Category Archives: Diaper Diaries

The Diaper Diaries ~ Changes (Other Than Diapers)

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Yesterday I watched the one 7yo and her 2yo and 1yo siblings for the last time.  I knew the day would come and was just around the corner but still it came up on us so suddenly.

Their mom’s story is not mine to share, but because she works and has 3 kids she can get some assistance.  Aside from food  stamps she also qualifies for help in the form of vouchers for childcare.  I made an attempt to get certified as a type B provider in my county so I could accept vouchers for payment.  What a ridiculous series of hoops to jump through and hurdles to clear!!  I have no issue with criminal background checks, I don’t even have a parking ticket to my name.  But the other things you must do, classes that must be taken (never mind that I raised 2 kids of my own, 1 step daughter for years part time and was a kinship foster care mom for 4 kids for 1 year and MIGHT have a clue how to do this gig), it is all insane and next to impossible to achieve.  It was silly for the mama to work just to pay me for watching her kids,  which is about all she was doing as there wasn’t much left each week after paying for childcare and I wasn’t even charging what I would have for someone that wasn’t already holding one of the crappiest hands of fate cards I’ve ever seen.

The daycare job came at a time when we both needed each other.  The company I was working for was sinking fast despite the band playing on the deck like nothing was happening.  As the office manager I was privy to our accounts payable and receivable and the writing was in bold, uppercase red letters on the wall.  I got out just before the economy devoured that place and there I was once again out of work.  I was looking but frankly couldn’t face the idea of going back into corporate America, I wanted to work from home.  Once mom and I brain stormed it we realized that me babysitting might be the best route.  It left me home to work as I wanted, was enough money and I could start working Avon.  Win/win all around as I was able to tackle Mt. Washmore and other stuff around the house.  My mom of 3 had just had their white picket fence world turned completely on end and shattered.  For what her 7 year old endured at the hands of a man she called “daddy”, well I just hope there is a special place in the pits of hell for him.

It was a wonderful situation for the kids, mom had piece of mind and since April they’ve been a part of my life.  I’ve watched one come out of her shell, one become easier to understand as he learned to talk, and one go from not able to sit up  on her own to walking.  Yesterday I watched the 7yo’s heart break when she found out it was  their last day with Miss Marti.  I felt a crack or two in my own.

Today it is just me and the 5 month old.  The house is so QUIET.  I didn’t realize just how much I did until I’m sitting here not doing it.  There is more time to conquer the laundry, hold and rock the baby (heaven help her parents she is about to be even more spoiled rotten!), dishes, cleaning, social media, blogging and games.  I realized that I can stick the baby in a car seat now that it is just us during the day and run errands, or work the  Avon business with her cute little self “helping” me.  The other 7yo, the baby’s cousin, is only here for about 15-30 minutes in the morning and then 2 hours tops after school.

I’m praying the Avon works out well and that I won’t need to take on more kids so I have more time for the baby and for ME.

Time will tell….

The Diaper Diaries ~ Surprise In The Chaos

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This week I began watching a 7 week old infant along with my other 3.  That will only last a week, then the 7yo goes back to school next week and by the time she is home from school, the infant will be gone for the day.  But for this week,  it is a bit chaotic getting used to a  new  mouth to feed and bottom to change.  Not to mention gassy and needing to be held.  Thankfully the ability to do most things creatively with one hand has come back to me from my mommy days  with my own kids.  I still have my ‘baby rock’, rocking side to side even without a baby in my arms.  The past 4 days I’ve been pinched, pee’d on, pooped on and puked on, a lot.  Thankfully I have a lot of old t-shirts to wear when in childcare mode.  And you know, I really haven’t minded it one bit.

The past two days everyone under the age of 8 has been cranky, crabby and  generally uncooperative.  And Miss Marti  had PMS…flaming PMS.  Not a good mix.  I was counting down the minutes to happy hour so I could just  veg with a glass of wine and  soothing music.

The  Count is out of town until Monday but  I’ve been getting  hundreds of loving texts in the middle of the insanity, making it easier to smile through the odor of dirty diapers and  up-chucked formula.  Oh and a 1yo that has decided, upon turning a year old yesterday, that she is no  longer going to eat jar  food.   I have to dice everything the other kids  have  into  tiny pieces.  And she insists on feeding her  self.  SIGH…insanity and a messy toddler with attitude.  You know what?  I  still love my job! :)

About the time, shortly before  lunch, that I was ready to yank out my hair, and right after changing the 3rd blow-out bottom  diaper  of the morning, the door bell rang.  It was the florist, with flowers….for me.  From the  Count.  :)   Pink flowers,  my favorite color.  He  said for his favorite woman.  I just love that man.  I’m being spoiled and this is very hard to get used to for me.  Not used to getting so much attention, affection and love for no special reason.

This lifted my whole demeanor and I ordered chicken strips and apple slices for the kids for lunch.  Why not  surprise them as well, right?

I am so blessed, lucky and loved.  I love my life!

The Diaper Diaries

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Welcome back to my ongoing journal of daycare diva.

It has been a busy morning so far.  The alarm sounded at 6am, I have finally found a tone on my phone alarm that is at least pleasant and not horribly rude.  My Droid has a desk cradle for the phone that makes it a clock when it is docked and charging.  I love it. One glance and I see the time  in a huge font, the current outside temp and weather conditions and if I have any emails or text messages.  I love technology!

I got up,  made the bed (the one thing I am totally OCD about is immediately making my bed and keeping my bedroom in order), went down and started coffee, then hit the shower.  Once ready to roll I headed over to the home of the little ones I currently care for during the day.  It was late start day for the 7 year old at school, and she went to an amusement park for a picnic last night so I offered to go there this morning so she could sleep in and mom could leave directly from home.  I remember those days with one child to get out the door, so since I would have to go that way to take the 7yo to school it just made sense.

I fed the 3 darlings (and I do mean that, they are great, adorable kids), 9  months, 2 years old and the 7 year old.  Next got everyone dressed, grabbed the last cup 0f coffee (mama made extra, thanks mama!) and we headed to school.  After dropping off Princess Smiles A Lot I headed to the credit union to deposit my ‘check’ from last week (I feel for mama,  getting 2 little ones out of the car, into the bank and back out and into car seats is a chore!) and then headed to my house.  Little Miss Thang was sleepy so first order of business, after I set up the family room for playing (moving the coffee table, dragging out the toys, putting up safety gates and turning on Mickey’s Club House) was getting her cute little self changed and to bed for her morning nap.  Mr. Man settled in to play and I started my chores.  I  cleaned up the kitchen, emptied and reloaded the dishwasher and cleaned the litter box.  Now enjoying a fresh cup of Caramel Truffle coffee while I write and wait for Diva Sarah to emerge so  I can start laundry.

Last night when I needed the tool chest to change out my license plates (figured that was best since they expired and the last thing I needed the first of the month is a ticket), my sister, Diva Boo, took over.  She is our do-it-yourself Diva, with power tools.  She  said  since I do her laundry it is the least she can do.  I love my sister!  I am SO not the DIY type at all when it comes to tools and handy man type work.  Though I never  felt I was very domestic either, but mom had faith those skills were  in there somewhere.   Low and behold, they were!  I am little Ms. Domestic Diva, can cook, clean, do laundry, maintain the household and care for kids.  I am even amazing myself.  At first I didn’t think so, but now I realize just how much I actually DO contribute to the household by handling many of the domestic chores.  It only makes sense since I am home, right?  And childcare is becoming my favorite job so far in life, it is far more rewarding than anything else I have done, and reasonably profitable as well.

The Avon is slowly but steadily taking off and growing.  I knew this would take time and hard work, but I am not real patient, I want to be a senior executive unit  leader NOW!  The money one can make selling cosmetics is just amazing to me, and it too is very rewarding.  Just a lot of work but then it is it’s own full  time job if one wants to make a lot of money.  And I do!  The potential is realistically there to clear 6 figures annually within just a few years, so my motivation is totally up!  The best part is many friends across the country can be customers thanks to having an eStore!  They can view the full brochure right on my site (or I can mail it to them!).  If you don’t have a Avon rep, or haven’t seen a brochure, I invite you to click the “I’m The Avon Lady” button on my sidebar and check out the eBrochure.  For $30 and over shipping is free.  Shameless plug: Please, visit my Avon page and feel free to look around and have it directly shipped to you by paying online with a credit card.

Okay, baby is now awake (thanks to the weather radio weekly test I forgot about and didn’t turn the radio down) and the laundry is started.   Second cup of coffee poured into my Crazy Cat Lady mug, a hug from the toddler and giggles from the baby.  At the end of the day, the little ones will go home, and I’ll put away all evidence that they were even here, until tomorrow morning when we start all over again! :)

I love my job :)

The Diaper Diaries – #2

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Being the queen of procrastination (I have the t-shirt, hoodie, coffee cup and assorted key chains to prove it) I put off going to get my license plates and drivers license renewed.  I COULD have gone Saturday morning, but wasn’t sure if I’d be ready in time for the ride to Madison, so I waited.  High hopes fizzled out that someone in the Diva Den would be around to cover for me with the wee ones while I ran out, so I had no choice but to take them.  That or get slapped with $40 in late fines when I got there. I had to give up my vanity plates, just too expensive at the moment, but I will have them again one day.  Other things get the priority of  cash flow for now.

2 year olds have minds of their own and horribly short attention spans.  Unless of course you look like Mickey Mouse and sing and dance.  None of that applies to me.  I scare the dead back to life when I sing, and when I dance some well meaning soul dials 911 thinking I’m having a seizure.  So, taking a 2 year old and 9 month old to the BMV could have been a real adventure of sorts.  Turns out it wasn’t so bad after all.  Both were exceptional, which prompted me to go on to the credit union as well.  Naturally when I got back home the mail had come and I have  yet another check to deposit in my account from Avon (who says you cannot make money selling lipstick?).  Guess I will make that little trip tomorrow.

My morning was productive in addition to the running.  3 loads of laundry and Mt. Washmore is back under control, the kitchen is cleaned up, the kitchen table has been cleared off of the ever growing pile of mail, newspapers, odds and ends, the 7yo safely at school, the litter box cleaned, the toddler and baby both fed breakfast and lunch, and now are napping.  I’ve made more trips up and down steps and over baby gates (the new leg lifts) and finally got to sit down and write for a bit.

I am still amazed that I can make the same amount of money doing childcare as I did  managing an office,  and all while  holding down the home front.  This is just so rocking my world!  :)

The Diaper Diaries 05/19/2011

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When I started this gig of babysitting to make a living I wasn’t entirely sure that my mental choo choo train hadn’t left the rails.  My baby is 20, I haven’t changed a diaper in a very long time and I was never much of one for domestic goddess roles.  I gave up on being a stay at home mom and have worked all my life.

When I got layed off from the company I had been with for 26 years I actually didn’t mind at first.  I enjoyed being home and hanging with my daughter, cleaning and even started cooking again. (I hate to cook, the hubmiester did all the cooking when we were married)  I wasn’t blissfully happy but I was pretty content.  I was able to spend time writing each day, hooking on blankets and still keeping the house in order and doing all the laundry.  I was bored more than anything but hey, it worked.

I’ve been the victim of the crap economy 2 more times and decided this was getting old so I decided to try childcare.  It was one of those over a cup of coffee brain storms with my mom one Saturday morning.  Within a week of getting the word out I was watching 3 siblings, Princess Smiles A Lot (7yo), Mr. Man (2yo) and Miss Thang (9 mths).  We transitioned from 2 days a week to 5 days over about a month to a month and a half.

My world of corporate office inventory and managing offices became feeding schedules, changing diapers, naps and homework.  And I love it!  I never imagined I would really enjoy this, but what is not to love about a toddler hugging you for no reason at all, or a baby grinning ear to ear when she sees you?  Nothing beats rocking a little one to sleep and off to dreamland, it is such a sweet few moments!  And if the sore muscles and looser jeans are an indication, I’m slowly taking off weight and toning up with all the up and down steps, lugging kids, chasing them, etc.  At the end of the day I am totally drained and happy to see my pillows!

I’ve been spit on, pooped on, fallen over baby gates, stepped on toys that have left some interesting bruises on my foot, been pinched, and still find this one of the best jobs I have had!  :)   During nap time I clean up the kitchen, do laundry and still have time to write or play a few rounds of Farkle on Facebook.  And the pay isn’t bad either!

I also started working as an independent sales representative for Avon, which has spawned a new blog page for me, where I will write my lipstick diaries of my adventures.

It is a steady income, and I feel like I have accomplished something at the end of each day. I think I made a good choice of career changes after all!