Out of the Woods

(Photo: 1 - Enjoying a storytelling break 2 - Now, where do we go?)

I just finished the three day trek to the woods with Isabela. It is a yearly adventure into the woods organized by the kindergarten.

It was a group of 3-4 years old, 16-17 children. With 3 teachers and two moms. I didnt imagine it would be fun. As a city girl, the woods or the forest, is only known to me in books or in film. We discovered insects and animals, up close, along the way. And took time for a picnic, too.

But what really made me write about this is that -- during that three half day trips into the woods, I didnt get to do anything anymore. No chores done at all. The schedule goes -- at 8 am, I needed to bring Michaela to kindergarten, go with Isabela to the woods. Then at 12 noon, break up from the group in the woods, pick up Michaela and then go home.

At home, cook lunch. Then bring the kids to their after school activities like Monday, M was in gymnastics. Tuesday, M was in ballet. And then Wednesday, I in gymnastics.

Oh-oh, no more time to do anything or worse, no more time to do nothing! Coz after the activities, home and then cook dinner. Dinner, then make kids ready for bedtime. Where did the time go? I don't really know. Because at the end of the day, I can only manage to tumble into bed.

But now I know this -- it made me only cement my realization that working moms really deserve my full respect! How they manage to juggle their kids, their careers, their household and their leisure together. Indeed, not an easy feat!

So, salute to all of you working moms out there!! For me, you are the real heroes!