Dear Working Amy

Months ago, I read this and was really touched by it. As a teacher, I have the joy of working but also staying at home with my kids for about 15 weeks out of the year. I truly feel like I see both sides of the fence and can identify with stay-at-home moms and working moms.

As I sit here in the trenches of summer, I can't help but begin to long for the working world. Being a working mom seems sooooo easy and fulfilling in a different way. Knowing better, I scolded myself and thought of the letters I read months ago. Then, I thought it might be entertaining to write letters to myself - one from stay-at-home Amy to working Amy and, in a few months, one from working Amy to stay-at-home Amy.

So, here in the woes and heat of summer is my first letter…

Dear Working Amy,

Walk those halls. Walk nice and slow through those halls to one of many bathrooms (yes, I'm starting with a trip to the bathroom; these are important, people!). Enjoy those moments to yourself; take as long as you wish. Perhaps you can peruse Facebook or watch a YouTube video. Maybe you'll think back to the days where you had to tiptoe to the back bathroom in dire hopes of a few moments of privacy…only to be followed closely by the pitter patter of little feet (such a cute phrase - but not when headed to the bathroom). Don't think about what it was like to squeeze four people - albeit three of them small - into a toilet room and take care of business while they gaze smile cry up at you or maybe even sit in your lap. Enjoy the solitude, working Amy!

My working counterpart, you had a lovely drive to work this morning? Maybe it was long, but what else was it? Quiet? You mean to tell me no one begged to watch Frozen, or screamed because Harper's foot was on her seat? No one cried loudly for no apparent reason? No one pelted you in the head with a half-full sippy cup? You didn't have to rub Major's head to keep him from falling asleep - AGAIN? I hope you enjoyed that quiet. Use it to listen to some music, say a few prayers (for the crew you're going to face when you get home, ha ha ha), chuckle at the Kid Kraddick Morning Show, call a friend, or just be silent. Amy: don't text and drive.

Hard-working, ever-toiling Amy, did you get to speak to adults today? How many intellectually stimulating conversations did you have with your co-workers? SIX?? You spoke to six different people without interruption or whining? Wait, what? You spoke to more than that?? Ohhhh, but only six conversations were intellectually stimulating. It's tough keeping up with you, smart girl; my stay-at-home mom brain has gone to mush. Anyway, Amy, I hope you lavished in those conversations. May your brain be challenged and your mind exhausted from educational pursuits. I'm going to go kiss a boo boo and cook some yummy nummy supperooni.

Oh Amy, you may have just made it home at 5:00, but look at your floors. They're spotless! I can see my face in them! No food has been slung, no milk spilled, no clothes thrown, or toys strewn about. Your house has been still. The sink remains empty, and gosh-darnit, those clothes can wait! They're waiting for me even now! Go spend a few moments with those sweet babies who've missed you all day! The weekend is just around the corner - be encouraged!

And at the end of the day, how's your "to do list" looking, my working friend? Oh, you woke, got everyone packed for the day, made it out the door by 6 AM, fed the minds of about 45 precious young ones, professionally developed, met with a colleague, called two parents, wrote countless e-mails, graded a set of papers, made some copies, went for a run, stopped for an afternoon coffee, picked up the kids, prepared supper, fed the minions, ran some laundry, unloaded the dishes, got everyone to bed, held about a 7 minute conversation with your mega-hunk husband, and crashed? Wow, you must feel accomplished! All of those items scratched off of your list! Oh, how sweet, you're asking about my list?  I scrubbed last night's quinoa off the floor and peed by myself!!!

Love,
Stay-at-home Amy