kids – Page 4

The number one question I’ve been asked since both of my kids have been in school is “What do you do all day?” Whether it’s meant to or not, it’s by far the most offensive question you can ask a mother. I’ve been asked the same question by everyone from my relatives to my girlfriends who work full-time outside of the home (and also have people who do their laundry and clean their house.)

So for those of you who question what I do all day, here’s a little rundown:

I work from home during the week writing, creating and social media marketing for AquaSeventy6. I have a weekend job outside of the home, and during the week I blog and social media market for that job, as well. I also actively volunteer for a local charity.

Along with the above, every single weekday my alarm goes off at 6. I get the kids up, make breakfast, pack lunches, make sure they take their vitamins, that their teeth are brushed, hair is combed, that they have clean PE clothes and that they are wearing deodorant. I drive them both to their schools (it takes one hour to do both drop offs).

I then run errands (groceries, bank, post office, pharmacy, etc.), do laundry, sweep, mop, dust, clean the bathrooms, and feed the dogs. I pick them up from school (another hour+ depending on car line), schedule and drive them to all medical and orthodontic appointments. I help them with their homework, attend evening functions at school, attend meetings for work and for the charity, make sure the kids shower, have dinner and brush their teeth again (although I pawn dinner off to my husband whenever possible). I load the dishes, clean up the kitchen, and tuck the kids into bed.When I finally crawl into bed, hubby has been snoring for a good hour.

Are you tired, yet? I am. During the week, I rush out of the house without showering or eating breakfast. I’m a hot mess, to say the least. In the 5 short hours I have between drop-off and pick-up, I barely even have time to eat lunch. Then, instead of sleeping in on the weekends, I go to work. I only take days off for special family events, which means I don’t relax on those days, either.

I am with my kids every day over the summer, I am home with them any day they have off of school, and I am with them after school and all night long.

Here I am on-the-go with my kiddos…what do I DO all day? Hmf!

But even so, I still get asked “What do you do all day?”

When you work from home, it is assumed that you have time to chat on the phone all day or that it’s no problem to do someone a favor (usually requiring a drive across town).

There are times, even when I am not sidetracked by phone calls or favors, that I simply can’t get to it all and leave the dishes for the next morning or unfolded laundry in a basket for a few days. Those are the things others see…not what we do, but what we couldn’t get done. That’s not very fair, is it?

So, the next time you are curious as to what I (or most other moms, for that matter) “do all day”, take a moment to re-read this article, or simply open your eyes, because I promise that if you ask, I won’t have a very nice answer.

It’s here…back to school time. I’d been dreading this since June, but I knew it was inevitable. In the blink of an eye we were back to 6 a.m. wake-up calls, packing lunches, car lines and homework.

This year, my son (now 13 and in 8th grade) decided to take a “break” from the school band. Break=quit, I know. I don’t try to block the sun with one finger, like my mom would say. In his defense, he never aspired to be a concert trumpeter (he wants to be a robotics engineer), and there were some technology classes he wanted to take before leaving middle school. As a plus, he no longer has to carry a 20 lb trumpet case around the school, which I believe is at least partly to blame for his recent referral to a radiologist for a scoliosis survey.

My daughter (now 10 and in 5th grade) has been excited about going back to school and seeing her friends again. More excited, I think, about the possibility of an entirely uninterrupted school year. In 3rd grade she broke her leg during spring break. Because she was in a full cast and would need assistance using the restroom, the school recommended home bound instruction. She was taught at home for 5 weeks. Last year, as you may recall, we moved back to Florida three months into the school year.

That move, in fact, is what pulled the emergency breaks here at AquaSeventy6…good segue, right? (And, yes, it’s “segue”, not “segway” like the scooter. Trust me, I Googled it.)

AquaSeventy6, the blog and the shop have been suffering since my move. I pop in every few weeks to apologize and promise to do better, only to get wrapped up in life and end up apologizing all over again. But, my friends, this time it’s different, and that’s a promise. I finally have all of my sewing supplies under one roof again. The kids are back to school and I am no longer commuting across town. That said, there are going to be some changes going on as well.

I am first and foremost a writer. I’m neither Fitzgerald nor Hemingway, but I do think in monologue, and have since I was a kid. I plan on adding more anecdotal and family related posts in the future, which may or may not include anything crafty. (Anyone else get all Grandma’s-Crocheted-Santa-Potholder when you hear the word “crafty”? Trust me, I avoid it as much as possible. I prefer “handmade” or “DIY” myself.)

As far as my shop, I do plan to reopen it at some point. I don’t like to list special order items, I prefer only to list what I have on hand so my clients can get their goodies ASAP. This means I have to get on the ball and make inventory. I love inventory because I have so many bits and pieces of amazing, often discontinued fabrics that I can use to make some truly unique pieces. But inventory takes time, so the shop reopening time frame is currently TBA.

I also plan to get back to featuring my furniture revamps. These may be items in my own home, or possibly something for a friend or client. I’ve been painting and updating vintage furniture for several years now. Just this summer I’ve redone 4 or 5 pieces of my own furniture…I just haven’t gotten around to photographing any of it! 😦 Revamping furniture was my first DIY passion prior to sewing, and sadly I let it fall to the wayside.

Finally, I will continue to toss in some fashion and style related posts here and there. Wow! I guess I actually AM excited that the kids are back to school, because I truly have missed this!

I will be back soon with a new post, but for now I am hitting the sack!! It’s almost 1 a.m., y’all!

PS….what do you think of my new blog design?