I'm the mommy... that trumps everything.

Yesterday, I got my first call to be a substitute teacher at the local Elementary School... Yay!  I put my application in to the administration building in November, so this was a long time coming.  So, I got myself all showered up and looking presentable, and prepared Lena for Day Care.  The one that I send her to is awesome... they provide all the formula and food, so all I needed to pack for her was a change of clothes, a blankie, and diapers and wipers.  And off we went.  I dropped her off and headed toward my afternoon of fourth graders.

The kids at school were great... really, they were!  It was a very easy afternoon, and I was happy to have done it.  I was so excited to have a couple of minutes to myself that I went ahead and ran a few errands while Lena was there.

I picked her up a little before 4, so she had been there for about 5 hours.  I told the teacher that Lena had not eaten lunch yet, and that she would probably nap sometime soon.  When I picked her up, I learned that not only would she not eat lunch, but she would also not take a nap.  Neither one surprised me.  Lately, it's all I can do to get her to eat a few bites of whatever I fix for her.  She much prefers to feed herself, which is great, except that it's hard to make sweet potatoes so that a nine month old can feed them to herself.  (Apparently, that is another adventure that we have yet to master.)  And as for sleeping... Lena will not go to sleep for anyone without a fight, other than me.  And occasionally her dad.  If she knows that I am not home.  If I am around, and she knows it, she absolutely will not let anyone else put her to bed.  Even if I'm not around, like when she's at her grandparents', she still won't go to sleep without a fight.  We are working on it.

So, the director of the Day Care was talking to me, saying that Lena had a pretty good afternoon, but that she was fussy... well, duh, she didn't have a nap.  Day Care lady asked if there was some secret to getting her to take a nap... 'What's your secret?'  Um, well, I'm the mommy.  That's how it works.  She laughed, and said 'well, yeah, I guess that trumps everything, right?'

All in all, it was a good day... got to make a little money (though by the time I pay the day care, it really won't be very much at all), got to spend a very little time to myself (running errands doesn't really count), and Lena got to meet some new friends.  I hope she likes it, cause she's going back on Friday!  Maybe she will nap for them then.  :)