Thankful...

Yesterday morning Lillian woke up after Shaun had left for work. She immediately started crying when she came out of her room and realized that he had already gone; it breaks my heart when she does that. I went through my regular speech, "Lillian, Daddy goes to work everyday. He works so hard for our family so that I can stay home for with you and John Whitten. You are so blessed to have such a hard working Daddy". She calmed down, we cuddled until John Whitten woke up and then we started to get ready for our art class at McWane. While I was getting dressed in my usual stay at home mommy uniform, gym shorts and a t-shirt, Lillian asked me "Mommy why don't you have a job like Daddy". I have to say that I chuckled but felt a little under appreciated. Later I was talking to my Dad on the phone and told him the story knowing that he would get a good laugh out of it; he loves all the silly things Lillian says. Instead he got very serious and said, "Melissa I hope you told her that you DO have a job...the most important job. Melissa, tell me you told her that." Later he chuckled about it, but it meant a lot to me that he reacted that way...almost like he stood up for me and all that I do.

Later that morning as we were walking around the McWane center and as I watched Lillian playing I couldn't stop thinking, "Here I am walking around the McWane center on a Monday morning playing with my babies. And that was right were I was suppose to be. " I felt so blessed and lucky. Sure we don't have new or even newer cars, we don't have a huge house, we don't go on vacation often, we stick to a tight budget, etc. But I have the rest of my life to work and I only have my babies as babies for a short period of time. I am so thankful for these days with them.

Today, Lillian and I were reading books in her room while John Whitten was taking his morning nap. During Llama, Llama Red Pajama (for the third time) Lillian said, "Mommy I am so glad Daddy makes money so you can play with me". Apparently some of yesterday's explanation of my unemployment was lost in translation.