As your child grows and learns, it’s always amazing to see the new words they begin to say and new concepts they pick up on. But sometimes you wish they'd stop being so smart. This is definitely true when it comes to Cole realizing the reason he doesn't see Mama in the morning is because I've already left for work. 

Because I leave for work no later than 7:30, I don't get to see Cole until I pick him up from daycare around 5:45 p.m. It's always been hard on me, but I figured it never really affected him. He adores his Dada so I was sure he loved his Dada getting him up and ready for "school." But recently Cole has been asking where I am in the morning and my husband will tell him, Mama's at work. So every morning he asks for me and before my husband can say a word, Cole says, "Mama wok (work)."

On the weekends, it's my turn to get him up and ready for the day. But when it's me and not Dada, he automatically assumes that Dada is at work and therefore won't see him in the morning. It's amazing to see his face light up when I say, "Dada isn't at work, he's downstairs waiting for you."

Curt and I decided to both be working parents for a variety of reasons. And most of the time we agree it was the right decision for our family at the time. Don't get me wrong, I want my children to know that daddys and mommys can work and take care of their families, and I want Cole to be proud of us for working hard. But it still breaks my heart when I think of him asking for Mama in the morning and then realizing, Mama isn't there - she's at "wok."