Hi ho hi ho, back to work I go!

Tonight I was telling William about some of Ruth's day.  Her home daycare provide (HDCP) had asked if any of my other kids had reddish hair.  She mentioned she noticed a slight red tint to Ruth's hair today in the light.  I said Rebekah had strawberry blond hair but Peter was sandy blond.

Anyway, we started a discussion on hair colors and William told Rebekah that her hair was a beautiful reddish color and Peter's was blond.  Peter says "My hair is green."  Someday, it may be green after a summer of swimming in the pool...but for now...no it isn't.  But he was rather insistent his hair was green.  Not sure why, but that's OK.  Sometimes you just smile and nodd.

And today Rebekah's teacher told me that they made a discovery.  They have been trying to get Rebekah to stop sucking her thumb.  In this matter, I guess I haven't been very supportive.  In my opinion, she will stop when she is ready.  I encourage her, but I don't push. 

Anyway - they found out she doesn't suck her thumb when she has a band-aide on.  I asked Rebekah if she wished to wear band-aides to help her stop and she said yes.  The teacher looked at me like I was crazy...what, give my kid a choice?  Umm, yeah.  She has to want to stop, or it isn't going to work.

This evening she told William she wanted to stop because no one else sucks their thumb.  William made a point that he loved her whether she sucks her thumb or not.  I reiterated this a little later.  I would like her to stop, but I don't want her to feel bad about it.  And this is really something that she is simply going to have to want to do.

In other news, today was my first day back at work.  I will admit the night before I was dreading the entire thing.  But you know, in the Bible often they give certain time lines for things.  For example, when Aaron died the Israelites mourned for him for 30 days (Numbers 20:29).  On the 31st day they dried up their tears and moved on with their lives.  There is nothing wrong with wallowing in self pity unless it is done for too long. 

So I gave myself until I fell asleep last night, and when I woke up this morning I went to work with a smile on my face and a spring in my step.  Everyone who asked if I was happy to be back, I told them "Yes!  Absolutely!" And when you take this direction enough times, the rest of you soon follows. 

The result?  Today really wasn't so bad.  Did I miss Ruth?  Sure.  But it really wasn't all that hard to go into work and do my job.  And she had a great day today.  They tell me she is fascinated with one of the little boys there.  We'll call him J.  J is about a month older than Peter and reminds me of him right down to the orneriness.  I'm not surprised at all that she likes him.  She does adore her brother after all. :-)

Today I'm thankful for a God who holds our hands when we need it, but isn't afraid to kick us in the hinney.  And that is exactly what He did.  He was rather firm when He told me my deadline for my self-pity-party.  But I'm thankful for it.  I did have to return to work.  It will be an adjustment.  And feeling sorry for myself won't help anyone.

And now I must run off to pump...again.  Previous kids I pumped when I got home from work...but I really can't do that now between getting dinner done and dealing with all 3.  So after they are all in bed...I will collapse on the couch and cozy up to the beast night after night.  Well, for awhile...until I get to a place I can start dropping pumping sessions. :-)