Your children are our leaders of the future

This continues to be a very hectic time for me, especially in business. A number of employees moved … one went back to school, one moved to another location and one moved to a different company. So we are hiring. And then we are creating a new online community source for you, our current readers of both Hudson Valley Life and Hudson Valley Parent magazines.

Our Hudson Valley Life site will be unveiled at the end of this month. We continue to stretch ourselves, always seeking the best story, finding the greatest places for you to visit and researching what’s hot and what’s new in the region.
But as I sit at my desk on Saturday morning, side-by-side with two of my staff, I get a call. “Hi grandma. It’s me.” That’s my two-year-old granddaughter giving me an early morning hello. My face lights up and I smile.

               “What are you eating?” I ask. 
               “Strawberries.” 
               “How many did you eat?”  
               “One, two, three, four, five, six,” replies Lia.

The world has not changed because of the dialogue between Lia and me, but it means the world to me to listen and watch my son and daughter-in-law bring up another generation that will lead us out of the muck and mire that we find ourselves in.

Working Moms

The fist sign was the extreme moodiness.  The second sign was the sleeplessness and restlessness.  The third sign (and this is a big one) was baking and EATING almost a FULL tray of brownies.  (They did taste good, but I felt pretty bad about it!)  Initially I didn’t see all the signs and put it together.  Today I went to work to pick up some things and I was literally shaking.  These CAN’T be good reactions to going back to work!   

In less than 3 weeks I have to return to work.  I’m looking forward to the money and I love my job!  I’m COMPLETLY freaking out about leaving Babyface.  I don’t know how moms do it.  Especially the mom’s who have to go back to work after 12 weeks.  I’ve had 7 months and I don’t know if it’s enough.  I never pictured myself facing this dilemma as I’ve always maintained the idea that I’m working girl and not a stay-at-home-mom.

Will Babyface resent me for working?  Will she miss me as much as I’ll miss her?  Will I resent Husband?  Will I be a better teacher now that I’m a parent?  Am I off the career track?  Have I lost my pace?  Will I miss out on developmental milestones?  Will I resent the person who witnesses them before me?  Can I balance work and a baby?  Is there room and patience enough in my life for both?  When I go back to work will I be more like I was before the baby?  Will I like or recognize that person?  Should this be so hard?

 

Jennifer

 

 

My name is Jennifer Wiegert.  First and foremost, I am mother to Julia, age 2 1/2 and JoeJoe, age 11 months.  I’ve been married to my college sweetheart, Joseph for five years.  Currently, I have been a stay-at-home mom for the past year.  This position will come to an end when I return to teaching in December.  Since I have been home, I created a class for toddlers called Lil’ Tots.  It’s a class that creates a fun educational experience for toddlers through reading, crafts, and movement activities.  In my spare time (when I can find some) I enjoy photography and writing.  I even tried (unsuccessfully) to have a children’s book published. 

I earned my Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from SUNY College at Buffalo.  I earned my Master’s Degree through an on-line program at Lesley University in Technology in Education.  By trade, I am an elementary school teacher.  I always knew that I wanted to be a teacher and figured it was what I was meant to do because it came so naturally.  That is, until I had children and I realized that they are the reason for my being.  I absolutely love being a mom and it is my greatest achievement!