I work for an amazing company that gives us the option to sometimes work from home. As long as your work gets done they don't seem to hound you too much. I definitely take advantage of this option but with caution. Caution meaning, I would NEVER work from home if any of my kids are home.
If I know the kids are out of school, I practically RUN to work. If there is a snow storm and the schools are closed I put on my water proof boots, long bubble coat, wrap up my face with two scarves and journey into work. If there was a fire at my job (God Forbid) and they told us to work from home for a few days and my kids where at home at the same time, I will rent out an office space just so I can get out the house.
Now, this does not mean that I don't love my kids, or I don't love my house. But while I'm home I have a minimum of 5 min sitting in one spot at a time before someone cries, breaks something or wants something to eat/drink.
So working from home while the kids are home is not productive at all. I might as well put in for PTO (PAID TIME OFF), and put away the computer because I won't get any Work-Work done.
Monday 12 November 2018
Wednesday 7 November 2018
Your Voice Must be HEARD.
A few weeks ago a NOT-SO Wise person advised that all I seem to do in the mornings was yell at the kids. From 7am - 7:50am I was told that my voice is at a constant high pitch. I, of course disagreed but I said to myself "Alicia, maybe you should be more aware of your tone early in the morning". So I decided to conduct a test. Let me just say this, HAHAHAHA. Never again, Voices are meant to be raised in the morning Ladies and Gentlemen.
6:45am: I woke up brushed my teeth and took my shower.
7:00am: I proceeded into the Ari's and Tonio's bedroom, turned on the light and kissed each child on the forehead while telling them (In a hushed Tone) it's time to wake up sweethearts.
7:15am: I'm dressed and go back into the kids room and they are still fast asleep. I gently pull the covers off of each child and sit them up on their beds. Again I advise them that it's time to get up and get ready for school. I spend 4 minutes on Ari, rubbing her backing and reassuring her that the weekend is almost here before she finally decides to get out her bed, and I spend 5 minutes on Tonio letting him know that I understand he is tired but he can rest when he gets home from school.
7:25am: Both kids are in the bathroom when I remember I have another child that needs to get ready.
7:26am: I call Anthony on his phone, but of course it goes to voicemail
7:28am: Ariana has poured all her mouth wash out into the sink and Tonio only brushed the top row of his teeth. So I head into the bathroom to help Clean up Ari's mess and brush Tonio's mouth.
7:32am: As the kids leave the bathroom, I head to Anthony's room and gently knock on his door, I tell him it's time to wake up and he mumbles under his breath while pulling the covers over his head
7:34am: I have ironed the kids uniforms the night before and laid out their undergarments. So I hand each child what they need and proceed to the kitchen to make a health breakfast.
7:35am: I can hear Ariana singing and the sound of a race car in their room. But I remain calm.
7:40am: I return to their room to find Ari still in her night clothes and Tonio on the floor in he underpants and socks playing with his hot-wheels.
7:41am: I count to 10, then I place the toys back in their respected places and in a calm voice I ask Tonio to finish getting dressed and I help Ariana get dress then send them to the living room to eat breakfast.
7:43am: While they eat breakfast I clean up their room, make up their beds and pack their lunches
7:48am: Tonio has spilled his milk on his pants, and Ari has cheese in her hair but Still I keep calm.
7:53am: I ironed and changed Tonio's pants and also brush the cheese out of Ari's hair
7:54am: I hear Anthony finally heading to the bathroom
7:55am: Tonio remembers a form I have to fill out that is needed back in school today and Ari can't find one side of her shoe
7:57am: Both kids don't like their snacks I packed and I am asked to switch their chips.
8:00am: Anthony is now leaving the bathroom, I find Ari's missing shoe, but Tonio has a knot in his shoelace and can't the knot out.
8:04am: I get the knot out of the shoe, put their hats and coats on we proceed to the door.
8:05am: I open the door and it's raining. So I head back inside to go on a mad hunt for their umbrellas. All while still remaining calm.
8:08am: I find their umbrellas as Anthony is now coming out his room and also heading out the door.
8:12am: Finally out the door we have to stop because Ari finds a leaf that she needs to show to her teacher.
8:14am: Not to be out done, we stop again because Tonio finds a leaf he wants to show to his teacher.
8:19am: We finally reach school and the guards allow Tonio to go to his class, but because we are now 20 mins late I have to sign in and walk Ari to her class.
8:23am: Ariana reaches her class and she heads home
8:29am: I reach home, grab my bag and head to work.
So what I learnt is that I wasted 40 mintues of my time by staying calm. "WHO KNEW" Mom's and Dad's you VOICE does matter, especially if you want to get those kids to school on time.
6:45am: I woke up brushed my teeth and took my shower.
7:00am: I proceeded into the Ari's and Tonio's bedroom, turned on the light and kissed each child on the forehead while telling them (In a hushed Tone) it's time to wake up sweethearts.
7:15am: I'm dressed and go back into the kids room and they are still fast asleep. I gently pull the covers off of each child and sit them up on their beds. Again I advise them that it's time to get up and get ready for school. I spend 4 minutes on Ari, rubbing her backing and reassuring her that the weekend is almost here before she finally decides to get out her bed, and I spend 5 minutes on Tonio letting him know that I understand he is tired but he can rest when he gets home from school.
7:25am: Both kids are in the bathroom when I remember I have another child that needs to get ready.
7:26am: I call Anthony on his phone, but of course it goes to voicemail
7:28am: Ariana has poured all her mouth wash out into the sink and Tonio only brushed the top row of his teeth. So I head into the bathroom to help Clean up Ari's mess and brush Tonio's mouth.
7:32am: As the kids leave the bathroom, I head to Anthony's room and gently knock on his door, I tell him it's time to wake up and he mumbles under his breath while pulling the covers over his head
7:34am: I have ironed the kids uniforms the night before and laid out their undergarments. So I hand each child what they need and proceed to the kitchen to make a health breakfast.
7:35am: I can hear Ariana singing and the sound of a race car in their room. But I remain calm.
7:40am: I return to their room to find Ari still in her night clothes and Tonio on the floor in he underpants and socks playing with his hot-wheels.
7:41am: I count to 10, then I place the toys back in their respected places and in a calm voice I ask Tonio to finish getting dressed and I help Ariana get dress then send them to the living room to eat breakfast.
7:43am: While they eat breakfast I clean up their room, make up their beds and pack their lunches
7:48am: Tonio has spilled his milk on his pants, and Ari has cheese in her hair but Still I keep calm.
7:53am: I ironed and changed Tonio's pants and also brush the cheese out of Ari's hair
7:54am: I hear Anthony finally heading to the bathroom
7:55am: Tonio remembers a form I have to fill out that is needed back in school today and Ari can't find one side of her shoe
7:57am: Both kids don't like their snacks I packed and I am asked to switch their chips.
8:00am: Anthony is now leaving the bathroom, I find Ari's missing shoe, but Tonio has a knot in his shoelace and can't the knot out.
8:04am: I get the knot out of the shoe, put their hats and coats on we proceed to the door.
8:05am: I open the door and it's raining. So I head back inside to go on a mad hunt for their umbrellas. All while still remaining calm.
8:08am: I find their umbrellas as Anthony is now coming out his room and also heading out the door.
8:12am: Finally out the door we have to stop because Ari finds a leaf that she needs to show to her teacher.
8:14am: Not to be out done, we stop again because Tonio finds a leaf he wants to show to his teacher.
8:19am: We finally reach school and the guards allow Tonio to go to his class, but because we are now 20 mins late I have to sign in and walk Ari to her class.
8:23am: Ariana reaches her class and she heads home
8:29am: I reach home, grab my bag and head to work.
So what I learnt is that I wasted 40 mintues of my time by staying calm. "WHO KNEW" Mom's and Dad's you VOICE does matter, especially if you want to get those kids to school on time.
Tuesday 6 November 2018
I'm Back
It's been a while. 8 Months to be exact and again life as a mom of 3 has been moving along like a freight train filled with zombies speeding at 150 miles per hour.
1 High schooler who is now working, but never seems to have money. How do you get paid on Friday and still ask me for money on Sunday, but you haven't left the house all weekend???
1 2nd grader who spent almost 2 months in Trinidad for summer vacation and came back taller, yet more emotional.
And then there is Ariana. The Pre-schooler who has mastered the art of getting what she wants. She has the whole, batting of the eyes, and giving random kisses before she lures you in with an "You know I Love You".
The house is full of life and lots of chat. Tonio and Ari go from playing one minute to fighting the next. Anthony only speaks when he wants Food or Money.
Needless to say, I'm forging on, getting less sleep, cooking more and spending more.
WHO KNEW IS BACK
1 High schooler who is now working, but never seems to have money. How do you get paid on Friday and still ask me for money on Sunday, but you haven't left the house all weekend???
1 2nd grader who spent almost 2 months in Trinidad for summer vacation and came back taller, yet more emotional.
And then there is Ariana. The Pre-schooler who has mastered the art of getting what she wants. She has the whole, batting of the eyes, and giving random kisses before she lures you in with an "You know I Love You".
The house is full of life and lots of chat. Tonio and Ari go from playing one minute to fighting the next. Anthony only speaks when he wants Food or Money.
Needless to say, I'm forging on, getting less sleep, cooking more and spending more.
WHO KNEW IS BACK
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