A lowly server, is that all I am?

Another blog about being a lowly server. Normally, being a server does not bother me. No, it's not the most glamorous job in the world, but they work around my schedule, I get to stay at home with my kids during the day, I work with people I love (well at the Lakehouse anyways...), and the money is really good. But there is always that customer you get once in a while that thinks they are so much better than you because they have a 'real' job. And I got the pleasure of serving that customer last night.
Funny thing is that when I was driving into work last night I was thinking how I felt really good that I was going back to work, felt like I was helping out my boss and that I was contributing to my family's needs (or my spending money for New York :). And then I had the table that made me feel like a huge failure and that I had the worst job in the world.
I hate judgement. It is one of my biggest pet peeves when people judge others. I take it so personally, and I wish I could just blow it off but I can't. And these men where totally judging me. First they asked me if I had a university education. I told them I took a couple college and university courses, but didn't really know what I wanted to do or if I even wanted a 'career'. I told them I was a stay at home mother of two young children and that is what I wanted to do right now. I want to stay home and be with my kids and raise them the best I can. I don't want to put them in daycare and have someone else being with them all day long while I go to work. My mom was a stay at home mom of five and I always wanted to do the same. Don't get me wrong if you do have a career and have your kids in daycare, I think that's great if it's right for you and your family. No judgement. I just prefer to be here, and I consider it a privilege that we can do that, I know it's tough to be able to afford to have only one working parent these days. Then they asked me if I thought I would be doing this at my age. What the ?! Am I really that pathetic? I was just so caught off guard by these men. I felt like saying, do you really think you are better than me because you have a career? Is it all about money? Because what job can you go in for 4 hours and walk out with $100, plus your wage? Or is it because it appears because I am a waitress that I have no education? What does that even mean? Am I a dumb person because I serve tables? What I wanted to say them (and what I WILL say the next time this happens) was that I want to be with my kids as much as I can, I don't HAVE to go to work, my husband has a great job and makes great money (with NO university education I might add...), I live in a nice house, drive a nice car, I'm going to be a foster parent, and I am a nice and (fairly) smart person! Stop judging me! Yeah right, like I would ever say that to a customer. But I wish I could, it certainly makes me feel better just to blog about it!
So the next time you are out, be nice to your server. Don't judge, you don't know anything about them. They could be a single mother trying to support her children, could be a university student trying to pay their way through school, or just a regular old person like me who just enjoys getting out of the house. Just don't tick off the waitress, I mean, we are the ones bringing the food that you are about to eat. Who knows what we may do to it... :) just kidding...

Blessed

How I ended up with two healthy, beautiful & well behaved children is beyond me. Having children and being pregnant is a scary thing. We worry about all of the problems kids have now a days, downs syndrome, cancer, cerebral palsy, attention deficit disorder, I could go on and on. It's just scary. And I have been blessed with two wonderful and super easy children. My sister in law was over last night and said that I make parenting of two children look so easy. I said it's not me, it's them. They are so good, it really is unbelievable. Charlotte was sleeping through the night at 6 weeks old, and Preston at 10 weeks. They both nap at the same time, rarely cry, and Charlotte can entertain herself while I get the housework done. I really feel so lucky. I always say that God will never give you anything you can't handle, and I really don't think I could handle a child with a disability or even a difficult child. I don't have the patience! And I really look up to any parent that has to raise a difficult or special needs child. Props to you!

I was looking at Preston the other day thinking that I think I need to have another one (NOT right now, but eventually...). I like having a baby so much more this time around, maybe because I know how fast they grow, I'm really enjoying every stage this time instead of wishing for the next when he'll crawl, talk, etc. But I feel like the odds of having ANOTHER perfect child may just be a little slim.

For some reason, I think we'll end up with a houseful of kids, whether it will just 2 of our own and some foster children, or maybe we'll adopt...who knows, but I think we may have a few more than I originally wanted. I love coming from a large family (5 kids), it was so much fun growing up and when we're all together now we have the greatest time! I want that for my kids. I am normally such a planner, but not knowing this part of our lives is exciting! I know we will be faced with many challenges, especially fostering, but I know it will be so rewarding! I can't wait to see what happens!