Menay O; mom to 4, Christian and thrift shopper on the side…

I’ve been off from work since Good Friday, April 15. It’s been glorious I must say. One of the perks of working for the DOE. We celebrated Easter this past Sunday with a family brunch and that was nice. We didn’t make plans to go away, we never do. I don’t want to be away for the whole week and then jump right back into work you know? Besides I like being home for the week plus how many days. It sounds odd but it’s a good feeling to be able to keep up with laundry, vacuum up after Riley my ever shedding dog and get things done around the house that I put off because I’m working. Plus I’m able to spend time with Lelly and Samantha and my husband after he returns home from work. Samantha is home this week as well.

In a weird way being home is a reminder of when I was a stay at home mom except today I have a lot more freedom. Samantha at 15 doesn’t necessarily “need” me and that’s ok. I don’t miss the days of being totally needed. I don’t miss the days of everyone young. At one point I had 4 kids 10 years old and under. Then as Samantha became a little older I had 4 kids in 4 different schools. Fun times I tell you. I wasn’t unhappy when everyone was younger, it’s just that life was harder then than it is now. I don’t have to explain myself those of you with older children understand and those of you with younger children; well you think these years will last forever. They don’t. I really identify with the saying, “the days are long but the years are short”. With my girls I feel like I turned around and here they are married, turning 21 and soon to be 16. Incredible.