Within a week, all of the kids will be at school, in one form or another. Edward and Davey, back to their regularly scheduled tutelage at our fine public institutions of education. Jules and Mae are embarking on their first ever regulation time away from home and mommy.

Yes, they are!

Starting this week, they’ll be attending a local daycare two days a week. There’s a lump in my throat thinking about it. I was reluctant to do it, but once I decided to, I felt a tremendous sense of relief. I am just not looking forward to the transition. We visited once and they seemed to love it, but I didn’t walk out the door without them as I will on Wednesday. I have been talking it up, telling them about all the fun things they’ll do with their new friends. They nod and grin. They have no idea. Still, I will pack their Hello Kitty lunchboxes and Hello Kitty backpacks and send them on their way.

My mind is reeling at the thought of two days for me. I sat down today and made a list of all the work I need to do. I have some big things coming up this winter, art-wise, and much to do in preparation. Realizing how much I had to do and how utterly impossible it is to get anything done with toddlers in the house made my decision easier. The hard part will be ensuring I use my time wisely and dedicate it to my work. A million little things can so easily fill in any crack of available time and I cannot let that happen. These two days are for me, for my work, my job. It’s hard to call it a job when I’m not earning an hourly wage, but I have to see my work as nothing less and protect my time fiercely - even, and probably mainly, from myself. 

This will be good. Good for mommy, good for the girls. No one will think so come Wednesday morning, but ask us again a two weeks.