#BYEKIDS

Today's the day. 

THE DAY.

416 days since my kids were in school full time. 

It's a day we've all been waiting for.

Not just because of the pandemic and all of that.

When Mila was born 9 years ago (WTF?) Steve's life of working 3 days a week and having 4 days off went OUT THE WINDOW.

He became a stay-at-home parent those 4 days and was on baby watch while I worked outside of the home.

We were very lucky that our kids were only in part-time daycare their entire lives. This is something I'm proud of. I believe in daycare 100% don't get me wrong. I worked in several throughout high school and college. So I've experienced the kids who were there from 7am - 6pm Monday - Friday. I just didn't want that for my kids if I could help it.

Thankfully for Steve's job, it allowed us to do this.

Right when things started to get "easier" (does that ever really happen?) we decided to have Ava! So now he was home with a 2.5-year-old and a newborn on his "days off" when I went back to work. 

So as time went on and the kids got older, we talked about what his days would look like when they were both in school.

The bus shows up at our house at 7:50am. It drops off around 4pm. 

That's 8 hours of kid-free time.

Ava was in preschool last year and while that was 5 days a week, it was only for like 2.5 hours. So Steve got a taste. A small taste. He had just about enough time to run some errands or do a quick side job.

THEN COVID HIT.

And the kids were home indefinitely.

we'd joke (lightly - since, duh we're not totally tone-deaf and realize how lucky we really are) that his countdown to free time was on PAUSE.

"I was so close" is what he'd say. 

So today marks a very important day. 

A milestone, even.

For the first time EVER, BOTH our kids are in FULL-TIME school. 

The house was all antsy with excitement last night AND this morning.

I helped get the kids ready since you know, it's kinda like the first day again.

But I did warn Steve that he's going to HAVE to get up and get the kids out of the house ON HIS OWN when it's his turn. I'm still going to be working out and showering so he'll need to manage.

I am doing him a favor though - I told him I will make their lunches the night before so he can just grab them. 

So excited this morning!