I stood in the same spot from 7 a.m. until noon. Frost. Wash. Repeat. Feed children. Clean up after children. Clothes from dryer to basket. Clothes from washer to dryer. Answer phone. Change diaper. Watch Blaine mush goldfish on kitchen floor. Send him to the pantry for the vacuum. Wonder what's taking him so long. Find him in pantry with mouth full of marshmallows. Find it in myself to laugh (after sending him to time-out). Wipe counters. Wipe sand off Rog's hands. And round and round I went. I started to feel frustrated but remembered these things are all just part of the job description to the career that I chose.
During Rog's naptime I plopped Blaine in front of PBS Kids and ran on the treadmill. There's nothing like a good run to get me back into a good mind frame. After my 2 miles I walked into the kitchen for some water and as I chugged it down I looked around at my house. Someday, I thought, I am going to be be here all alone during the day, without any little feet pattering down the hall, with no more fingerprints on my fridge, and none of Blaine's "friends" (stuffed animals) strewn about my living room. And I am going to be really sad.
After my shower I put on my ruffly red shirt, trouser jeans and turquoise earrings. It is 3:30 p.m. and I look like I'm ready to go on a date. I have nowhere to be but here, which is sitting on the floor helping Blaine with his "art" (adhere stickers to paper, cut paper into a kajillion pieces, repeat). But I was sick of being in my sweats. I used to look like this every day. Now I look at myself in the mirror and think, "what am I getting all dressed up for?" Bad sign. Baaaaad sign.
I've realized lately that life is always going to feel this hectic. I'll have more children. They will go to school and boyscouts (heaven help me) and piano lessons and ballet (here's hoping for a daughter). I'll keep volunteering at church. There will always be an endless project list and another load of laundry and another counter to wipe. I have to stop feeling stressed about it all and just go with the flow. "Go with the flow." I think I need to put "learn to needlepoint" on my project list so I can needlepoint that on a pillow.
Better get back to our art.
6 comments:
Well good for you for getting fancied up just because. Love your red shirt! I have yet to put a bra on today. Yep. Some days are like that. And I also needed a mouth full of marshmallows to get me through it, so don't be too hard on Blaine;)
This is a totally obnoxious thing to say, but it gets so much worse! I feel like I could literally stop sleeping and would still never be caught up. As for me, I did do my hair today (huge accomplishment) and got dressed (though my outfit would never pass the WWACW test), but never did get around to the makeup. Oh, and I WALKED two miles on a treadmill the other day and thought I was going to vomit. But I'm not giving up. Did aerobics today to "Bringing Sexy Back" and kept telling myself I really could....
Good for you! I too like to get dressed up at times so that Gino doesn't come home to what you guys came over to last night LOL One frumpy housewife!
This post said it perfectly! I love your blog, Anne!
You go girl!!!
-Chrystal
You know I always feel better on days that I actually get dressed and put on makeup even if I'm not going anywhere. Although I'm pretty sure I've never been as styish as you. Congratulations on your client!
My Dear Anne with an 'e'--
You don't know me, but I know you. {Sounds creepy, huh?} I was Jill's roommate @ BYU and was there for the Brian/Jill courtship long ago. Love both of them TO DEATH and found your blog through
Jill's. I've been secretly enjoying both your life story and admiring your unique writing style--hope you don't mind. I'm outing myself now to share with you an exerpt from my blog that I return to when I get stuck in the "mommy rut" you spoke of. Elder Oaks' quote always puts it into perspective for me...http://thejonesyfiles.blogspot.com/2009/08/martha-martha-martha.html
Good on ya for getting all gussied up for no reason--I'm still working on finding the bathroom floor to get a shower in sometime today!
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