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Posted By Katie On September 1, 2011 12 Comments

What a working mom comes home to…

Filed Under: Family Values, Motivated Moms Tagged With: love, making marriage work, marriage, working mom 12 Comments

I travel…frequently for my career but otherwise work from home. When I do travel, it’s hard and fast. 3AM alarm clocks are normal during weeks I travel and driving at least 90-110 miles one way to an airport is also normal. We live in the middle of a desolate prairie. Why do I do it? My husband and I have agreed it’s best for our family. Plain and simple. You can ask questions and I’ll answer but as a family at this stage of life, my career works for us for a few reasons. But the number one reason I can have a working mom career is I have a huge support system. From my employer to my husband to my parents to my daycare provider and more are a part of the system that makes me tick. Then there are my in-laws who are just down the road from us that help us daily with our family life in a huge way. They are a big stake in our support system and part of that reason is best described in this photo I took last night of the evening meal awaiting me on my in-laws dining room table. 
My mother-in-law’s cooking eases my anxious mind

I came home last night to my family being fed. My flight was late so I missed sitting down to eat with them but waiting for me was a homemade feast. If I travel on business, my mother-in-law cooks for our family. It’s not an average meal as you can see either. It’s from scratch and it allows our kids to sit down with their dad and grandparents, developing close knit relationships they wouldn’t have had if we lived where my employer’s offices are or if we had stayed on my husband’s corporate wheel career.

The kids are happy. We are happy. How can you not be happy eating Nana’s double chocolate cake? My laundry is not done. My house is not clean.

(Please note the bruises on Hunter’s arms are a result from his football game.)

But when I come home to my kids and their laughter as they play on the floor of Nana and Grandpa’s house along with a full family meal made by mother-in-law, my working mom anxiety releases. What a working mom comes home to matters. I am thankful for what I come home to every day.

What helps ease your mind during hectic times?

Linking up today with The Wife of a Dairyman for Thankful Thursday…

Tomorrow I am going to be featuring a list of my favorite blogs that I read often. Over the long weekend, I have not one but two recipes to share. Broccoli and Swiss Casserole from Gooseberry Patch and the Rhubarb Blueberry sauce that we just made with the last of a summer crop of rhubarb a friend shared with us.

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Previous Post: « Wordy Wednesday w/ Linky: Teaching toddlers to shop
Next Post: Show Us Your Life: 8 Favorite Blogs of People I Don’t Know »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. TexWisGirl says

    September 1, 2011 at 9:17 pm

    great post. what a great family you have there. squeeze that mother-in-law for me! 🙂

    Reply
  2. Julie and Lauren says

    September 1, 2011 at 9:33 pm

    Great post. Where would we be as working moms without our support network? I am forever grateful for my daycare provider, my friends, and Lauren’s Dad. I feel pretty blessed that he is such a help and always willing to arrange his schedule to allow me to make my work life possible.

    Reply
  3. Farmchick says

    September 1, 2011 at 10:03 pm

    Really wonderful that you have this family support system. I teach and take my kids to school with me each day and am there if they need me. However, my laundry remains unfinished (a lot) and my house is still not clean! My son also has a few of these bruises from football:)

    Reply
  4. Party Of Four says

    September 2, 2011 at 1:57 am

    That is awesome, what a great family you have.

    Reply
  5. Roxane B. Salonen says

    September 2, 2011 at 3:10 am

    Love the photo of your son and daughter; so sweet. And I’m so glad you have such an awesome support, Katie. That certainly does make all the difference! You really have the best of both worlds in a lot of ways. I’m glad it works for you!

    Reply
  6. Emily @ Zweber Family Farm says

    September 2, 2011 at 3:13 am

    It really does take a village to raise a family. I’m a work at home mom and I depend on my parents and my in laws a lot. They are our support system. My kids are better for it as well!

    Reply
  7. Keltickelton says

    September 2, 2011 at 5:14 am

    Thanks for your post. Where would any of us be without a support system? And you totally deserve yours! Thanks for being who you are!

    Reply
  8. Lisa @ Two Bears Farm says

    September 2, 2011 at 3:48 pm

    It sounds like you’re in good hands!

    Reply
  9. Country Girl 46 says

    September 2, 2011 at 4:55 pm

    As a full-time working mom myself, I know I couldn’t do it without the help of my parents and mother-in-law. And, my boys are so lucky to get to spend their days at my parent’s dairy learning all the same things I did growing up. Like you, I am truly blessed to have them as my support system!!

    Reply
  10. Food, Mommy! says

    September 2, 2011 at 7:34 pm

    This comment has been removed by the author.

    Reply
  11. Food, Mommy! says

    September 2, 2011 at 7:36 pm

    We have so much in common, and you reminded me that I need to give my inlaws a very big hug the next I see them (which will be tomorrow when we drop off the kids to have a date). I work from home and travel quite a bit too. We are so lucky to be able to have professional lives while knowing our families are well cared for. Here’s to “Nanas” everywhere!

    Reply
  12. Aimee Whetstine says

    September 3, 2011 at 12:59 am

    Katie, you are blessed to have the loving support of your family around you. Good choice, my friend. Because even when the traveling is tough, the chocolate cake is sweet–and so is the comfort of those you love loving each other. Good choice…

    Reply

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I am a mom of three kids and a wife to Nathan. Together we live on the North Dakota prairie, 97 miles from a Starbuck's. I share about family, food, farming and the prairie that I love. I used to commute 98 miles one-way to work but it required too much coffee. So now I am home, consulting, speaking, writing and primarily, juggling family life.
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