From outdoor eateries, to nature trails… From public parks, to childrens museums- We touristed ourselves all across our little state.
I have made mention before that this twin mom thing is hard. I have also mentioned that being a SAHM (Stay-at-home-Mom) is difficult.
It is. They are.
It can be lonely. There are no days off, no sick days, and vacation is often just doing your day job- in a different, non-child-proof location.
I could probably spend an entire post discussing the challenges that anyone who works in the home will contend with. There is no shortage.
I’m here to tell you that it’s equally, scratch that… MORE important to put the effort in, and recognize all the benefits of staying home.
Top on the list is the fact that we don’t have to rush around in the morning! Okay, maybe that’s not number one, but it’s pretty special. Most mornings, my kids have a nice relaxed breakfast. It’s probably our favorite part of the day. They are morning people, but enjoy waking up slowly.
A typical morning goes like this:
G will wake up, toss and turn, and read books in his bed until his sister shows signs of life. He then opens up the blinds, and joins her in her bed. Together, they chat, and giggle, and read books for a few minutes.
Before long, they are both up out of bed, and without fail, they construct what they call ‘train tracks’ out of the books in their bedroom. Their stuffed animals are either lined up to watch, or they are tucked into bed to sleep.
Once the train tracks are complete, they call for me.
Meanwhile, I am able to take some time to get myself up and awake because… I am most definitely NOT a morning person.
I’ll be honest, though. It’s tough not to be a morning person when you are greeted by those two smiling faces.
We make our way downstairs, and they are immediately ready for breakfast. At this point, they’ve started making requests. Sometimes I’m able to oblige, but not always. Thank goodness, they haven’t (yet) shown signs of the Terrible Two temper when it comes to those requests. More often than not, they will eat a very good breakfast, even asking for seconds. We talk about our day, we laugh, and sometimes, Daniel Tiger joins us for breakfast… (especially if Mom has been trying to focus on something that Daniel has encountered- Dr visits, sharing, trying new foods… Potty Training!)
Breakfast is a happy time around here. If I were to find a full time job outside of the home, that would most likely have to change.
Another major perk to SAH is our ability to join TT Dad on his business trips. The kids and I are able to explore many new places, all while TT Dad is off meeting with customers, and attending conferences.
Arizona, Colorado, the list goes on.
Of course, there is an expiration date on those advantages as well. In the fall, our kids will be turning 3, and will be old enough to go to Nursery School, or Preschool. Attendance is surely not as strict there as it will be once they hit High School, Middle School, or even Elementary School, but it’s a commitment that we’ll have to work with.
In the meantime, we’ve tried to take advantage of our freedom.
This includes a nice extended stay with Oma & Opa in NC! We spent about 3 weeks at the beach. Our days were filled with long walks, out in the Lagoon, or on the beach. What a wonderful treat for us. The best part was the opportunity to spend so much quality time with Oma and Opa.
Our previous visits to the area had been quick, so it was a whole different experience this time. We were able to settle in, unpack, and the kids were comfortable enough to be their charming selves.
Plus, we were able to pack in a number of adventures! Stay tuned to hear more about them!