DeAnn Warfel, 40, smiles when she tells of her first forays making lunch as a stay-at-home mom.
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Her husband, Scott, has always been the better cook. At one time, he had left his job to stay home with the couple's two daughters.
She was on the corporate fast-track, working for PacifiCare health maintenance organization. Her career eventually landed her a corner office in Philadelphia, a luxury home, expensive cars and a basement of toys for her girls.
"At that time, my career had taken over, but I wanted my family to come first.”
She said goodbye to the lifestyle and began a new one with initial obstacles — like cooking.
Her daughter, Madison, 13, is happy to provide the details of one early lunch. "She burned macaroni and cheese,” the teen said, with a smile.
The homeschooling morning is over and Rebekah, 10, requests grilled cheese. They lunch on grilled cheese and tomato soup as baby "K,” a foster child, naps. They continue a board game unfinished during yesterday's lunch.
After the meal, Madison goes back to the family school room to continue her studies. DeAnn continues Rebekah's lesson on Shakespeare.
DeAnn, holding a now awake "K” on her lap, reads from "Macbeth” to end the lesson.
Then it's on to Rebekah's general science lesson. The subject is fossils and Rebekah makes a fossil mold using a sea shell.
By 3:10 p.m., English is the last lesson for the day for Rebekah. Almost as if on cue, baby "K” wakes up from another short nap just as the lesson on conjunctions ends. The Department of Human Services asked baby "K” not be identified.
Rebekah readies for dinner and midweek church services. Madison practices on the piano.
Warfel prepares the baby's diaper bag for the family outing.
At 5 p.m., her husband, Scott, arrives home.
Scott Warfel asks his family for 10 minutes to catch up on the latest news, and right on time, he clicks off the television and they are out the door headed for dinner. Eating out on Wednesday nights is a family tradition they all look forward to.
Staff Writer Carla Hinton
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