When I decided to stop working and be a stay at home mom, I was super excited not be reporting to anyone and was ecstatic at the opportunity to be my own boss.  Who was I kidding?  My former boss, who was truly amazing, has been replaced by a pint sized CEO who is running a business without a business plan, sans weekly strategy meetings and loves to manage my calendar to his own liking with changes being made on the fly.   This little guy really knows how to work me and while the recent survey on salary.com said the work of a stay at home mom is valued at $127,000 annually, I think that is nice but hardly adequate given the 24/7 job we have.

The daily grind of the corporate world however, did prepare me for motherhood.  Shocking, I know.  But I came from a world that was fast-paced, forever changing on a dime and required me to master multi-tasking to be successful.  I was a planner, strategist, and executioner, and its a good thing I learned those skills because I am using them more than I ever thought I would as a stay at home mom.  It is truly a 24/7 position that you can’t resign from.  Once you’re in, you’re in and you will be busier than you ever thought possible.  And the sad part is night time will come around and you will think to yourself, what DID I do all day?

For me, the day begins anywhere from 6-8am, where more often than not, the start is closer to 6am than 8am, especially since teething has kicked in.  I usually awake to the little man talking up a storm and then slowly the talking turns to complaining as he’s wide awake now and ready to start the day.  A big smile awaits me as I walk down the hall and then the day officially starts.  The diaper changes, feeding, playing, getting him dressed, planning our day, packing up the diaper bag, heading out to whatever we have planned, doing laundry, making dinner, straightening the house, bath time and the list goes on and on.  David doesn’t have a true schedule as he is not a big napper some days so he is up and at it, looking to be busy every minute of his waking hours.  And for someone that doesn’t go to bed until after 9pm, those are a lot of waking hours to fill.  Lucky for me though David is capable of entertaining himself when necessary but he is one active little dude!

Feeding, diapering and getting dressed are the biggest time drains in my opinion.  Meal-time was once so simple, warm up a bottle and serve.  But now that food is in the mix, that adds another layer of complexity and takes more time.  Meal-time is a guessing game as to whether or not he will be interested in food on any given day.  Some days he is an amazing eater and the next his lips are locked tigher than Fort Knox.  Go figure.  In addition to feeding there are the diaper changes which normally can be quick and painless but with the introduction of food they have become more complex.  Either he wears the food after he rubs his face and then proceeds to rub it on everything around him, or he knocks the spoon and a nice glob of food ends somewhere other than his bib.  Thus, a wardrobe change is sometimes in order.  And of course there are the poops – the really big poops that manage to exit the diaper and end up on his clothes.  Time for a new outfit and thus, more clothes for the laundry.   These are all the basics.  We haven’t gotten to the phone calls that come in, the bills that need to be paid, the shower that needs to be taken and all the household chores to get done all the while you are taking care of the baby and entertaining him too.  There has to be time for fun and that is a necessity for both you and your child.  I am usually doing two things at once like folding laundry and playing peek-a-boo with David.  As I pull out towels from laundry and other items we cover our faces and guess who’s hiding.  Who said laundry is dull and boring?   Dinner time rolls around faster than you know it and before long Darren is walking in the door. I think I’ve done a good job of making a home cooked meal more often than not since David’s arrival but almost every day as I am preparing dinner I wonder where all the hours have gone.

I love being a stay at home mom and seeing everything first hand for myself.  I am really enjoying every minute of it but at times I do envy my friend’s who are still working just a little bit because they can have a warm cup of coffee uninterrupted, time to eat breakfast and can grab a few minutes to talk on the phone.   It’s all about trade offs, and what is best for each person and their family, and no one should judge.  No matter what your choices are you are a mother first and foremost and that is all that matters.

This weekend was the first of what will be many, many Herman family bat mitzvah’s.  For those of you that don’t know it, Darren has an enormous family on his Dad’s side so there are many celebrations ahead of us.  On Saturday morning, Samantha, the first of all of Darren’s cousin’s children was called to the beama in honor of her bat mitzvah.  The weekend celebration of this incredible milestone began however, on Friday night with a beautiful Shabbat dinner hosted by cousins Peter & Fran at their magnificent home in Wilton, Connecticut.  It was so fabulous for the entire Herman family to get together with many relatives traveling in from all over the country and Canada.  We had not seen many of them since our wedding almost two years ago so spending time with everyone was extra special.  It was also a thrill for Darren and me to introduce everyone to the newest addition to the Herman family.  As usual, David was all smiles and dazzled the entire family.  He graciously went to everyone and was happy as can be to meet his great aunts/uncles and cousins.  He can’t wait to grow a little so he can join the rest of the kids running around.

For the actual bat mitzvah on Saturday we left the little guy at home with my parents while we all attended the service and luncheon.  We arrived just as Samantha was going to begin her torah portion and she was remarkable.  She was poised, confident and truly rocked the shul!  She is going places – that is for sure.  We were all incredibly impressed by her sophisticated command of the service and expect nothing but amazing things are in her future.  After the service we all went back to cousin Caron and Johnny’s house to continue the celebration.  Cocktails were flowing and everyone was eating, dancing and enjoying the afternoon festivities.  Darren and I had a great time talking with family members that we don’t see very often and enjoyed some time without the baby to mix and mingle.  A great time was had by all and we look forward to the next celebration which is in September.

Mom, Dad and I have been spending a few days in the city.  While Dad has been hard at work whipping up digital media recipes at The Media Kitchen, Mom and I have been making the most of the big city.  We have been catching up with friends, lunching at some of her favorite upper east side locales and spending time in Central Park.  With this perfect spring weather, it is impossible not to take advantage of the outdoors.

Today after lunching with good friend Elizabeth, we headed to the park once again for a stroll but this time Mommy had a surprise for me.  We stopped at the Central Park Zoo and boy did I have a blast.  We arrived just before feeding time for the sea lions and Mom managed to get us a fabulous seat where I could see all the sea lions as they were being fed and doing some amazing tricks.  I thought it was so funny that I was giggling and talking.  Too bad they couldn’t understand me but I was having a blast and I wanted them to know it.  I was a very good boy and sat on Mom’s lap clasping my hands in excitement as I watched them dive in and out of the water.  Gee…they go splash, splash, just like me in the bathtub.  After feeding time was over and the sea lions disappeared, we wondered over to some of the other exhibits and I saw ducks, mallards, monkeys and other interesting furry animals.  Mom kept us far away from the reptile section though because she is afraid of them.  I guess Dad will need to be the brave soul and take me in to see those little (or not so little) slithery creatures.  Just when I thought our trip was over, Mom strolled me over to the children’s zoo where I was able to get up close to the pigs, lambs, sheeps, and llamas.  She didn’t let me get too close though so I wouldn’t get bitten (or get their slobbery goo near me).  We didn’t stay too long as the animals had a terrible smell and Mom was not a fan.  It was an enjoyable excursion and then we enjoyed the rest of the sunny afternoon on a blanket in the park where I gazed up at the sky and took in the city surroundings.  It was a great time and we both enjoyed it.  I wonder where she will take me on my next visit….hmmm.  I can’t wait!

Yesterday was my first Mother’s Day and it was truly amazing.   Darren made the day extra special from the moment I woke up until we went to bed.  He took the baby reigns for most of the day giving me time to sleep in, relax and enjoy a peaceful day which was terrific.  When I finally emerged from the bedroom just after 10am, Darren (with David as his assistant) whipped up a delicious breakfast of scrambled eggs and bagels with my favorite, salmon cream cheese so everything started off perfectly.  The rest of the morning was spent doing a few things around the house and taking a relaxing bath where I escaped for a little while.  It was so nice to have a little time off before we headed to our family for dinner with the Hermans and the Kepners.  The day was spectacular and I can’t thank Darren, our family and my friends enough for making my first Mother’s Day the best day I could have asked for.

This weekend the weather was incredible so Mom & Dad took me out for a walk and my first trip to the playground.  I was so excited when I got there that I couldn’t stop looking at all the fun things to play on.  Of course I am too little for most things but there are swings that are just right for a peanut like me.  First, I sat on Dad’s lap and then Mom’s.  Since I was having such a great time feeling the wind as we swayed back and forth, Mom & Dad decided to put me in the ‘baby swing’ and let me ride by myself.  I had a blast!  I was even giggling.  After fifteen minutes though, all the swinging was making me very sleepy and on the walk home I was fast asleep in my stroller.  The weather was truly spectacular and I can’t wait for another great day so I can go back to the swings and have fun.  And I can’t wait til I am older so I can enjoy the slides and the jungle gym.  Now that looks like a great time!

I just came home from a few days in the city with Mom & Dad and it was fabulous.   This was the second week in a row that I spent some time strolling the streets of Manhattan with Mom while Dad was working hard.  Mom has done a great job of making her former ‘bachelorette pad’ feel like my home away from home.  I have a Gymini, a bouncy seat, a bunch of toys to play with and books to read so I can entertain myself.  Every day Mom takes me out for walks and we cruise up and down the avenues window shopping and gazing at all the pretty things on display.  I love the fresh air and watching the people and the cars go by.  I even like looking at the puppies.

It is really great that steps from our apartment are so many fabulous places and the park is just a five minute walk.  While the fresh air knocks me out about 15 minutes into a walk, I haven’t been the best sleeper at night.  I am just too excited for all the fun things we can do that who wants to sleep in.  Poor Mom (and Dad) but I’m cute and loveable so they take it all in stride ;)   I am looking forward to seeing more of the city and spending time at the Central Park Zoo.  I think it will be cool to see the sea lions being fed and all the other animals.  We will skip the reptiles of course since Mommy doesn’t like them.  Who knows, maybe I won’t like them either.  All I know is I am wide-eyed as we explore the big city and I can’t wait to go back again.  It’s so much fun!

Growing up I loved to watch Sesame Street.  I was fascinated with Bert & Ernie and Grover, laughed at Oscar the Grouch and was always wondering if poor Big Bird would convince everyone that Snuffleupagus was a real ‘person’ and not an imaginary friend.  Fast forward 30+ years and I’m thrilled to see the show is as wonderful as I remember it to be and in many ways even better.  All of the warm, friendly faces are still there (Gordon, Maria, Luis, etc..) as well as my beloved furry friends like Cookie Monster, The Count and Big Bird.  New characters like Elmo, Zoe, and Abby Cadabby have joined the cast, adding to an all-star lineup.  Always creative and on the cutting edge of what is new and trendy, Sesame Street continues to hit the nail on the head with their subject matter and in many ways have taken it to a level well beyond what it was when I was a first time viewer.  The word of the day, the letter of the day and the references to today’s trends such as computers, email, music all contribute to a show that has captured little David’s attention, as well as mine.  While he is way too young to understand what he is watching, it amazes me how the characters are able to capture and hold his attention for quite a long time.  I would never have expected at only a few weeks old the sound of Elmo’s voice would soothe him but it did many times.

Most books and doctors strongly discourage young children watching TV especially when they don’t understand what they are seeing but I disagree.  While I certainly don’t advocate parking your child in front of the set for hours at a time, there are moments when you have run out of things to occupy a child that is too young for independent play and can only sit in a bouncy seat.  After reading books, playing on the gymini, walking around the house, singing and playing with him, the only way to create new stimulation for him is to turn on the television.  Sesame Street is what I rely on when I’ve exhausted all other ways to occupy David.  He is enthralled by what he is watching and the show grabs and holds his attention for a majority, if not all of the time.  That is pretty incredible for a four month old baby.

Sesame Street definitely has the ’secret sauce’ to educating children while making their learning fun.  Keep up the amazing work!  I’m loving it the second time around, maybe even more than I did the first time.

As I mentioned in my post below, I am an experienced HR professional turned stay at home mom who has fifteen years of human resources experience in Corporate America with a degree in Communications.   For those of you who are out of work or in need of a job and are looking to update their resume or put one together from scratch, I can certainly help.  I am considering launching my own startup in this area later this year but I want to offer my services to anyone that is interested now for a modest price.  Please email me directly at skepner169@aol.com and NOT through the contact sheet on this website as it is not working properly.  If you have tried to reach me via that form it is very unlikely that I have received it so please contact me again via email at skepner169@aol.com.

I was watching the Today Show this morning and they had an excellent segment on strategies for the unemployed.  As an HR professional, I found this segment to be well done and the advice given was spot on.

Highlights of the tips included:

1.  Get the word out AND network.  Use social networks like LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter

2.  Know your financial situation and modify your spending habits

3.  Be realistic in your job search – ONLY search for positions that you are qualified for

4. Revise or write your resume

5. Looking for a job is a full-time job – approach it that way

For the full link click here: Strategies for the Unemployed

Also, as a seasoned professional in the HR world, I am doing some resume assistance; writing and editing resumes for friends and family but my services are available to all for a modest price.   Please contact me at skepner169@aol.com for more information.  Serious inquires only.