in mind that Diamond was my first baby, I was a little taken back.  Really kid, you are all about this dog and you are ready to just get a new one?  As the day went on she talked more and more about Diamond and would we know when she did not feel good and could we take care of her.  This made me feel a little better.  Grace actually took some time to snuggle by Diamond (that is about as good as it gets with her).  So telling them turned out not to be so bad.  But, lesson learned, they girls would have been fine had the day Diamond passed we just told them and moved on.