Attached Mamas Working Outside the HomeDo you face the unique challenges of balancing your career with your children? Come on in and talk with other moms who find ways to make their situation work for the whole family.
I don’t. It seems all I do is go to work (full time) come home take care of kids, animal, husband and house. I want more time to do fun things like sewing knitting other crafty items plus everything else. Time with the kids, keeping the house clean, playing with the cat (she’s put on weight since we got a puppy, kitty likes to eat puppy food), so much. Plus all the pulls of other people – friends wanting to do things, birthday parties for the kids class mates, birthday party for my kids…on and on.
It just seems like there is always something every night. Some of it we signed up for but then there are things like voting or grocery shopping. The girls take dance Julia has one class on Wednesday that ends here soon, then both girls have ballet on Saturday and Teagan has tap too.
How come there never seems to be enough time (ok a song is starting in my head)? I want to simplify do less, have a calmer life, less running around, but still I want to give the girls opportunities to try things, like dance.
What do you do? How to you control it?
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Melissa
Mommy to Julia (5-30-98) and Teagan (11-13-01)
and out two furry friends Chloe the cat and Amber the little wiener dog, Oh and DH of 14 years
Location: "the stars are matter, we're matter, but it doesn't matter."
Posts: 3,099
Ditto all that!
Although its not nearly enough, I do steal a little here and there. Like say, an hour or two a week playing my bass. I do it by putting it ahead of other things, like cleaning, and yes even seeing friends. (Sorry friends - you all will still be around in like, 10 years, right?)
But if you could see my yard right now - overgrown with weeds and totally ugly, you might tell me to take a little less leisure.
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Dawn,
mama to Maxine Day(8/01) and brand new Ivan Wolfgang(6/08), partner to Jason.
The only way I have time to do crafting projects is by keeping them small (bendy dolls at the moment) and carrying them with me in my purse. So, waiting for Aidan after school, I can sit outside the school and wrap the arms, or I can sew while sitting in the waiting room at his therapy. I work at a school and I've been doing some sewing during recess times, but that often ends in me teaching children how to sew.
I've started reading in the bathtub because I know that is the only place I will not be interupted and I get up earlier than everyone else to use the computer.
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Mother to:
The Dread Pirate Kayla (19)
The anime heroine, Danika (17)
and my super hero, wizard, and daring knight,
Aidan(7)
No Leisure time here. In fact, I feel that my life is passing before my eyes. Between my and dh's work, the four kids and their activities, and then the normal daily grind of cooking, cleaning and laundry - I feel I am just existing. Yeah, not pleased. I am thinking of taking a working holiday to Florida this winter to escape our cold winter just for a couple of weeks or so. I don't know if I will be able to, but I am thinking of it....
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Jeni - wife to a great guy and mama to 3 at home plus one adult child who is expecting Feb -09!
Madison, Jeni, and Mickey in Temagami on the Dream Catcher Express
You know, I've been thinking about this and I do have leisure time. It isn't as much as I'd like but I do have some. On my at home days, I bring the kids to the gym and I get about 90 minutes about 5 days/week when they are in day care and I get to work out.
I do right now but only b/c I switched to a daycare that has a 3 day min. w longer hours and am only working 2 days right now. And it's not "leisure time" but errand time, painting, home organization, taking older DD to physical therapy, etc.
I do read every night as my kids are in bed by 8:30 (w/o call backs - start at 7:30 though). And #2 still naps while #1 in school for about 1 hr.
Something that takes time - say 1.5 to do nails & let dry - takes very detailed scheduling on my part.
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Natalie
mom to
DD #1: tiny terror (6/01) who's becoming a nice little girl
DD #2: peanut 3/04 who's becoming a toddler terror
Wife to Mick -13 yrs
Ditto all that!
Although its not nearly enough, I do steal a little here and there. Like say, an hour or two a week playing my bass. I do it by putting it ahead of other things, like cleaning, and yes even seeing friends. (Sorry friends - you all will still be around in like, 10 years, right?)
But if you could see my yard right now - overgrown with weeds and totally ugly, you might tell me to take a little less leisure.
I like that! not that you are a big meanie but mature enough to prioritize. It's OK to put yourself first sometimes! [not directed to you or anyone in particular, just saying]
I work part time while girls are in school. What works for me is finding small chunks of time so I can nurture myself too, and a sort of reward for what I'm doing for everyone else including work.
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~Jen- Mama to all girls all 4 years apart
my feedback
At first I thought 'leisure time - bwa ha ha ha haha !'
but then I had to think - I DO make conscious choices about how to spend a good amount of my time. I do not have sufficient chunks of time to read fiction books (for a woman with a MA in literature that is a huge concession) but I do have time enough to sit in the sun and just love my babies up some days.
I do. We're busy, that's fo' **** sho', but it's generally manageable. DH and I leave town together about once a month, and we go out once a week. I read when I have time, and there are entire days during the weekend when I get out alone to do whatever I want.
It helps that my parents live close and the kids (the ones that live outside my uterus) visit their dad every other weekend. Things probably will look a lot different after this baby is born.
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