“She said I couldn’t bring my kid today…and I had to go get all this stuff…and I normally don’t cry…and I just found out I’m pregnant.” As I dropped diapers and wipes and a pillow and blanket in the middle of her living room floor.
I entered into this woman’s life as a frazzled mess and I’ll be (somewhat) leaving it just about the same way. This was me dropping Hads off for her first day of daycare at Alisha’s. Almost 5 years later that woman has become one of the biggest blessings of my life.
I’ve been cleaning out my office a bit more today, eating my last potluck Christmas lunch, and spending some much appreciated time with some of my co-workers that I’ve come to love! I get a bit sad and nostalgic thinking back on the past few years. But this doesn’t just affect me, but Alisha too.
She’s seen tons of the “firsts.” First time rolling over, first giggles, first attempts to crawl, first steps, first bites of new foods, first words. But she sees these firsts and keeps her mouth shut. She experiences these exciting times, but has always made sure to make me feel like I was the one who saw all these firsts.
She’s probably changed just as many dirty diapers, if not more, than me. She’s got potty-training down to an art. She puts up with all the sass, menacey-ness, tears just as much if not more than me. She went above and beyond when I was single with way too much on my plate! She came in clutch when I was in the emergency room and I wasn’t home to get Hads to school. She was the person painting hands and feet to make me little crafts that I’ll have for the next 50 years. She even took Hads on a cattle drive!
Telling this lady I was going to start staying home was by far the toughest conversation I’ve had to have throughout this whole life change Thank you for giving me peace of mind that were kids were being loved and well taken care of while I was off pursuing my career.
I was watching Friends this week and the line Rachel gives Ross at the very end makes so much sense. This is why I am glad I won’t be seeing you Friday at pick up time..
“Because it is too damn hard, Ross! I can’t even begin to explain to you how much I am going to miss you. When I think about not seeing you every day, it makes me not want to go. Okay? So if you think I didn’t say goodbye to you because you don’t mean as much to me as everybody else, you’re wrong. It’s because you mean more to me. So there, all right? There’s your goodbye.”
Thank you for helping me raise all my children the past few years! Words and gifts could never express how thankful we are and how much we love you “Lisha.”