“When One Door Closes, Another Opens”

We’ve all heard this quote before, right? In many cases we don’t even notice it happening. We will be busy working towards something and swiftly glide through an open door without even hearing the other door softly shut. In other cases, not quite as often, they appear to be more monumentally noticeable.

Well, a few days ago I had one of those more monumental moments. I heard my door shut.  This time it was not subtle. It was loud and clear. I think it actually banged a few times like it was blowing around in a storm and with one final rush of vigorous wind it was slammed closed.

Now what.

Well, after every storm the sun eventually breaks through the clouds and when this happened there appeared my open door.

I’m 13 weeks pregnant with twins. I still shock myself, like its brand new news every time I say it. I also have a 2-year old daughter. Having been informed by my OB that twin pregnancies do not typically last the full 40 weeks, (they certainly can, but I was told of the possibility that it may not) that this may be the best time to make my family my priority.  What does that mean exactly? For me, it meant pulling my daughter out of daycare and staying home with her full-time, prepping to put our condo on the market, actively begin our house hunt, prep for the inevitable twins that will soon be taking over late June possibly July and finally maintaining a healthy and happy household. This also meant temporarily placing my career aspirations and goals aside and quite frankly becoming a full-time mom and wife.  Wife sounds too grown-up; lets say wifey instead to lessen the blow. I have to admit, I am being a tad dramatic about the career. My background provides the opportunity to pick up projects and work at home pretty much on my own schedule. So, it actually can continue to play a role; a less prominent role but can remain in existence. Which provides that nice balance between family and work that I enjoy.

So, this all seemed like it could be exciting… day in and day out spend my days with my daughter. Who wouldn’t love that? Well, my first thought was… “Uh oh, daycare teaches her so much stuff, she is going to become dumb spending her days with me.” Immediately I was trying to figure out ways to keep her in daycare and be a full-time mom. Then my money conscious very loving husband reminded me, that keeping our daughter in daycare is not exactly what we had in mind regarding the whole staying home with our daughter plan, as well as, not being the most economical answer. Right.

I like to assume that being a full-time mom does not just come naturally to all moms.  Feel free to lie to me if it does. So, I did what I would like to imagine every stay at home mom did in prep for their first day on the mom job.  I dropped the baby off at daycare, went to the movies (I realllly wanted to see The Secret Life of Walter Mitty) and then went to the library.  I walked through every aisle. I probably spent a minimum of two hours there. I picked out books about everything. Topics included how to potty train, uncluttering your home for a stress free and welcoming environment, activities for toddlers, feeding toddlers that are on strike against food, a book about pregnancy nutrition and of course Hero by Ronda Byrne (we could all use a little bit of Ronda Byrne), as well as a book on twins (I ‘ even start that one yet), and lastly a book about how to look expensive, a beauty editors book about how to get gorgeous on a budget.  C’mon every little bit helps.  I also took the liberty to join three different moms groups in the area.  Might as well tap into the expert geniuses out there. I feel armed and ready. First week on the job, you don’t stand a chance. I wish my daughter the best of luck. Here’s to who knows what but we certainly shall see.