My week of stay-cation is coming to a close. Dan and the children will be back from their East Coast road trip this evening. I had two main goals while they were gone: 1) finish grading the papers that were the reason I stayed home in the first place; 2) bring a bit more order to the swirling mass of chaos that is our home. In addition to these two pursuits, I enjoyed quiet *uninterrupted* visits with friends, daily *uninterrupted* naps, eating mostly cookies and Easter candy all day every day (a bit sickening, but still), daily walks, the ability to concentrate, and a virtually empty calendar. Each morning when I awoke, I could feel myself sneaking around the house, hoping for a few moments to myself before the children woke up. Then I remembered, turned on all the lights, and made as much noise as I pleased. After an entire week, the dishwasher is still not full, but I ran it this morning anyway. I can see the bottom of the dirty laundry hampers, and I have even washed the extra towels and bedding which have waited for months at the bottom of the pile while more pressing things (like underwear) get washed first.
I have a hard time understanding people on the phone, especially my children. This makes me want to avoid calling them when we are apart. So I decided that for this week, we would try to communicate via email. I tried to send them an update each day of what I was doing, and they sent me frequent messages as well. I really enjoyed that.
Some of the major projects I have worked on: moving the computer and printer from the basement to the kitchen. Moving the kitchen table from the kitchen to the dining room. Moving the desk from the dining room into the kitchen and putting the computer and printer on it. Clearing off and getting rid of the bookshelf and dresser full of junk in the dining room that were supposed to help me keep everything looking neat and tidy. Moving the bookshelf from the dining room into the girls' bedroom, and moving the too-small bookcase from their bedroom into the entryway. I am very happy with my new kitchen-office. It makes so much sense to have all of the major tools I use during the day together in one room. I have cleared out one bank of kitchen cupboards to house office supplies. I also love having the kitchen table out in the dining room because it is so sunny and bright there, and now the kitchen feels much less crowded and crazy.
I have also been gathering toys from all over the house and trying to sort and put them away. They don't really have a home. I'm never sure if I want them to be in the basement or in the girls' room. In either case, there is no toy shelf for them. Maybe this is why they are always all over the floor? This is a project I need to finish today, so my gathering and sorting will not be in vain! I also need to fold and put away the giant mountain of laundry I have piled up on Esther's bed in her absence. And I'm going to have to start thinking about cooking and eating real food again. The cookie-Easter candy-occasional-take-out-meal-from-a-restaurant diet may not be the best way to feed a family of 6.
Living alone has been so easy. When the family returns tonight, they will bring a big load of stress with them, as well as several big loads of dirty laundry. One of the most stressful part of raising 4 children for me right now is also one of the most basic: keeping them fed. During the 2.5 short weeks that we had a dog, I loved how easy it was to feed him--just pour 1/2 cup of dry kibble in his bowl twice a day and he was good. Feeding little humans is much harder! I think I make it much harder than it needs to be by fighting it. I put it off, avoid it, and it hangs over me and follows me around all day, whining. I'm hoping when the kids get back I can make some progress in the direction of accepting and embracing this responsibility, keeping on top of it, or even ahead of it. Same with keeping them clothed. I think a lot of my daily stress and misery would be eliminated if I would focus on feeding and clothing the children in a more determined, mindful way. When I try to run away from the necessity of repeating these tasks over and over again, there is the nearly daily unpleasant surprise that someone is completely out of underwear or socks, or that someone has poured milk on their cereal but there are no clean spoons. I think this wears on me much more than just accepting the fact that I need to do dishes, laundry and meal preparation every day forever and ever, even if I don't want to. As I've seen this week, I can get away with only doing those tasks once a week when I live alone, but I do not live alone. And I am glad I do not live alone--it is a blessing to have a house full of children and a nice husband. But if I want to be happier, I need to stop avoiding the necessary daily repetitive work that must be done. Well, that is my lecture to myself for the day!
5 comments:
You have some major feng shui going:)
The monotony of motherhood has been one of my biggest challenges to overcome as a parent. Doing the same thing everyday can spiral me into a funk quicker than a toddler temper tantrum. It was so gratifying to hear that I'm not alone! Often I feel like there is something wrong in my brain when I can't conform to routine. It appears as if well-functioning families thrive off routines, charts, check lists, and consistency- none of which I really excel. I do have to say that I'm grateful that most of these repetitious tasks can be put on hold for a day or so, unlike our DH's that HAVE to go to work everyday;)
BTW- I've told Brett like 3 times this week that you've had a week at home alone. I think he's got the hint.... :) Love it! and hope you've enjoyed it!!! And this doesn't mean we don't love our kids....
Yep, the never completed tasks of dishes and laundry and meals...those do get to me too, but someday, they'll do their own! Someday they'll like what I fix for dinner and hopefully, in the meantime -- I can work on my sense of humor.
So glad you had a break! JC took our boys on the Fathers & Sons campout last year, but they got mired in mud and had to come home really early on Saturday. I cried. And not the happy kind. :-)
People with office jobs get to come home from work, get to take a day off work, but (so far) we haven't had a day of not using any laundry or eating food, making messes, etc. And at the end of the day, I'm still at work! Don't feel bad for loving the sweet peace you have enjoyed - it doesn't mean you don't love your kids, it just means that you need to take care you yourself too. We all do! And I think we make ourselves miserable when we think too much about how things are "supposed" to be. You are your own boss - you are supposed to do things however you darn well please!
This fall all of my kids will be in school. I can't imagine what it will be like. I'm pretty sure it will be super awesome. Hang in there - I think you're almost there too. Then you'll at least have a bit of peace during the day.
One last thing: I bought our Easter candy awhile ago, ate it all, repurchased it, ate that too and then decided that we just weren't going to have any this year. Go me... And don't even get me started on the Keebler Fudge Sticks. I think I went three days eating pretty much nothing but those. :-)
You are such a good writer, and an even better mother. Way to hit the nail on the head about the daily grind. I feel the same way at times, but when I do I try and change my attitude so that the mood in our home changes. Hope to see your face soon:)
Post a Comment