"You're really good at wiping me, Mom"

I really struggled when I first became a mother. There was the whole hormonal, postpartum depression thing. And then of course I was sleep deprived and struggling with the whole nursing relationship and worried that Emma wasn't eating and gaining enough. But on top of all of that, I had decided to stay home and quit my profession, and that hit me like a freight train. I missed my adult coworkers. I didn't know what the heck I was doing as a mom and lacked confidence. I wasn't sure how to juggle the whole parenting/housework duties. And I really missed those measurable forms of knowing my job was being well done. The verbal affirmations, the good evaluations, the paycheck. This was the start of a whole new kind of job in which satisfaction was to be reached via alternate ways... with smiles, hugs, poops.

Almost four years later I have adjusted to a whole new career. Like any job, it has its perks and its drawbacks. There are great days and lousy days. Verbal affirmations are something I hear quite frequently these days from my oldest (and I'm holding on to every minute because I know this won't last!) As I was helping Emma wipe after going potty today, she made the title comment. There are just some affirmations you will never hear from your boss!