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But I also love to be busy. Choosing to be a stay-at-home mom was not a choice to have a freer schedule in any way. In fact, sometimes I think that if I were still at work, I'd be able to get a little more done during the day because I could use my lunch hour to run errands and not have to spend half of the time wrangling a baby into and out of a car seat.
Case in point: at church on Sunday, I was chatting with our organist after the service and asked him how things were going with the musical he's conducting over at our local high school, where he happens to be the choir director. Ten minutes later, I had agreed to play in the pit orchestra for a six-show run of West Side Story with two days of preparatory practice time (for those not in the know, it's just about the most demanding musical score ever written).
A few weekends ago on the anniversary of Charlotte Bronte's* birthday, Penguin Books Australia tweeted about a Jane Eyre bracelet I was selling in my shop. Since then, I've somehow agreed to a dozen custom orders for similar bracelets, most of which are being sent to some lovely ladies in the land down under -- and did I mention that each bracelet takes me about 10 hours to complete?
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In addition to trying to get our house ready to have two bathrooms remodeled and a dishwasher installed, prepping before company comes for 5 days during which time I have to attend two parties and serve as the liturgist at church, planning a wedding shower for my soon-to-be sister-in-law, trying to decide if we're putting our house on the market, and writing a guest post for a blog I love (Megan, I swear I loved doing this one -- totally not complaining!), I've been schlepping a squirmy baby with me to try to get some other tasks done: renting a storage unit, having my dress altered for the wedding in July ("No, don't touch those pins!"), and the usual trip to three grocery stores since none of them sell all of the things we actually want. We've actually managed to squeeze in playdates, swimming lessons, and our weekly library trip somehow, too.
Oh, and in case I didn't tell you (ha ha -- it's been my major conversation topic lately!), baby girl has been waking up 5-6 times a night so I've been averaging 3 or 4 hours of sleep in between the crying jags.
This sounds like a very long complaint about my life, which it isn't. I started this by saying "I love to be busy," right? And I do. But my "busy as a bee" stamina seems to be a little less than it used to be pre-baby...so I compensate by skipping things like actually doing my hair, eating a lot more sugar than I should to keep my energy levels up, and letting some stuff go that I probably shouldn't. (Hello, giant pile of dirty laundry. Greetings, takeout from Noodles and Panera instead of healthy, home-cooked meals.)
So how do the rest of you do it? I know I'm not the only busy mom out there -- I would love to hear your tips on keeping yourself sane while managing to get it all done, or your ideas for learning how to say no!
*I know I'm missing the umlaut, but blogger refuses to cooperate!
Goodness gracious - I thought I was busy! Congratulations on the custom jewelry orders! I feel like I should solicit advice from you on this topic! Hopefully everything on that to-do list of yours (or most everything) proves to be exhilarating more so than exhausting, and don't sweat the little things that you have to let slide. We definitely had a take out night this week, too!
ReplyDeleteThanks Melissa! You seem like such a calm and in-control mama so it's nice to know you're right there with me, too. :)
DeleteHa, I totally could have written this post. I'm exactly the same way - ALWAYS busy. But, like you, I wouldn't have it any other way! I do, however, also need to work on finding ways to relax, especially during the busiest times. I have always tended to just push and push and push and then, eventually, I crash. Hard. Not good. I try to be better about this now that I'm a mommy and have someone else to care for (though I don't always succeed). Bubble baths. Books. Wine. Walks. Those things always seem to help a little. :)
ReplyDeleteMajor congrats on your jewelry orders!!!
Once our bathroom is remodeled and we actually have a bathtub (can you imagine the luxury?!), a bubble bath sounds HEAVENLY. :)
DeleteIf it'd be helpful to have a large chunk of time to yourself, Jeb and I would love to come by some weekend and watch L while you nap/run errands/other cool stuff. Jeb has weekends off, so we could easily drive down and give you as much time as you want.
ReplyDeleteSilly. If you two come, I want to hang out! Let me know when you two are driving out to see our little birthday girl :)
DeleteI love being busy, but since having J I have learned to slow down a little bit (living in London helps too, since i don't have that may prior commitments to keep up with - also, she often needs more down time that I think). I have often told friends I ask myself is the task/commitment I am whining about "life-giving or life-sucking" if my answer is life-giving then I just remember that when I am doing it and am usually happy. If it is life-sucking, I try not to feel bad about saying no and just do it. It is a fine balance, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteJust reading this is making me tired for you. I am guilty of the same thing and it's a really hard cycle to break! The no-hair (I add in no make-up) extra sugar, and lingering loads of laundry sounds very familiar...not so good for the long run but those are always the first to go around here. It's good that we're reevaluating our yes-ness, just one more way motherhood seems to be refining us, right?
ReplyDeleteOh, BTW I'm totally calling on you if I need to get something done ASAP + last minute ;)
Uh, I haven't posted in 2 weeks because I've been so busy, and blogging is what I let slide, unfortunately. And my list isn't nearly as long as your's... but just like a previous poster said... as long as its exhilarating and not exhausting, then I think you're good.
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