That Woman on the 17th, 18th and 19th Days of Advent

A quick review of the past 3 days of Advent:

Day 16....Tate spent the night with my parents so I could go to our Annual Tribal White Elephant Party at the always fabulous Bryan's abode!  Urban Tribe we call ourselves...a group of about 20 of us who come together as often as we can...some with kids, some without, some married, some single, some divorced, some straight, some gay...but all with alot of love for each other.  We're spreading out more as we have kids, get divorced or miss our families far away, but there's that foundation of love and who could ask for more.  I just love these people...they are my village.  Someday I'll write about how I was enfolded into the tribe as I'm one of the last to have 'joined.'  

So on the 16th day of Advent we did our present opening a bit early.  I just chose a book for Tate and took it with me to my parents'. We opened it before I left.  The Maisy Sticker Book was a bit hit for my sweet boy.  I was then off to get ready for the par-tay, and Tate had a great time with his Grandmommy and Papa who actually slept with him...a real boys' night!!

We came home yesterday, the 17th day of Advent in the early evening after attending the amazing Really Really Big Christmas Show.  I cannot wait to share those pictures and videos.  It was held at the huge Second Baptist Church here.  Tate had an awesome time.  He was just enthralled.  But as is evidenced by his appearance in these pics he was exhausted yesterday evening.  He opened another Maisy Christmas book and that brought a smile.

Tonight once again brought smiles, though it's soooo hot here in Houston.  It's just under 70 degrees and it's 10:15 at NIGHT!!  However tonight's book was simply tossed aside...it was the story of the birth of Jesus.  Granted though the pictures of the characters are a bit creepy...that's what happens when you buy online without being able to really see what you're getting!!

For some odd reason, blogger is not letting me post videos that I've taken on a camera...they have to be taken with my Flip or my iPhone.  Extremely frustrating for me as the last 3 days I used my camera to take the videos.  Hopefully I'll get it worked out soon.

Today is the beginning of the Christmas vacation for most of the schools, so work is going to be crazy the next couple of weeks.  Just something else I never realized about being a pediatric dentist...gotta work when the kids are off.  All the parents are off with their kiddos and want to come to the dentist/doctor then hang out with their kiddos.  Well me too.  Someday....  

If I had known then what I know now about this profession I often wonder if I would have done it.  Had I known I was going to be an SMC would I have done it?  I do know this, all these degrees later, if I was married or partnered I know I would opted to stay home for 2-3 years and taken the financial hit. Of course this is predicated on my partner/husband being on board with that and financially secure enough for doing so.  But I so would have been one of those women I scorned in my mid-late 20s as I was going through dental school.  'What kind of woman goes to school for 10 years past high school and just stays home and raises kids?  What does that say to HER daughters?'  Now I know who does it...me.  And it says to her daughters, AND sons...I love you above all else and this relationship is more important than any amount of money.  

I would love to be that woman.