Woman of My Dreams

I have this reoccurring fantasy about a woman.  She is patient and loving, organized and tidy. She likes cooking and scrapbooking and especially enjoys caring for young children. She greets me every Friday evening with a smiling face, her hair the scent of freshly baked challah.

She is my wife and at the risk of offending…I really want one…a Jewish one more specifically.

I was spoiled when my mother came to town to watch the kids for three weeks this past summer. It was glorious! (For me anyway… I am not sure how she would describe the visit.) I returned home from work each day to find happy children, a clean house, a real meal, and all of the laundry washed, folded and sorted. The best part about having another woman in the house though was that I could relax after work and truly enjoy the children since the housework and cooking was already done.

I know I am not alone in my challenges as a single, working mom and I know that there are those who have it much harder than I do.  I am not complaining (well, maybe just a little.)  Thank God for my children. Thank God for my life. Thank God, thank God, thank God…

But by the time I have reached my desk at 8 am (when all the stars are aligned) I have already worked what feels like a full day. I made three breakfasts, three lunches, dressed three generally uncooperative kids and delivered them and all of their necessities to two separate locations before racing to my other job. If I am especially lucky, I enjoyed a 30 second shower and with the exception of the Oreo smudged on my sleeve, I am dressed in clean clothes.  (Yes, breakfast sometimes translates to Oreos and I dare you to judge me). Like the old army commercial, I feel as if I do more before 7 am than most people do in a day, or is it a lifetime? I am an army of one now with three little recruits who take orders as well as cats.

So I was thinking of simply ignoring the High Holidays entirely this year to be honest. The older children are registered for religious school after all and the little one clearly absorbs some Yidishkeyt from daycare based on the songs I hear him singing in the backseat.

But then I received TWO separate invitations for Rosh Hashanah meals and I was overjoyed and relieved. It was a sweet New Year for my family and particularly for me, thanks to these two thoughtful Jewish women who obviously recognize my struggles. So I guess in a small way I got what I desire, if only briefly for the holidays.

You know who you are ladies. You rock!