Becoming Team Manager

I was thinking about my blog as I was out for my daily walk this morning. It is summer and I walk 3 miles each morning with my 2 dogs at 6:30 am each day. One is for exercise and the other reason is for sort of physical therapy. I had acl knee reconstruction surgery in April, so trying to keep moving. Anyways, I was going over the blog in my head.

I was realizing that I am starting a new chapter in my life. It really started last September, but let me explain. I am moving from baby making and babies and me as the ultimate boss to the teenage years and me becoming the team manager.

Update of the team ages -
The C-man is 14
Mr. K is 11
Croc is 7 and Charlie Brown is 5.

So, you can see that my oldest baby will be entering high school - gasp! And, my youngest baby will be entering kindergarten - wow! How did this happen? I can remember all four of them just like it is yesterday, sitting in diapers in their high chairs, orange from spaghettios and calling them orange Elmo.

From my own age of 19 - 33 I was making babies, pregnant, nursing, diapering, putting babes down for naps, watching them toddle around, trying to get pregnant again, attending playgroups, and chauffering off to preschool. I was THE boss. The babies liked to think I was on their schedule, but it was really me that did their schedules and all that jazz.

Now the table has turned. I started teaching last year after being a SAHM for 13 years. I realized that I was having less control over my family. They were doing things different from me. Like my preschooler. I didn't get to bring him to school and meet the moms and his little friends. But, it is okay. Everyone is just spreading their wings and I get to watch with pride and the little men (well, tall men) coming out of their experiences. I am blessed that my father in law is the one that watches my kids. He comes and helps them with breakfast and makes sure they are dressed and catch the bus, then he gets them off the bus. It is a great arrangement.

With the kids getting older, I have gone from THE boss to the Manager. It is okay. I was ready for a change. The kids were ready for a change. They each have their own interests, friends, and schedules. I am again lucky in that I am not a total taxi. We live close to town and the schools and the ball fields, so they can ride their bikes if they have to. Plus, with the grandparents in town, they are very helpful too. Add to that, that now the C-man is old enough to stay home and babysit, I only have to bring the kid that needs to go, not pile them all into the car.

So, as a lot of my friends are in the early stages of the baby years and some deciding whether or not to have another baby, I am entering the TEEN years! I will be in this stage for the next 13 years. It will be interesting. I am sure it will be trying at times. But, all the boys have a good foundation and a good family support system, so I think their wings will help them fly safely.

Enjoy the heat! Today would be a great day to soar high!