Its one of those UPLIFTING posts.
Amelia, my angel and Nanny, is at home with the girls on her last day today. She is going to Hong Kong for 5 weeks or so this Saturday. And then, hopefully, Megan will be in Preschool. And, I can’t even express how sad I am. She has been a part of our family for over a year. Only a year. but A YEAR. I didn’t even realize how much she meant to me, until this week. The closer I got to today, the more emotional I feel. And now? I just need a good break-down, a really snotty, slobbery sob-fest. :(
I’m not even sure why I feel so strongly. I mean, really? Other than our interview with her, I spend not more than 20 minutes a day with her. I escape to my ‘office’ and work for the entire time she is there (part time by the way). 20 minutes times 3 days a week, times a year? Nah. That can’t be it.
Perhaps it is how much my kids love her? Megan and her have bonded so well. She is a mother to her, a one-on-one doting care-giver. She has never spoken loudly at her. And may I remind you? She is our “LOUD” one. We jokingly refer to her as “expressive”. The reason it is such a joke, is because it is such an UNDERSTATEMENT. And Amelia just calmly tries to reason with her, is patient with her childish antics, fixes her clothes, washes her face, potty trained her, takes her out to play, chases away scary bugs, taught her to hop, and skip, and count. Amelia is responsible for her knowledge of the alphabet and her ability to count! She got Megan over her nap phase – remember those grumpy afternoons when baby is too tired not to nap, but not tired enough to nap? Three days a week I got a break. They play hide and seek, and go-go-stop is their favorite right now.
I truly think – I’m not just saying this – that Amelia is UNREPLACEABLE. I have a couple numbers of housekeepers that I should be calling to help me. And no, we’re not rich. My hubby likes a clean house, and we both know, I ain’t no superwoman – I don’t work, and clean, and cook. I work. And some days I get one of the other two started. On that note, I HIGHLY recommend a frank talk to your hubby if you are the sole person responsible for full time childcare, full time cook, and full time housekeeper. If you work, that is even more ammunition. You shouldn’t be expected to do it all. Unless he would expect the same of himself. And if he’s so brazen, leave for a week, without a freezer full of meals, or childcare all laid out. Anywho…..
We haven’t shared about my illness. We haven’t gone into the hardships that our kids have faced over the last 3 years. We haven’t applied for the sympathy card. And yet? She is a smart, polite, quiet, and so respectful. She comes in every day on time or early. She brings her own lunch, and hangs her own jacket, not in our closet! Which, I think, would be too ‘forward’! She removes her shoes, on our ever-so-not-clean floors.
At the end of the day, aside from the tidied house and clean kitchen there are two things she leaves. One is a tidy little bag of garbage that was produced that day. (she doesn’t use our garbage) I smile every time I see that bag. And the second thing, is a cup. I actually like seeing that cup at the end of the day. She is the only one that uses that particular mug. And at the end of the day, it is rinsed and upside down in the sink or dishwasher. I get a warm fuzzy feeling from knowing that she was there. That she had a hot cup of water. And left my house so beautiful and calm. And it IS calm. that is the feeling that she leaves. The girls are happy, and played out, and loved, and cuddled, and definitely cared for in every.single.way. She is truly amazing.
She has tried to adapt to our parenting style, and tried to be firm when the girls are pushing the limits. And it is sweet how she tries to be firm. lol It is not natural for her at all. But she knows that I want her to be. I’m not sure the girls notice that she’s being firm, but I know she is. Oh – one other thing: you know I work from home, right? Usually in my bedroom. And she keeps the girls out of there all the time. She respects my time, and my work and it makes me feel so valuable. Perhaps I am doing something that is actually useful. But it is more than just my work, I feel valued, as a person, and as a mother. She always brings the children to me, and makes sure that they say goodbye to me when I leave for an appointment. Instead of diminish what I do, I feel that she has made me a better mother.
And she is done- my rock, a piece of my stability. The woman who has been the springboard for my personal and work life, is leaving. And I wish I could keep her.
I am so sad. I feel as if I’m loosing a family member.
Social Networking is the sincerest form of flattery.
Its one of those UPLIFTING posts.
Amelia, my angel and Nanny, is at home with the girls on her last day today. She is going to Hong Kong for 5 weeks or so this Saturday. And then, hopefully, Megan will be in Preschool. And, I can’t even express how sad I am. She has been a part of our family for over a year. Only a year. but A YEAR. I didn’t even realize how much she meant to me, until this week. The closer I got to today, the more emotional I feel. And now? I just need a good break-down, a really snotty, slobbery sob-fest. :(
I’m not even sure why I feel so strongly. I mean, really? Other than our interview with her, I spend not more than 20 minutes a day with her. I escape to my ‘office’ and work for the entire time she is there (part time by the way). 20 minutes times 3 days a week, times a year? Nah. That can’t be it.
Perhaps it is how much my kids love her? Megan and her have bonded so well. She is a mother to her, a one-on-one doting care-giver. She has never spoken loudly at her. And may I remind you? She is our “LOUD” one. We jokingly refer to her as “expressive”. The reason it is such a joke, is because it is such an UNDERSTATEMENT. And Amelia just calmly tries to reason with her, is patient with her childish antics, fixes her clothes, washes her face, potty trained her, takes her out to play, chases away scary bugs, taught her to hop, and skip, and count. Amelia is responsible for her knowledge of the alphabet and her ability to count! She got Megan over her nap phase – remember those grumpy afternoons when baby is too tired not to nap, but not tired enough to nap? Three days a week I got a break. They play hide and seek, and go-go-stop is their favorite right now.
I truly think – I’m not just saying this – that Amelia is UNREPLACEABLE. I have a couple numbers of housekeepers that I should be calling to help me. And no, we’re not rich. My hubby likes a clean house, and we both know, I ain’t no superwoman – I don’t work, and clean, and cook. I work. And some days I get one of the other two started. On that note, I HIGHLY recommend a frank talk to your hubby if you are the sole person responsible for full time childcare, full time cook, and full time housekeeper. If you work, that is even more ammunition. You shouldn’t be expected to do it all. Unless he would expect the same of himself. And if he’s so brazen, leave for a week, without a freezer full of meals, or childcare all laid out. Anywho…..
We haven’t shared about my illness. We haven’t gone into the hardships that our kids have faced over the last 3 years. We haven’t applied for the sympathy card. And yet? She is a smart, polite, quiet, and so respectful. She comes in every day on time or early. She brings her own lunch, and hangs her own jacket, not in our closet! Which, I think, would be too ‘forward’! She removes her shoes, on our ever-so-not-clean floors.
At the end of the day, aside from the tidied house and clean kitchen there are two things she leaves. One is a tidy little bag of garbage that was produced that day. (she doesn’t use our garbage) I smile every time I see that bag. And the second thing, is a cup. I actually like seeing that cup at the end of the day. She is the only one that uses that particular mug. And at the end of the day, it is rinsed and upside down in the sink or dishwasher. I get a warm fuzzy feeling from knowing that she was there. That she had a hot cup of water. And left my house so beautiful and calm. And it IS calm. that is the feeling that she leaves. The girls are happy, and played out, and loved, and cuddled, and definitely cared for in every.single.way. She is truly amazing.
She has tried to adapt to our parenting style, and tried to be firm when the girls are pushing the limits. And it is sweet how she tries to be firm. lol It is not natural for her at all. But she knows that I want her to be. I’m not sure the girls notice that she’s being firm, but I know she is. Oh – one other thing: you know I work from home, right? Usually in my bedroom. And she keeps the girls out of there all the time. She respects my time, and my work and it makes me feel so valuable. Perhaps I am doing something that is actually useful. But it is more than just my work, I feel valued, as a person, and as a mother. She always brings the children to me, and makes sure that they say goodbye to me when I leave for an appointment. Instead of diminish what I do, I feel that she has made me a better mother.
And she is done- my rock, a piece of my stability. The woman who has been the springboard for my personal and work life, is leaving. And I wish I could keep her.
I am so sad. I feel as if I’m loosing a family member.
Social Networking is the sincerest form of flattery.