​Transitioning from Full-time stay-at-home mom to full-time working mom

I always thought that I was ambitious and that at some point I would end up, at least, VP of Communications in a big company. I therefore studied hard, got my Master and worked in big and well-known organizations. My goal was to gain as much experience as I could. That was until … I became a mom and realized that I preferred leaving work at 4 pm and spending time with my family. Being a mom made me realized who the real me was … A person who does not mind hanging out all day wearing large t-shirts and yoga pants, covered with left over vomit. This is definitively the “cool me.” During my time as a stay-at-home mom, I got to know all the Disney movies and even build opinions. For instance, Anna from Frozen is way cooler than Elsa (come on girls, stop with her, she is so annoying and needy). I ate kids’ food, drank out of sippy cups and over used the words: “pee pee”, “peekaboo,” “boo boo,” and “ba ba ba.” The good side of being a stay-at-home mom is all the time you get to spend with your child. Seeing them growing, getting independent, being around for every laugh, smile and step. The bad side is all the time you spend with your child; crys, tantrums, diapers that overflow with diarrhea, running noses and catching your child blowing it with your favorite shirt… Yes, it sounds contradictory … but there is really a mixed feelings. At some point, I needed an activity that would take me out of the house … but at the same time, not too far. Yes, still very contradictory.
 
After 18 months as a stay-at-home mom, I am back on track! Yoga pants stay home, working pants and clean shirts on, I am ready to rock the outside world. So was the transition easy? No, it was hell … first, I have to wake up early. Then, as soon as I open my eyes, the morning marathon starts: getting ready, preparing the girls, lunch boxes, finding the missing shoe, bottles, the hubby, the missing phone, the wrinkled shirt, me, what to do with my hair … getting everybody in the car, rushing to the daycare, rushing to the school, applying mascara in car, rushing to … oh no, no more rushing, I forgot to mention that I work at my girl’s school (5 minutes away from my place). Yes, I know, a dream job for any mom. I drop my girl in her classroom, chat a bit with her teacher and walk to my office. At 4 pm, I am done working and at 4.20 pm I am home with my two girls. My work environment is fun and challenging, but why would it not be, I work in a school. Everyday is different, with different issues and an UH-MA-ZING team to work with.
 
So back to the question, was the transition easy? I was kidding, it surely was. I even enjoyed it. The main issue while not working was the lack of interaction with other adults. Now, every day, I face challenges that require me to use something that I forgot I had … a brain. Yes, I have a brain that I stimulate everyday. Sometimes I forget that in a working environment, we do not go “pee pee” but we “use the bathrooms.” I also meet great people with whom I can relate. Of course, my routine changed. My 9 month old goes to daycare instead of spending the entire day with me. But at the end of day, we are happy to be together and keep on hugging and kissing. I also feel that I have something that drives me, something that is just for me.

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