It’s that time of year again . . . time for the kids to head back to school. I’m full of mixed emotions this year as the kids started back. My first emotion is WOOHOO! I love routine and our family seems to operate better when we have things to do. The house will also be less messy, so less housework and with all 3 kids in school this year, I’ll have a few hours a couple times a week to myself.
While the kids are away the moms will play!
Then I start to think about how that routine means less time as a family and especially with my chef/husband.And there goes my excitement! (Although taking the picture above to “celebrate” the start of school will always bring a smile to my face.)
This past week my chef/husband was able to move his schedule around so he could take the girls to the bus stop and to school on the first day. He also happened to be off on Thursday and was able to go with us to Kindergarten orientation in the middle of the day which was nice.
Ready for work, but at the bus stop!!
The reality of combining a traditional school schedule and the job of a chef is not a pretty picture. They don’t go very well together. They don’t emulsify very well. (Sorry . . . I couldn’t resist.) We try really hard to make it work, but sometimes there are tears and there are many conversations about the hours daddy works to provide for us. 2 of our girls are now in school full day and our youngest goes for half the day. Unless my chef/husband has a weekend day off, they don’t get to see him much. I’m not ready for that part of the routine. There’s still hope something might be different with his new position, but I’ve learned to not get my hopes up. If better days off or different hours happen, that would be great! If not, we’ll keep working around the schedules. What else can we do? (more…)
Having a child with a chef . . . crazy . . . I know. I’ve received so many emails throughout this series from so many chefwives saying how they can somehow relate to what one of us has shared. Funny how you can instantly feel a bond with a total stranger because the circumstances in their life are so similar to yours. I love how technology can help us connect and not feel so alone!!
Today, I’d like to introduce you to another chefwife and Mom, Andrea.
Tell me a little about yourself and your spouse.
My husband and I met in college. We were best friends for 2 years before we started dating. We’ve been together for 10 years and married for 5. I work in accounting 40 hours per week at a university. My husband is a personal chef and cheese monger. (more…)
Continuing on in our series about having a child with a chef, I’d like to introduce you to Kim. Just a short time after starting my blog, Kim was the first chef wife I connected with and I’m so grateful she is willing to share her story with us tonight. 🙂
Tell me a little about yourself and your spouse. (Please include how long you have been married and what your job is (in addition to being a wife and mom.)
My name is Kim. I’m a stay at home mom in Annapolis, Maryland. Before children, I was an elementary general music and choral teacher. After I had our first child, I was the elementary coordinator for our church’s children’s ministry. I decided to stay home with my children once I had our second child. My husband Keith is the executive chef and GM of a farm-to-table restaurant in downtown Annapolis called Factors Row. We will be married 7 years this December. We are both musicians (I sing and he plays keyboards/runs sound) and we met while playing with our church’s young adults worship team.(more…)
For my next guest in the series, a Chef, a Wife and a Child, I’d like you to meet Kerilyn Russo. I’m sure many of you are familiar with her site MarriedToAChef.com. She and her husband have a new little one and I’m so happy she was willing to share with us about life as a mom AND being married to a chef.
Tell me a little about yourself and your spouse. (Please include how long you have been married and what your job is (in addition to being a wife and mom.)
Hi there! Thanks Jennifer for inviting me to share my thoughts here! My name is Kerilyn Russo. (Pronounced like two words Keri Lyn) I am an almost 40 yr old (and loving it!) Highly Sensitive New Years Eve baby, a chatty Cathy, fellow chef wife (married 5 years on 9/26 – See our wedding story here!) We have lived in the Washington D.C/VA area since 1999, until recently when we made a HUGE move South to Savannah, GA just a few months ago, in May 2014. *I went to Art School in Savannah and fell in love with the South!* I am the creator and resident life coach of Married to a Chef, like Jennifer, it is my mission to support our fellow significant others to remember that they are NOT alone! As a Life Coach, my clients are significant others who are ready to release the feelings of loneliness and resentment and ready to create the life of their dreams! I believe we all have what it takes to thrive in our restaurant relationships, it just takes some understanding and a willingness to do the work to make it work for us. (more…)
