The Ellis clan returned from vacation last week. Everyone had settled back into their routine except for Ace who didn't follow anyone's rules but his own.
Brittany was doing a fantasic job helping out at my emergency shelter home hospice center. She really cared about the patients. The families of the declining members always left her positive feedback. She was an asset to my team allowing me more time to spend with my baby boy. However I ultimately decided to let the hospice go and just focus on being an emergency shelter for the unhomed community.
Devale didn't prefer Ace being in daycare but allowed it once my schedule got hectic. Ace didn't know how to regulate his emotions causing him to be labeled as unruly. The daycare was calling every other day about something. My baby is the youngest at home and at the daycare, he is a bit spoiled but he isn't unruly in public.
Devale did a pop up visit to see for himself what was going on. He felt Ace was behaving like a normal 2.5 year old. He felt the teachers were too young and couldn't handle him.
Devale decided Ace would stay at home until Pre K in two years. He also suggested we get a nanny for two days out the week so that neither one of us would get burned out. I was against it, I still am, but if we find someone who can handle him, I may consider it.
Everything was going really smooth until it wasn't. It's two months later and I'm burned out already.I enjoyed being at home more with my kids, but I started to lose my identity. I told Devale I wanted to be at the center more and that I am open to the idea of a nanny.
We interviewed what felt like 100 different people but none of them fit. Last week I finally told Devale he would have to cut back on work so that I could spend more time running my own business. That caused an argument and we had been tip-toeing around each other since. Last night we were going back and forth at dinner because he was ignoring me in front of the kids. He then chose to sleep in the mancave and continued to ignore me this morning as well.
I fed my kids then headed to the office, I was determined to have a good day and not allowing the tension at home to spill into me helping the women in need. I was shocked to find Devale sitting in my office with Ace who was sleeping after my staff meeting.
Crystal: Hey
Devale: Hey, I need you to keep him for a while I take papa to his doctors appointment.
Crystal: I forgot his appointment was today. Do you want me come with yall?
Devale: No, I wanted you to take him so that I wouldn't have to call off but since you chose to leave the house without checking the family calendar or communicating with your husband so I handled it.
Crystal: You haven't said two words to me in the past two days. Why couldn't you communicate that I needed to take him. You're being passive agreesive and petty so be mad at yourself. I don't understand what the problem is?
Devale: I don't have time to explain to you what the problem is, I'll see you at home later.
Crystal: I'm starting to feel like you just want a reason to treat me like shit lately. I'm getting tired of it.
Devale: I'm getting tired of you putting work before your responsibilities as a mother and a wife.
Crystal: I forgot one appointment, are you perfect?
Devale: No, but I'm present.
Crystal: I'm not present in my kids lives?
Devale: Are you? How many times have you had dinner with us this week? How many mornings this week have you given them toaster strudels, with orange juice before rushing them out the door? Everyday this week, right? You make sure other people families are taken care of but neglecting yours.
