My husband and I are officially one year out from becoming the parents of a Kindergartner. How did this happen? Didn't I just have the baby? Or, at least just parade my six-month-old around in his pea pod Halloween costume? Nope. Four years have passed and we're in the home-stretch to Kindergarten. Emotions aside (expect waterworks from me next Fall, people), what does this mean exactly? Should I be happy? Sad? Both?

Our son will no longer be a daycare kid. True enough. Without daycare expenses, is that lake house or kitchen remodel finally within our reach? Not likely. There's before-school care to pay for. Oh, and after-school care. We'll still be shelling out money each week, so no big change there.

He'll finally sleep through the night. Who knows. Most of my friends who had a head start on me in the parenting department say there kids are really tired after Kindergarten. No more naps! Although, I fantasize about getting a great night's sleep in a bed that sleeps two NOT three, my gut tells me that my son is just not a good sleeper. And, our pediatrician agrees. She shared with us at 3 months, 6 months, 9 months and every milestone check up to the present that "some kids just aren't great sleepers. I think you have one of those."

Will he still want to play with his daycare pals? (i.e. Will I lose touch with my mom friends?) Our kids have been inseparable since they were six month old. Daycare friendships led to play date friendships which led to mommy having a great group of cool mom friends. I love my mom friends and can't imagine not seeing them virtually every day. What will happen when our kids scatter to various elementary schools around town? Yikes. Will our kids remember each other? Will the moms still get together for "Girl's Night Out"? Gosh, I hope so. I'm in! How about the rest of you?

In the meantime, we have a whole year of pre-school ahead of us! What milestones will my son reach this year? Last year's biggie was my son declaring his independence from pull-ups. Also, what do we as parents need to do to prepare our soon-to-be-Kindergartner for his elementary school debut? My friend Carolyn told me he'll be tested on what a "curve" is. Really?

I'm sure I'll be studying the "what your child needs to know for Kindergarten" websites and pamphlets soon enough. For now, we simply plan to enjoy our boy as he changes and grows and makes us laugh out loud. Right now he's lounging on his new sleeping bag in our living room watching Toy Story 2 on DVD holding his Sheriff Woody doll in the crook of his arm. Come to think of it, he's growing up way too fast and I'd really like to slow things down - a LOT. Next year he'll be taking the bus, eating his lunch in a cafeteria....deep breaths...stop panicking!

From behind my chair I hear "Mommy, you're just beautiful!" Why do I suspect this level of sweetness won't last long either. "Thank you, sweetie", I say with a smile and a squeeze that says "you're always going to be mommy's baby."

My son started running a low grade fever at daycare just as my parents arrived to pick him up a bit early for some afternoon fun in the sun. After giving him a dose of Tylenol, they decided it might be a better idea to take him home to rest. Of course since my husband and I both work, that meant someone was going to have to meet them at the house. At 4:45 when I finally picked up messages from my husband and parents, I decided I would go home early see my boy.

When I opened the door my husband said "shhh" and put his finger to his mouth. Our boy was snuggled up against his chest sleeping on the couch where he would stay until bedtime. We decided that we'd wait to make decisions about what to do until morning. He woke up just long enough for us to give him some Motrin and kiss him goodnight and then back to sleep he went.

Twelve hours later (which is a record, I assure you, since the kid has barely slept through the night since he was born), it was morning time - and decision time. He was still "not himself" so we decided I would take him to clinic hours at our Pediatrician office at 8:00 AM. If he was well enough for school, I would head there and then my office.

The visit was pleasant enough and the doc explained that our boy had a cervical (neck) strain and would be better in a few days. He wasn't at all worried about the low grade fever. This isn't so bad, I thought. We stopped at Dunkin Donuts as a "special treat" then headed to school for him and then work for me. I was feeling pretty good. Disaster averted, I thought to myself.

Six hours later, you can imagine my surprise when I received a call from the daycare director telling me that my son had a 101.7 fever, chills and was complaining of a sore throat. I closed my laptop, gave some last minute instructions to my team, and headed out. On the way I called the pediatrician's office and explained to them that we'd be coming in AGAIN. They tried to avert us to Urgent Care until I appealed to the receptionist's sympathetic side. "We'll see you right away if you can get here by 4:45", she said. Darn right you'll see us, I thought to myself. When I got to school my heart sank when I saw my boy, head slumped to one side waiting for him mommy. I picked him up and carried him to the car, buckled him in and then drove straight to the doctor's office.

We arrived and I smiled at the woman at the desk looking at me like she's seen me before. "Yes, we were the ones here first thing this morning", I said. My husband arrived ten minuted later just before we were called back.

After exchanging pleasantries, the doctor got busy checking over our son - AGAIN. Had he missed something earlier? What was it? In his defense, kid's symptoms come on fast and change at will. With the newest symptom - sore throat - added to the mix, he decided that a strep test was our best bet. After the initial discomfort, my son snuggled up with us as we awaited the results. Have you ever had a Strep culture taken? It hurts and the gag reflex isn't pleasant either.

"He has Strep", the doc said when he returned. My husband and I looked at each other both wondering "couldn't he have somehow known that this morning?" We left with the entire staff (it's a Friday on a holiday weekend after all), and headed in two separate directions. Me, home. And, my husband to the drug store to fill the prescription. For the record, this is my son's FOURTH bout with Strep this year.

As a working mom, it's hard to keep balls in the air on a day when you're on deadline at work and your child is sick. Thankfully, I squeezed in a nearly full day in between the two trips to the pediatrician's office. Once again my son is resting while his body gets busy healing. I know that 24 hours from now we'll have our boy with boundless energy back. For now, though, I think I'll just enjoy his need for extra hugs and warm snuggles.

Each and every Wednesday morning departments heads at The Saratogian gather for a meeting of the minds and to-do lists. There's only one rule: Be on time. If you're not, you have to buy coffee for the entire group the following week. It happens about once a month.

Today I arrived at the meeting with less than a minute to spare with a pair of feet scurrying behind me (another colleague). She made it, too. Just in time. Typically my husband does drop off on Wednesday mornings. That way, my chances of lateness are less. But this wasn't just any Wednesday morning...

My husband is in Asia on business, so I had to drop off.

There is a detour in the exact 1/2 mile between daycare and my office on Church Avenue.

I forgot to preset the coffee last night and didn't have time to make it in the morning.

My son decided he wanted to sleep in today.

Once awake he challenged me at every opportunity.

I hugged, kissed and waved to my son with minutes to spare to get to work.

I arrived. This morning's sacrifice: coffee. Those who know me understand that no coffee doesn't look very good on me. I'm just better WITH coffee. Seriously, I cut down a few months ago and our online manager politely asked me to go back to drinking coffee. I did.

In the mad rush that's my morning, I made it work today. Phew.

Dropping my son off at daycare that very first day back to work meant enduring a kind of emotional pain I'd never experienced before. I don't know how you prepare for something like that ahead of time, but I felt emotionally wrecked and cried all the way to work after ten weeks of maternity leave. After a while (a week or two or three) we all happily settled into our new routine, but those first few days were tough. These early memories of being a fledgling working mom came flooding back to me this week when our newest account executive started her own journey as a working mom. She, like me nearly four years prior, returned to work and began the daily routine of daycare drop offs and pick ups. After nearly two years of being home with her young son she decided it was time to get back to her career. We're glad to have her and to be honest, I've been impressed with her ability to stay focused and upbeat all week. In fact, I haven't seen her shed a tear yet (not that anyone saw me either).

Being a mom who entrusts her most precious gift to daycare workers day-in and day-out needs to keep a "glass if half full" attitude. My silver lining is that I've made some amazing mom friends along the way. Who could possibly have more in common with you at this stage in your life than other working moms dropping their babies off along side you every day?


Through our daycare connection we've developed lasting friendships that have moved us beyond the four walls of daycare. We enjoy play dates, GNO (girls' night out) and family-friendly gatherings as a group. We're down-to-earth moms who work hard, value family, and appreciate the value of a good laugh. We're bankers, wealth managers, ad execs, and entrepreneurs. We're moms.

One of our coping strategies is to exchange what I call the "daycare download" which means we share just about everything; milestones, challenges, wins, losses, and lots of funny stories. Right now there's a lot going on between us. I'm still getting used to my husband traveling to Asia on a regular basis and two of the moms have kids moving up to my son's classroom. Although I'm happy the kids will all be back together, room transitions can be challenging for both kids and parents. To ease the transitions among us, the moms are teaming up to ensure that I stay sane and that we do whatever we can to make the children's transition is a smooth one. Whether it's taking the extra time to acknowledge the kids at daycare encounters or responding to emails sent by a mom having a tough day, the daycare download works. It's also our way of getting the "scoop"; what's happening with daycare management, teachers, rooms, kids, everything that's involved in our children's lives while we're working. We have each other's backs and are willing to pitch in at a moment's notice. We share extra clothes, snacks and over the years - a LOT of diapers. Luckily, we never seem to run out of the same thing on the same day.

One day this week I saw two of the moms at drop off and one was having a really tough time. I didn't know all the details, but her frustration and concern showed on her face. Via text and voice mail, I later learned that she had to wipe a few tears on her way into work. I've been there too many times to count. And my mom friends have been there for me. Some days are - like they are for everyone - better than others, so having a network of mom friends with all the modern day ways to communicate: Twitter, Facebook, text, email and cell phones, makes it easy to stay connected.


I'm personally grateful for these conversational exchanges (in personal or otherwise) that calm shaky nerves and make it easier to juggle life's important things: work, family and on a good week - some personal time and space.

Daycare downloads are just moments of vents, questions, comments, and sometimes - critical information. My favorites are vents. You need them if you're going to hunker down and be productive at work. For example, sharing a moment we had with each other's children at drop off or pick up that the parent missed can make a mom's day. Any working mom knows that moments that make you laugh, help you worry less, and inevitably make your day better are precious. When it comes to being a working mom, having a network of trusted friends makes the journey that much sweeter.

On most days, I drop my son off at his pre-school/daycare. It's a ritual I treasure most of the time and on good days filled with hugs, kisses and waves, my day is off to a great start.

Nearly every week there is at least one instance (usually more) of what I call "drop off drama". Yesterday my son insisted that he bring his sand dollar to school with him (he calls it a starfish fossil).

"Home toys" aren't allowed at his school. Neither is candy. I know by careful observation, mom confessions and my own personal experience that there are times when you must pick your battles. Case in point, my husband travels internationally and on one occasion in an effort to get to the office by 8:00 AM for our weekly department head meeting, I gave my son a lollipop as a bribe to get him in the car. So sue me. As for yesterday, the starfish fossil was coming to school.

I packed the car with my son's backpack, my bag and purse, as my husband strapped our son into his car seat. We arrived at school and after coaxing him inside (it was a glorious morning), we walked to his classroom where I unloaded his backpack, set a place for him at the table with fresh fruit, cereal and water, folded his extra clothes in his cubby and put his sheet and blanket for nap time in the bin. He sat down without a fuss to eat, gave me a kiss and a hug, and waved goodbye. I smiled, told him I loved him and headed for the door. "One more kiss and a hug, mama", he said. I couldn't argue with that!

As I headed for the door, I heard "Where is my starfish fossil?" I honestly had no idea, but checked his backpack just in case. "You didn't bring it with you, sweetie", I said. "Yes I did, go home and get it!", he shouted. Tears ensued.

After several minutes of extra hugs, some bargaining (we'd play on his playground after school), and a few deep breaths, I was able to leave. I checked the rear view while backing out of the parking lot and noticed a small sand dollar on the seat next to my son's car seat. He did bring the fossil with him! I drove to work feeling a twinge of mommy guilt.

When I arrived home last night, my son and husband were in the driveway waiting for me. I got out of the car and told my little guy that I had a surprise for him in the back seat. We opened the door and he yelled "my starfish fossil!". All smiles (both of us), we headed out back to play.