I Did It!

I did it.
It is in ink.
The new schedule is up and it shows me on the day shift.
I have not worked the day shift, besides an occasional overtime shift, in years I think.

I am sort of afraid. I currently and for almost the last 7 years have worked 4 to midnight. For the kids, for the family and for the wallet. I did the days and Dad did the nights and we never had to put our kids in daycare. When Olivia was about 3 she started a 2 day a week preschool just as a baby step towards school and for something to do. She next moved to Title 1 at her elementary school and onward and upward from there. Now Ava is in Title 1 Monday through Friday so to do this I needed to put her in daycare just in the afternoons. The bus will take her from school to daycare. Sounds smooth right? But all I think is how much they do on their own.

She is too excited-asking everyday when she is going to daycare. It is better than having to force her I guess.
I will miss the evenings in some aspects. I like the feeling of having just about a whole day of free time before work but I work when the rest of the world is off. I usually work weekends and decline most invites as I have to decide if it is important enough to use a vacation day to take the night off. I will also miss the work. Gone is real crime and now I am a glorified 411 operator, direction giver or alarm call taker.

I also have been thinking about all the changes the kids have gone through during our separation and they were and still are troopers. I worked as much as I could this Summer while he didn't so it was a whirlwind of kid trades. Now I am beginning to think we need to slow this tilt-a-whirl down a bit and give them a regular life. It still isn't going to be easy and the money is going to be thinner than water but they will be home with their Mom for dinner, homework and bedtime like kids are supposed to be. It is still a team effort to hold this family together but I am hoping this will allow me to rely on other people less and be a more self sustained unit.

I am not sure if this will last more than the next 3 months, we will just have to see at the next shift bid but for now I am planning on a few nights with an 8 o'clock bedtime. ( Note I did not mention 8 a.m or p.m.~ Mom's looking to have a life too ya know!)