Lately, FlyGuy as been more appreciative of my wife and mothering efforts. This praise culminated with him calling me the Mother of the Year and the Wife of the Year when he saw me make Little Lassie sunshine toast. I’m not really used to all this positive attention, but it has really been nice to feel so appreciated. Part of me wants to ask him why he is buttering me up. Is there a bomb about to be dropped or is he finagling funds for a new costly, useless hobby?

I think he is noticing this past month I have been making a point to cook and clean like a professional since I gave up my career when I became a mother a year ago. In my mind, I like to think I traded one profession, teaching, for another, mothering. I have a long way to go before I work the kinks out of my mothering style, but I’m enjoying the process. Even though motherhood is not exactly a profession, all the responsibility and accountability that go along with it makes it feel like a full time job. My bonuses don’t come in monetary form, but when Little Lassie sings, “Hi Mommy” when I greet her in the mornings, I feel like the most important woman in the world.