Living our best lives

by chuckofish

Have you heard the news? I (daughter #2) am now, in internet parlance, in my stay-at-home mom era. By the time I had returned to work in the spring, DN and I had decided that everyone would be happier if I stayed home with our girls. Neither Katie nor I were particularly fond of our previous daytime scenarios at work and school, and we thought Ida deserved the full year at home (at least) that her sister, a “pandemic baby,” got to experience. Add some loose financial number crunching and it’s clear where everyone belongs:

…the back room!

Sure, the logistics have been a bit of an adjustment, and we joke about the cost of “F & A” as our home becomes the full-time location of child-rearing. (I feel like I need a special seat for Ida in every single room.) Ida has also basically boycotted her nap schedule now that her sister is home to entertain her. But for the most part, these girls play so nicely and are mutually so enamored with each other.

Benny and Clown Bear are also obviously thrilled to have Katie at home. Here, she insists that “they are hungry” and need “real food” to eat with her.

I am grateful for DN’s modern workplace arrangement that allows him to work from home some days. Even a few minutes of help here and there make the world of difference. When he first returned to the office and we stayed home, I had not anticipated that Katie would be heartbroken, but of course she was — our typical home life had heretofore always seen everyone at home together.

Saturdays with Dad

Well, I told Katie that someone has to go to work to provide for our family. Her response was, “Ida should go to work.” (Ida never saw that betrayal coming.) Indeed, Katie says the darndest things at this age, and I feel very grateful that now I get to hear every last utterance!