Thursday, August 16, 2007

Why I go to work

This week at home has proven one thing to me: I could never be a stay-at-home mom.

No, it's not because the kids are driving me crazy. They do that whether I'm working or not. It's a given. If you have kids, you're crazy. Ask any mom.

I think I would fall into some serious kind of sloth-dom if I didn't have to get up and get dressed to go to work every day. It has been SO easy to just wake up, whenever, get dressed, whenever, do, whatever, whenever, and not feel pressured at all. I've made dinner ONCE this entire week. Once. The rest of the nights, it's been, whatever. Cereal, fruit, sandwiches. Whatever.

I would be the kind of stay-at-home-mom who lets her kids eat ice cream and cake and pizza for breakfast and get dressed, whenever. I don't think I'd even require baths regularly, just when they became particularly rank.

I know my laundry would build up to mountainous proportions and the kitchen would never be clean.

This intense heat has forced us to pretty much stay inside for the week, despite my plans for getting out and visiting the zoo and the beach and the woods and doing some picnicking and hiking during my week off. No. We sat inside and watched TV and played on the computer while the floors screamed to be scrubbed and the dishes grew funky in the sink.

I languished. I lolled about. I thought "Hmm...I should get something done today." And then did nothing but play with Unruly and slip into whatever role her little mind thought up for me. The kids pretty much did the same thing.

But you know what? I think I needed the languishing and lolling. I've never, ever done that. Ever. My brain turned off for a week, I let things kind of fall to the wayside (something I NEVER do!), and I'm coming to the end of this week feeling refreshed, relaxed and rested. Something I haven't felt in umm...a long, long time.

Three more days and I guess I'll have to turn the brain back on and set the alarm clock once again.

6 comments:

Jim Thomsen said...

Three days is a LOOOOOOONG time. Squeeze in all the indolence and sloth you can!

I'm glad you know this about yourself. I think a lot of parents of young kids torture themselves with guilt over every minute they don't spend with their kids ... never appreciating that their kids probably need the break from mommy and/or daddy as much as mommy or daddy needs the break from them.

Separation is healthy. For everyone.

Anonymous said...

Sloth is healthy, too.
It's one of the seven deadly sins, but, whatever. You can always repent later.

:)

Sona said...

I loved being a SAHM. The idea of turning my baby over to someone else to raise for 10 hours a day was appalling. I couldn't do it until she was old enough for school.

Jenn said...

Ninja...I agree. Sometimes they do need a break from me as much as I need a break from them. I try to spend as much quality time with them as possible, but I also think there is a certain point when it becomes overkill.

Amy...sloth...repent...sloth...repent..is that how it works? :P

Sona...I never had to turn my baby over to anyone. My sister lived with us and stayed at home with the kids until after Unruly turned three, well old enough to start preschool and be socialized. Being a SAHM is what some are cut out do be excellent at doing, I know I'm not and I accepted that. I love my kids, but I don't think I need to be around them, or them around me, all the time.

Sona said...

If I had family close by and that were an option, I probably would have gone back to work earlier.

But there is no one here I would have trusted with my child. So consider yourself lucky you had that resource.

Nell said...

Sounds pretty sweet. I find that when I have the opportunity to just do nothing, it's really hard for me, I'm so used to filling my days with stuff and Getting Things Done. Not that it works all the time, as you know, but still. Good job relaxing.