Well, after six years of being a full-time SAHM and work from home mom and practicing dental hygiene on a very part-time basis (or just per diem basis) I’ve taken a part-time dental hygiene position in a wonderful little quality office only minutes from my home. I swore I wouldn’t go back to “regular” work again. I enjoy working from home with the website and I love practicing on a per diem basis but this was a great opportunity and everything came together nicely.

We had to figure out a few things before I made the final decision. My husband has ample vacation time AND has the ability to work from home if we have a sick child. My mom comes over after she goes to the gym to keep an eye on the boys for us (she offered). My new office doesn’t want to work school vacation weeks and holidays because they have children as well. As for summer vacation, I’ve got several contacts who could watch the boys for me.

I’m also trying to get myself back into the more advanced menu planning. While I’ve been home full-time, menu planning was a generalized thing and was finalized the morning of the meal, for the most part. I’ve had to think ahead more. I cleared the dry erase board off and it now tells everyone what the menu is for the week.

Laundry has taken a slightly less frugal turn. It’s harder to hang laundry on the racks on work days, so the dryer is happily working again. NOT my ideal, but I’m only working 2-3 days/wk, so it’s not an all time thing.

Grocery shopping has also become a tad less frugal only because it’s harder for me to shop 3 stores for just loss leaders. I have done a bit more OAMC (Once A Month Cooking). I have put 4 pre-baked pizza shells into the freezer. I made 4 loaves of unrisen bread dough and placed those in the freezer as well (for no bread, no time days). I’ve made up huge batches of meatballs for meatball grinders. My menu has basically stayed the same EXCEPT that I’ve separated the meals into easy prep or “mom” prep. LOL. Easy prep things are the pizza, meatball grinders, grilled cheese sandwiches and soup or anything else the guys can prepare easily, before I get home. I’ve also dusted off the crockpot which hasn’t seen as much action since I became a SAHM. I just LOVED how the crock pot had a beautiful roasting chicken just falling off the bone when we got home. A quick batch of couscous and steamed broccoli (loss-leader broccoli I had blanched and thrown into the freezer) and dinner was on!

I figure my adventures will keep me busy blogging for a bit. It’s definately a challenge to juggle family and work again. I’m very dedicated to both. It’s definately easier with the boys being older now, too. The boys understand that my paycheck is paying off the last of the non-mortgage debt (see Dave Ramsey) and that my paychecks will help us put them through college. They’re eager to contribute to our family’s financial future.

So, like I said, maybe you can learn a few things from my working mom adventures.