I was about to post this & then thought maybe I wouldn't....
You may remember a little while ago when I wrote this post. I had so many lovely responses, so many of you feeling much the same. It's funny how just a little way down the track, that unsettled feeling creeps back somehow. It's not discontent, I love that I am a stay at home mum, I feel so lucky to have the opportunity to be available to the kids, the house and all that goes with that. The need to have to justify this lifestyle just tugs at me every now & then. I think what I'm feeling is a little bit anxious, maybe, knowing that it's not long now before my little guy joins his big brothers at school & it'll be time for me to go back to work. I'm just not sure what that work will be. Whatever it is that I do, I want to enjoy it, I want to be excited & passionate about it...but what, I really don't know. To make things more complicated, I want to be available after school hours so that I can pick up the kids & hear about their day, and run them around to wherever they need to go. I suppose it's still another 18 months away, I guess anything could happen between now and then...
While pondering my post, I popped over to my dashboard and read this by Sarah at Splish Splash Designs. Thank you Sarah, for reminding me to take time to enjoy the simple things and the treassures that surround me, goodness knows they'll be all grown up in the blink of an eye. Time to stop & smell the roses...
You may remember a little while ago when I wrote this post. I had so many lovely responses, so many of you feeling much the same. It's funny how just a little way down the track, that unsettled feeling creeps back somehow. It's not discontent, I love that I am a stay at home mum, I feel so lucky to have the opportunity to be available to the kids, the house and all that goes with that. The need to have to justify this lifestyle just tugs at me every now & then. I think what I'm feeling is a little bit anxious, maybe, knowing that it's not long now before my little guy joins his big brothers at school & it'll be time for me to go back to work. I'm just not sure what that work will be. Whatever it is that I do, I want to enjoy it, I want to be excited & passionate about it...but what, I really don't know. To make things more complicated, I want to be available after school hours so that I can pick up the kids & hear about their day, and run them around to wherever they need to go. I suppose it's still another 18 months away, I guess anything could happen between now and then...
While pondering my post, I popped over to my dashboard and read this by Sarah at Splish Splash Designs. Thank you Sarah, for reminding me to take time to enjoy the simple things and the treassures that surround me, goodness knows they'll be all grown up in the blink of an eye. Time to stop & smell the roses...
image via lola's room
I agree, it's so hard not to get caught up in the everyday worries about the future and not enjoy today. That was a lovely quote.
ReplyDeleteOh I know how you feel! I've now reached that point of my youngest in her first year of school this year. I feel guilty for not rushing back out to work to bring in the extra cash, but then I look at what I'm still able to offer our 2 kids - I help out at school whenever I can with various activities - which my girls just love! can attend all the various shows and displays - and be at their beck and call to encourage them as much as possible in these early school years. It's what I love doing, and I see how much my girls like sharing it all with me. I'm sure this will change as they get older, so I'm very appreciative of the fact that we can live our lives like this now. I am I'm trying to find ways to earn money from home too - I love this independence of doing things for us - rather than someone else at work too!
ReplyDeleteKeep on enjoying!!
The same sort of things have been playing on my mind recently too. Its that thing of the last one going off to school. It is a big thing, and we can't help but think about the changes that will bring.
ReplyDeleteLike you say, anything can happen between now and then. I'm only just starting to realize now, that I can't plan too far ahead at all. Things just keep on changing! (redundancy/moving abroad again)
So taking it day by day, and enjoying who the children are now sounds good to me!!xxx
Oh I know how you feel, My last starts school this fall and for the first time in 15 years I will be alone all day and I'm excited and scared all at the same time.
ReplyDeleteYou are so talented my lady you have the world on a bright string...I think you need to open up a retail shop!!
I enjoyed reading this post and your original one. I often think of those ponderings this way -(which may sound very morbid!) "When I am on my deathbed will I regret this?" I don't think you would say "I regret not doing more work for others" but one might say "I regret not having more time with my children". I am now a nana and feel my favourite job and the one I did best was giving the world 4 independent, hard working, citizens who relate well with others and keep in regular contact with us.
ReplyDeleteYou must be a great mum and I'm sure things will work out well when the time comes.........
I have these same thoughts all the time. Do I go back to work (paid work outside the house) or continue with my little business where I set my own hours but make a portion of the income I could teaching. I love being able to be there for the kiddies before and after school, sports days and helping out at school. Even the logistics of going back to work makes it near impossible. I would start and finish work outside school hours and therefore wouldn't be able get them there or pick them up and have no one to take up the slack. Even thinking about it makes my head hurt...
ReplyDeleteDamn it! I don't know what I want to be when I grow up either. Instead I seem to be toying with a midlife crisis...
ReplyDeleteSuch a lovely quote definitely.
ReplyDeleteI was thinking along the same lines as Tania! I don't have kids, but I find lately I'm worrying a lot about me of tomorrow! Which is not helping to keep a perspective of me of today! I don't want to lose track of the miracle that is me now.
Bit deep, sorry! :)
Was also thinking the same thing with a shop, as Heidi. Perhaps put more focus into your madeit store Mel. Grow it much more! You have such beautiful things to sell. One only has to scroll down the side of your blog to see what talent you have to use. Always worth a try don't you think? :)
become a tupperware lady! just an idea, but it's a pretty cool one. stay at home mum's are the best..having my mum at home with us really made us the way we are now. i know it gets harder as things get more expensive and all that but i can't stress enough just how valuable mum time was. her little prepared afternoon teas after school were also a hit! :)
ReplyDeleteThe fact that you have a choice to stay home and be a mum makes you very lucky in my eyes. Ignore what everyone else thinks, and go with whatever is in your heart!
ReplyDeletei can see how you feel. i was starting to get that edgy feeling before i got pregnant again and then as horrible as it sounds i felt like that bought me more time... we all find our way though. enjoy the moment! xo m.
ReplyDeleteOh, I've been thinking about that too. My daughter is only 18 months, so I have a while to worry, but it has totally been on my mind.
ReplyDeleteHmmm, I try not to think about this one too much as it makes my head hurt! I still have NO IDEA what I want to do when I grow up! To be completely honest, I think I may have started having children to put this question off for a little bit longer...... how bad is that?!!
ReplyDeleteHey, I've picked you to complete the positivity challenge - see http://lovesabargain.blogspot.com/2010/07/positivity.html.
ReplyDeleteHappy Tuesday!
Such timely words to read! I have just the one at home (first of many I hope) and sometimes I forget to stop and breathe her in! Thanks for sharing...lovely!! :)
ReplyDeleteI hear you little ted... it's part of the whole package of motherhood I think - you're so utterly changed by it that it can be unsettling to think of returning to a 'before' life... But for me, the key is keeping the vision optimistic and positive: it's another new chance to expand and enrich this happy little family world you're creating.
ReplyDeleteI don't think you're alone with those thoughts. You get so used to having them around and having them define your days, and then suddenly it's all up to you again. 18 months is time enough to work it out. And in the meantime, you can enjoy every minute.
ReplyDeleteGreat post. Thank you! Don't you just wonder how mothers survived in the good ol' days without the internet?? You can have much better "conversations" in many senses on blogs than at playgroup or mothers groups etc. Myself and so many mothers around me are pondering these very things you are writing about. Times they are a changin'
ReplyDelete