If that title doesn't grab your attention, I don't know what will...
I have a problem. For 11 years I was able to stay at home with my kids. I occasionally, worked in my home, taking care of other children, but for the most part, I was a devoted mom. I was able to go to every school program and class party. I was the one who would go and get them a snow cone or shake after a hard day at school. I was AVAILABLE.
Going back to work after umpteen years of freedom to go and do what I wanted, well it has been a very hard adjustment for me. I have come to terms with the fact that this is where I am at this stage in my life. God and I have had plenty of conversations over the subject, and HE has certainly been faithful in dishing out the strength, when needed. I also have a wonderful "hands on" dad for a hubby, who takes up the slack for me, with all the school activities. Yes, I am blessed.
No, the problem is I didn't do a very good job of preparing myself or my family for the adjustment of mom working outside of the home for the last year and a half. In fact, I am in constant awe of all the single moms and those whose husbands work away, for I absolutely don't know how you all do it. In fact how does any of my "mom" friends do it? Because I sure haven't discovered the secret...
How do you keep your house even "sorta clean?" I mean, I get home by 4:00-4:30 everyday, yet after I run around delivering kids to sporting events and piano lessons, take a few minutes to "rest" after a hard day, I'm still not getting in bed before ten and my house is still a wreck!
How do you keep the laundry "ready for wear?" I mean a day doesn't go by that Jordan doesn't ask me at 9:00p.m. to wash his jeans or favorite shirt. We are constantly looking for matching socks, because I really do believe there is a sock eating monster in my dryer, who only will eat one sock of a pair. He likes variety.
How do you keep the dishes caught up? When your son will never drink out of the same glass twice? Or your daughter forgets to rinse out her cereal bowl? I keep buying spoons, because I think my kid's version of "clean up" is to just throw everything away! Either that or there is a monster in my dishwasher too, who loves SPOONS!!!
How do you keep the family pet, from not leaving you "gifts" on your rug, when of course the wood floor is just a foot away? I mean we are gone all day, and she is getting on the older side of life, BUT still... well, I'll just leave that one there.
How do you have a nutritious dinner, with the whole family around the table, when your hubby and kid's schedules are so darn crazy? How do you even have time to cook a meal, that can't be cooked in the microwave, anyway? What is the secret?
I could go on and on in my quest to be the next June Cleaver, Martha Stewart or Betty Crocker, but that will get me no where, I am afraid. I am who I am and my family is what it is. However, if you have a few handy hints to help me survive the world of being a busy, working mom, that would be great too.
In the mean time, please don't be embarrassed to call me friend. I mean if you were to visit, at this moment in time, there would be a sink full of dishes, clothes stacked in the hall to be washed, a "junk room" that probably just needs to be burned down, an empty refrigerator and a grocery list to be made and a stack of bills that need to be paid. Yep! Hello weekend!
Oh, but I almost forgot, the most embarrassing detail of them all... I have a few Christmas trees and decorations that need to come down. Still my friend?
Guess what I'm spending my three day weekend doing?
Here is hoping you have a relaxing weekend. Say a prayer for me! I'm hoping to have a free moment or two amidst my cleaning spree...
11 comments:
Can't wait to see the suggestions you get.
The only thing I have is the crock-pot. I love meals that I can throw in the c.p. in the morning and they are ready in the evening. Hope that helps.
Blessings,
Amy
I'm still your friend.
And my house looks like yours and I stay home.
Mama must be so proud of us. :)
Um, the answer to all those questions is "You can't." You just do the best you can and trust that it's good enough. And you realize that this is just one stage of your life and it won't last forever. Enjoy the good stuff and don't sweat the other stuff.
Signed,
The Woman Whose Kids Sometimes Eat Cereal For Dinner and Can't Find Clean Socks and Whose Dog Regularly Leaves Presents.
Ha! I can totally relate, and I don't even work! I have time to clean, but who wants to spend all day, every day cleaning, when one day after you do it, it looks exactly the same again?! My dishwasher must eat spoons too...I finally broke down and bought some more at Target the other day and we still keep running out.
For my laundry room, I just bought one of those rubbermaid things that has 3 drawers, and I'm using it for socks....each kid has their own drawer. I got tired of digging in the laundry basket to try and find socks amidst their clothes. And they each have their own laudry basket that their clothes go in, so if I don't have time to put them back in their rooms, they can at least find their own stuff in their basket.
Oh, and I just finished putting my Christmas decor up last weekend. Ha!
No worries - I am a stay-at-home Mommy, and ALL my Christmas decor is still up - including our outside lights!! {wink}
I love meals that I can throw in the c.p. in the morning and they are ready in the evening. Hope that helps.
Work from home India
I feel your pain. I stayed home for 9 years and my house is usually dusty and un vacuumed and I dispise doing dishes.
So we all rinse and load our own dirty dishes. My hubs unloads when he's home.
I try to put pairs of sox in the wash so only the pairs come out.
I have always washed clothes everyday. I actually like doing laundy so that helps.
I have taught my kids to do laundry,but I still do it the most.
My son vacuums to save my back, bless his heart and each kid cleans a bathroom each week.
As for eating together, we are only together on the weekends and we try to eat together then.
It's hard and I wish I didn't have to work, but I totally have accepted it and the kids and hubs have too I think.
I'll still call you my friend.
God bless you and take a few breaks this weekend.
Nannette
Sis,
Here's the deal! You're the daughter of me, as well as, your MOM!
She's got "HER" Christmas stuff down inside, but "MY" Christmas lights outside are still up, though not lit.no.mo.
The crockpot THANG was interesting because this morning (SUNDAY and our third Sunday Dinner On.the.ground - "where did that term come from - a church picnic, I suppose) Anyway, we got home from the Hall of Fame Induction at my high school - did I tell you that my HS basketball team and I were "inducted" last night? Where was I? Oh, we got home at 11:30 pm - in bed at 1:15 am and up at 6:30 am to fix a crockpot full of potato soup - we were both up to our elbows in cheezy, pototoee, broccoliiii, mixture without a good way to cook and mix in one pot - THE SINK'S FULL OF POTS AND PANS - we're racing to get ready to church (well, you caught me on the blogsite, and I just had to take a minute to respond.) Anyway, you are DEFINITELY OUR DAUGHTER!
Laundry, now we've piles around but MOM, well, you know her - she does laundry like I breathe. ALL THE TIME! But you're my DAUGHTER there! I don't know how to set the machine to wash and dry unless I get updated instructions.
Need I say more? YOU ARE OUR DAUGHTER AND WE LOVE WHO YOU ARE! I don't guess I've helped you be anyone else, but then, I would not want someone else!
I Love YOU! MOM DOES TOO!
Jim-Dad
Hope the cleaning spree went well. I have been away from the house all weekend. It has been crazy.
If you get it all figured out let me know! (And I don't work outside of the home!) :)
I feel like you are describing my house and I do not work outside the home. You could never lose me as a friend that easy. :)
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