notes from home

I've been chatting with Steve and the kids almost daily, sometimes more, via Skype.  Last week all 3 of them seemed really out of sorts:  Steve looked exhausted and stressed, Sophie was crying a lot and Alex ended up spending 2 days off school, one of which was a Day Of Puking.  Steve definitely got the full experience of working motherhood with a bang, including every mom's favorite, drop everything because a child is sick.  I had one night where I felt really low after seeing them struggling so much.

I spoke with them most recently this morning (for me, last night for them) and was amazed at the change.  Steve seemed almost back to normal and was directing Alex in finishing homework, dashing around the kitchen fixing dinner and trying to get Sophie to stop whining at him.  So, normal day in the life... of most mommies.  He openly admitted to me on Sunday that working and dealing with the house and children is really hard.  I tried not to sound too terribly smug when I retorted that I had some awareness of that fact.

So, I am able to see some significant progress toward the goals I had for this trip away.  Sophie talked to me for a little while - in the past couple of days, her articulation had become more precise and she looks like she's had a growth spurt - and then announced she was pretty much done and wanted to hang up.  Alex took a little coaxing away from what Daddy was telling him to do to say hi to me.  And Steve looked more confident and relaxed in his parental duties for the evening.  Seeing this, I felt grateful and encouraged that this trip is absolutely everything I had hoped it would be - a bonding opportunity for my family and some much-needed mommyhood R&R, plus a new career challenge for me.  All seems right with the world, even from half a world away.  #ibmcsc uae