Looking Into the Future

Sometimes I am eager to go to work for a break from the stress and frustration of raising a 5 month old who is sick and teething and screaming and crying and thrashing and walloping my aching jaw with his head. Days like this I wonder if my children would be better off if I left them for a few hours each day. Fewer opportunities for me to hurt them that way. (Not that I will hurt them, I'm just saying there are lots of opportunities to lose control when you are with kids 24/7.)

There are many many days when I am desperate to stay home simply because I am exhausted from lack of sleep. And then... there are those sweet moments when my heart yearns to be home with Daniel all the time so I would not have to miss out on all the smiles and giggles and new discoveries.

So is being a stay-at-home-mom in my future?

I love my job but I love my family more. I know that we are happiest when we live our lives according to Heavenly Father's plan (which is outlined very well in the Proclamation to the World.) If I do continue working it will be because that is what is best for our family.

I have three options: Stay at work full time. Stay at home full time. And Voluntary Reduction in Work Schedule (VRWS). I can work and earn money for the family (and enjoy my job in the process) but also have the flexibility to take time off whenever I need or want to. Here's how it works: is an option I have as a State employee to give up a percentage of my pay for the same % in time off. The min reduction is 5%, the max is 30%. 5% = 13 extra days, 30% = 78 extra days. 78 extra days off a year! That's approx 4 months! I am seriously considering VRWS once James starts working because it is the next best thing to being a stay at home mom.