I'm happy to be awake this morning before the kids. They are slowly trickling down the stairs one at a time to investigate the chaos that was Christmas. All five of them have a big giant gift bag from Grannie to sift through. We spent Christmas morning opening presents and cleaning up a little bit before rushing off to my mom's house for dinner and present exchange.
Today we start what will likely be the first day of several in a row of cleaning and reorganizing around the house. The children's room as well as their loft tv area have been severely neglected since before Thanksgiving because I just couldn't bring myself to forge a takeover and really get things in order up there. Really, I haven't had a lot of time to go above and beyond the daily dose of just clearing a path and keeping up with clean clothes to wear every day.
I am looking forward to the overhaul of sorts because it will bring me into the new year, hopefully with a new focus to become at least a more efficient person if not a person with a few extra dollars in her pocket so to speak. Today it feels like there are books and blogs to write, photo frames to fill, rooms to organize, CDs to burn and time to do it.
Friday, December 26, 2008
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Things to do Today on this dreary rainy day
It's just after 11 and I've still so much to do today.
Fold and put away the load of kids clothes (that I washed 2 days ago).
Fold and put away hubby's load of clothes so that he doesn't nag me about having to do it himself.
Make the internet work for me and make some $$ before I have to go out and get a real job.
Empty the dishwasher
Start loading the dishwasher with the breakfast dishes
Think about what's for dinner tonight for me and the kids.
Start a grocery list for tomorrow(or saturday or sunday, whenever I get to doing that).
Put away the load of my laundry that I washed the other day.
Hmmmmm.....I won't even mention the stuff that I have no intentions of doing today...like other cleaning. Just not going to do it.
Fold and put away the load of kids clothes (that I washed 2 days ago).
Fold and put away hubby's load of clothes so that he doesn't nag me about having to do it himself.
Make the internet work for me and make some $$ before I have to go out and get a real job.
Empty the dishwasher
Start loading the dishwasher with the breakfast dishes
Think about what's for dinner tonight for me and the kids.
Start a grocery list for tomorrow(or saturday or sunday, whenever I get to doing that).
Put away the load of my laundry that I washed the other day.
Hmmmmm.....I won't even mention the stuff that I have no intentions of doing today...like other cleaning. Just not going to do it.
Monday, July 28, 2008
Summer is Flying by
Next week The Scholar and The PreTeen are starting their second 2-week session of their Summer Enrichment course. This will signal the end of summer vacation for me. Is this really the last week of July??? The girls have 2 weeks of the summer school then they're off for about a week before all the kids start school on August 22nd for the first full day. Why start on a Friday, I don't know, but they do.
I finally finished filling out the preregistration forms for all five kids last week. I made appointments for The Scholar and The PreTeen to have sports physicals so they could play volleyball and The PreTeen wants to do cheerleading this year too. I was putting off writing the checks for registration, but finally did that this morning and sent them off.
Five kids, two public schools (one elementary, one middle school), nearly $500 for registration. That's the bare minimum. That does not include lunches (hot lunch is available for about $2.00 a day), portraits, yearbooks, field trips, scouts, school supplies (which I'll likely spend a couple of hundred bucks on at Walmart) and a myriad of other things that come up every month that they're in school ranging from $5 to $25 a month or more.
My kids take their lunches daily maybe getting hot lunch once or twice a month if they're serving something yummy (and I have cash in my purse--which is rare). I also take portraits myself and order them up from Shutterfly and only allow the kids to purchase yearbooks ($9-$15 per person).
Man, kids are EXPENSIVE!!!! And we haven't even hit high school yet--or the orthodontist--or had any broken bones (the joy of more girls than boys i suppose!LOL) I think I need a hobby that's gonna make me some money soon or I'm gonna have to get a real job!!!
I finally finished filling out the preregistration forms for all five kids last week. I made appointments for The Scholar and The PreTeen to have sports physicals so they could play volleyball and The PreTeen wants to do cheerleading this year too. I was putting off writing the checks for registration, but finally did that this morning and sent them off.
Five kids, two public schools (one elementary, one middle school), nearly $500 for registration. That's the bare minimum. That does not include lunches (hot lunch is available for about $2.00 a day), portraits, yearbooks, field trips, scouts, school supplies (which I'll likely spend a couple of hundred bucks on at Walmart) and a myriad of other things that come up every month that they're in school ranging from $5 to $25 a month or more.
My kids take their lunches daily maybe getting hot lunch once or twice a month if they're serving something yummy (and I have cash in my purse--which is rare). I also take portraits myself and order them up from Shutterfly and only allow the kids to purchase yearbooks ($9-$15 per person).
Man, kids are EXPENSIVE!!!! And we haven't even hit high school yet--or the orthodontist--or had any broken bones (the joy of more girls than boys i suppose!LOL) I think I need a hobby that's gonna make me some money soon or I'm gonna have to get a real job!!!
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
A Fine Summer Day
Wednesday's play date has been pushed to Thursday. I certainly didn't mind, when I woke up I was going to have to rush around getting myself and kids ready to go, now I don't have to. Tomorrow will be a much better day for a play date.
The next batch of kids is going to Wisconsin with the grands. They're headed out early in the morning, so I'll be up and raring to go out to play by 10:a.m. Today, not so much. We're creeping up on 10, and I've done nothing, and while I have some chore time with the kids in mind for sometime later in the day, I am looking forward to continuing the doing nothing for a couple more hours.
The jig is up.
Her Royal Highness is fighting with The Middle Child, Her Highness throwing a fit and being perfectly unreasonable. The Scholar was trying to mediate. And it's quiet again...we'll see if I can make it through this whole movie I just started before I need to go shower and make something of the day.
I've now wasted 20 minutes of movie time handing out some new directions, shuffling people around. I feel like a giant wooden spoon stirring the pot of children around the house for an optimal day. I had to move The Scholar from the computer and into the shower (if she's in the shower, mine will wait until she's done). The Scholar prepared the computer for Her Royal Highness, which gets her away from The Middle Child, one of her biggest adversaries. The Boy has been quiet and so has The PreTeen.
The next batch of kids is going to Wisconsin with the grands. They're headed out early in the morning, so I'll be up and raring to go out to play by 10:a.m. Today, not so much. We're creeping up on 10, and I've done nothing, and while I have some chore time with the kids in mind for sometime later in the day, I am looking forward to continuing the doing nothing for a couple more hours.
The jig is up.
Her Royal Highness is fighting with The Middle Child, Her Highness throwing a fit and being perfectly unreasonable. The Scholar was trying to mediate. And it's quiet again...we'll see if I can make it through this whole movie I just started before I need to go shower and make something of the day.
I've now wasted 20 minutes of movie time handing out some new directions, shuffling people around. I feel like a giant wooden spoon stirring the pot of children around the house for an optimal day. I had to move The Scholar from the computer and into the shower (if she's in the shower, mine will wait until she's done). The Scholar prepared the computer for Her Royal Highness, which gets her away from The Middle Child, one of her biggest adversaries. The Boy has been quiet and so has The PreTeen.
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Mom's Day Off
It doesn't happen often and I don't know when it will happen again, but today, I have a day off. There's no one home except for me, no kids, no spouse. I hardly know what to do with myself. Three of the of the kids are in Wisconsin until Tuesday with their grandparents (the inlaws). The other two kids are at my mom and dad's house until probably Monday evening. The spouse is at work until likely around 5:00.
I'm trying to enjoy the peace and quiet, the time to myself. Sometimes it's nice to not have anyone to talk to. There's not one person here that can direct my day, let alone six people here that tend to chase my day straight away from me. Don't get me wrong, that is the story of my life, much of my time is not my own and I wouldn't have it any other way, but it is nice to take a break and just be able to listen to the thoughts in my own head and (apparently) some dog barking his annoying little head off.
So, it's 9:30 in the morning and what have I done today? Not a whole heck of a lot, that's for sure. I watched Disturbia, read a little email and checked up on a few blogs, right now I'm watching Swingtown, but can't seem to get into it, I might have to turn on another movie...perhaps The Departed. LOVE that movie.
Hubby suggested taking me out to dinner tonight, so I've got that going for me. I need to do a little grocery shopping sometime soon, but that will likely wait until tomorrow, should be fun for hubby, he likes to come with me grocery shopping, but usually stays home with the kids as it is insanely distracting for me to grocery shop with five kids and a spouse in tow. Since the kids are gone hubby and me get to spend his only day off this week, without kids. I think that will be fun.
Hubby and I don't very often get to go out together, let alone have a whole day together without the children. When we do get away from the kids to just have some time together as a couple, it's usually only for a few hours. It pains me that we don't take more time to focus on our own relationship as a married couple when we are so wrapped up in work life and family life on a day to day basis.
So, I vow not to waste this 'me' day, this 'mom's day off'. I want to spend some time being me. I want to listen to some of my favorite songs while I take a shower knowing that not one person will knock on the door while I'm in there or stomp through the house having a temper tantrum. I want to enjoy my leftover Parmesan nuggets that I picked up at a local pizza joint last night with an ice cold Pepsi--half of which is also left over from last night. I want to watch Disturbia again and write a continuing romantic teen book series based on the romance between the main characters, Kale and Ashley (played by Shia LaBeouf and Sarah Roemer).
On my 'mom's day off', I'll go out to dinner with my husband and maybe to a little fun shopping, stimulate the economy a little bit. Hubby wants to go to Chili's for dinner, so I'm going to have to think about what I'm going to want to eat--everything is so good there it's hard to decide...but I should definitely have a margarita!!! Our economic stimulus money is burning a whole in my pocket and I'm hoping to be able to get hubby to let me spend at least a little bit of it before it goes to bills.
I'm trying to enjoy the peace and quiet, the time to myself. Sometimes it's nice to not have anyone to talk to. There's not one person here that can direct my day, let alone six people here that tend to chase my day straight away from me. Don't get me wrong, that is the story of my life, much of my time is not my own and I wouldn't have it any other way, but it is nice to take a break and just be able to listen to the thoughts in my own head and (apparently) some dog barking his annoying little head off.
So, it's 9:30 in the morning and what have I done today? Not a whole heck of a lot, that's for sure. I watched Disturbia, read a little email and checked up on a few blogs, right now I'm watching Swingtown, but can't seem to get into it, I might have to turn on another movie...perhaps The Departed. LOVE that movie.
Hubby suggested taking me out to dinner tonight, so I've got that going for me. I need to do a little grocery shopping sometime soon, but that will likely wait until tomorrow, should be fun for hubby, he likes to come with me grocery shopping, but usually stays home with the kids as it is insanely distracting for me to grocery shop with five kids and a spouse in tow. Since the kids are gone hubby and me get to spend his only day off this week, without kids. I think that will be fun.
Hubby and I don't very often get to go out together, let alone have a whole day together without the children. When we do get away from the kids to just have some time together as a couple, it's usually only for a few hours. It pains me that we don't take more time to focus on our own relationship as a married couple when we are so wrapped up in work life and family life on a day to day basis.
So, I vow not to waste this 'me' day, this 'mom's day off'. I want to spend some time being me. I want to listen to some of my favorite songs while I take a shower knowing that not one person will knock on the door while I'm in there or stomp through the house having a temper tantrum. I want to enjoy my leftover Parmesan nuggets that I picked up at a local pizza joint last night with an ice cold Pepsi--half of which is also left over from last night. I want to watch Disturbia again and write a continuing romantic teen book series based on the romance between the main characters, Kale and Ashley (played by Shia LaBeouf and Sarah Roemer).
On my 'mom's day off', I'll go out to dinner with my husband and maybe to a little fun shopping, stimulate the economy a little bit. Hubby wants to go to Chili's for dinner, so I'm going to have to think about what I'm going to want to eat--everything is so good there it's hard to decide...but I should definitely have a margarita!!! Our economic stimulus money is burning a whole in my pocket and I'm hoping to be able to get hubby to let me spend at least a little bit of it before it goes to bills.
Saturday, July 5, 2008
What good are neighbors?
Pretty darn good, I must say. This morning I sent my non-bug touching son across the street to fetch a bug-catching, 9 year-old. Yes, I walked through my kitchen this morning to find a little baby grasshopper just sitting there on my kitchen island.
There's only two people in my household that would have been able to help with this odd crisis. My co-head of household, my husband. He would have scooped it up in a cup or something and shooed it outside. The other option, my own 9 year-old daughter; I've seen her catch lightening bugs and put them in a jar. Surely she could have shooed a grasshopper out of the house.
The dilemma, neither of them were home. Hubbie was at work already, and the 9 year old is having a wonderful time spending the weekend watching her cousin compete in some little miss pageant.
My only son is just as squeamish as the majority of his sisters, so he wouldn't do it. Don't think I didn't ask him if he was capable. So, I sent the boy upstairs to get dressed and then go fetch one of the neighbor boys. My neighbor, kiddie corner, across the street has three boys. There's no way their squeamish. I requested the oldest one, the others wouldn't have done, one is six the other in diapers.
My 9 year-old neighbor saved the day. Still in his spongebob squarepants pajamas and some imitation crocs, he tries to pick up the little grasshopper from the counter and it, of course, hops to the floor, which sends my 11 year old across the room. She doesn't want anything to do with the grasshopper or any bug, insect or anything else that falls into that category.
My 7 year old son is holding the patio screen door open cheering on the neighbor as he tries to pick it up again, it hops again. After a few more attempts, he manages to get it closer to the open doorway. He eventually gets hold of it and tosses the little grasshopper back into the yard where he belongs.
There's only two people in my household that would have been able to help with this odd crisis. My co-head of household, my husband. He would have scooped it up in a cup or something and shooed it outside. The other option, my own 9 year-old daughter; I've seen her catch lightening bugs and put them in a jar. Surely she could have shooed a grasshopper out of the house.
The dilemma, neither of them were home. Hubbie was at work already, and the 9 year old is having a wonderful time spending the weekend watching her cousin compete in some little miss pageant.
My only son is just as squeamish as the majority of his sisters, so he wouldn't do it. Don't think I didn't ask him if he was capable. So, I sent the boy upstairs to get dressed and then go fetch one of the neighbor boys. My neighbor, kiddie corner, across the street has three boys. There's no way their squeamish. I requested the oldest one, the others wouldn't have done, one is six the other in diapers.
My 9 year-old neighbor saved the day. Still in his spongebob squarepants pajamas and some imitation crocs, he tries to pick up the little grasshopper from the counter and it, of course, hops to the floor, which sends my 11 year old across the room. She doesn't want anything to do with the grasshopper or any bug, insect or anything else that falls into that category.
My 7 year old son is holding the patio screen door open cheering on the neighbor as he tries to pick it up again, it hops again. After a few more attempts, he manages to get it closer to the open doorway. He eventually gets hold of it and tosses the little grasshopper back into the yard where he belongs.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Are These the Best Days of My Life
You know the stories, the songs and older generation of folks thinking back to the 'old days' reminiscing about the best days of their lives. Today is my birthday. Another year older, a new number to remember.
So, are these the days of my life? I'm not sure. Thinking about how miserable some of the people around me are, things, life in general, is going pretty well for me. I shudder to think of being an old person and thinking back on my life--I'm just not ready to be that old--but I think when I look back, this particular time in my life will be a thought of as a good one.
Looking back though, even now, as young as I am, there are several times in my life that are good ones, and really I can't think of a lot of bad ones.
My 35th Birthday Horoscope
Right now your brain is wide open to new ideas and new ways of doing things. Stepping out of your comfort zone has never felt so good, so take a walk on the wild side and remind yourself what it's like to feel a little out of your element! There has never been a better time in your life to explore a new hobby or interest. How about checking out a career opportunity that you have been thinking about pursuing for a while? You are about to enter a very sweet and worry-free time in your life.
I am really looking forward what my immediate future holds for me. The natural course of change is fascinating and I feel like I'm in a period of transition/change...Oh the things to happen.
So, are these the days of my life? I'm not sure. Thinking about how miserable some of the people around me are, things, life in general, is going pretty well for me. I shudder to think of being an old person and thinking back on my life--I'm just not ready to be that old--but I think when I look back, this particular time in my life will be a thought of as a good one.
Looking back though, even now, as young as I am, there are several times in my life that are good ones, and really I can't think of a lot of bad ones.
My 35th Birthday Horoscope
Right now your brain is wide open to new ideas and new ways of doing things. Stepping out of your comfort zone has never felt so good, so take a walk on the wild side and remind yourself what it's like to feel a little out of your element! There has never been a better time in your life to explore a new hobby or interest. How about checking out a career opportunity that you have been thinking about pursuing for a while? You are about to enter a very sweet and worry-free time in your life.
I am really looking forward what my immediate future holds for me. The natural course of change is fascinating and I feel like I'm in a period of transition/change...Oh the things to happen.
Friday, June 27, 2008
Happy Birthday my wee one
She is officially a 6 year old. She'll go to first grade in the fall. She's growing so fast. I woke her this morning with a 'Good Morning, six-year old'. She said to me, 'I was just going to ask you if I was 6 yet'.
Much to my surprise Her Royal Moodiness was in a fabulous mood all day. If only it could be her birthday every day. She had her 'birthday celebration' with her (paternal) grandparents. They take each of the kids out for a special outing for their birthdays.
The inlaws took her to see the new Disney flick Wall-E. She loved it, and the grandparents seemed to enjoy it. They did mention that there was like 25 minutes of previews/commercials that they didn't particularly appreciate. The little one did get a free 'watch', one of those rubber bracelets with a watch built in, the equivalent of a Happy Meal toy.
After the movie they went out for dinner and then ice cream. They also stopped at Walmart for a little photo album, which grandma will cover with fabric that she picked out at the fabric store and fill with birthday celebration photos. All of the kids have these books, some of them are on their second books. The little one only has 3 pages left in her first book, so she was in need of a new one.
When she got home, she was dying to open her present from the family. She was ecstatic to open a Melissa and Doug standing art easel. I put it together and she drew her first picture on it. She's an 'artist' as she'll tell you. She loves to draw...all the time. Lately she draws mostly people.
I feel satisfied that she had a happy birthday. Tucking her in bed, 'good night, birthday girl'. She says to me, 'can you call me that in two days, too?' We're having a party for her in two days, so she'll get two 'birthday girl' days.
Much to my surprise Her Royal Moodiness was in a fabulous mood all day. If only it could be her birthday every day. She had her 'birthday celebration' with her (paternal) grandparents. They take each of the kids out for a special outing for their birthdays.
The inlaws took her to see the new Disney flick Wall-E. She loved it, and the grandparents seemed to enjoy it. They did mention that there was like 25 minutes of previews/commercials that they didn't particularly appreciate. The little one did get a free 'watch', one of those rubber bracelets with a watch built in, the equivalent of a Happy Meal toy.
After the movie they went out for dinner and then ice cream. They also stopped at Walmart for a little photo album, which grandma will cover with fabric that she picked out at the fabric store and fill with birthday celebration photos. All of the kids have these books, some of them are on their second books. The little one only has 3 pages left in her first book, so she was in need of a new one.
When she got home, she was dying to open her present from the family. She was ecstatic to open a Melissa and Doug standing art easel. I put it together and she drew her first picture on it. She's an 'artist' as she'll tell you. She loves to draw...all the time. Lately she draws mostly people.
I feel satisfied that she had a happy birthday. Tucking her in bed, 'good night, birthday girl'. She says to me, 'can you call me that in two days, too?' We're having a party for her in two days, so she'll get two 'birthday girl' days.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Win a Fancy Nancy doll
How cute is Fancy Nancy?! My youngest daughter just loves Fancy Nancy books and checks them out of the library every chance she gets. Here's your chance to win one of your very own.
Here's the link
Win a Fancy Nancy Doll
Here's the link
Win a Fancy Nancy Doll
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Sibling Rivalry? Just plain fighting all the time
I'm really trying to enjoy my children this summer. I wish I could say that it was going as smoothly as I'd like it to.
Right now, the 3 younger ones, 5, 7 and 9 are playing Buzz Jr. on the PS2. It's about to get shut off. All they're doing is yelling at each other. It's driving me crazy.
We can't even take a 20 minute to and from ride in the car without someone having a fit and screaming or fighting. It's insanity I tell you. I've got a headache from the stress of the day already today.
Right now, the 3 younger ones, 5, 7 and 9 are playing Buzz Jr. on the PS2. It's about to get shut off. All they're doing is yelling at each other. It's driving me crazy.
We can't even take a 20 minute to and from ride in the car without someone having a fit and screaming or fighting. It's insanity I tell you. I've got a headache from the stress of the day already today.
Monday, June 23, 2008
To Rejoin the Workforce or not
As a parent of five children, as you can imagine, money is of the utmost important goals. We have to provide for them. I've spent 13 years working/staying home with the kids. I've babysat, typed transcripts, sold candles, made doll clothes and other hand crafted items all from home. I've decided to retire from the whole babysitting deal. In the fall all five of my children will be in school full time/all day.
My husband wants me to get a job. I can't decide if I want to work outside the home, or get something going here, at home. Of course, I'd love to stay home. But we do have to have some income or we just won't make it. I need to replace an $800 a month income...and soon. I've been browsing Monster and Yahoo Hotjobs for jobs, and actually found one for my father. He started last week with an opportunity that should take him through the rest of his working life.
As for myself, I've seen some postings that have had potential. I guess I'm not sure where to start. I started working on a resume today. That's a joke. Let me tell you. When it comes to experience, I don't feel like I have enough in any one area to get a job that I might enjoy making a living at. I can't even imagine what employers are looking for at this stage in my life.
Top my lack of experience with a lack of education and I can certainly tell you that I feel like my options in the traditional workforce are extremely limited. I graduated high school. That's the extent of my education. It doesn't seem like much, especially when you put it down on paper (or computer screen...)
Now for the big question. What do I want to do with the rest of my life? And how can it make me enough money to get by as a contributing member of society--as well as my household? Grrr....it's frustrating and freeing at the same time. I'm enjoying not 'having' to work right now, just managing my kids and household, the usual stuff--laundry, meals, shopping, organizing, entertaining, kid extra curricular activities and such.
All that's fine, but it seems as though if I'm to stay home in the fall when the kids go off to school, I'll need to have something in place to have an immediate income. It feels like my spouse is really pushing me out the door to get a job, even though I'm not sure the perfect job is out there. I'm not ready to leave the kids completely on their own. A job will have to fit into their schedules as well, not to mention the spouses schedule. Is there really a job out there with the hours of 9-3 so that I can get the kids to school and home again without feeling like I'm abandoning them before or after school?
There are things I'm working on, that I really need to focus on and get going. There's my seamstress 'career'. I make quilts, blankets and bibs for The Storks Cradle. I also have lots of ideas for an online store for handmade items made by me and my mom. My spouse would LOVE it if I could finish just one of the many 'books' that I've started writing and sell it. I feel so unprofessional though, to become an author, though, wouldn't that be cool!?!
I love to take photos, but again, feel like such an amateur. I would love to purchase a couple of backdrops and a small lighting kid to just start taking portraits. I'm not sure if I'm good enough though. I lack self confidence in a bad way to be able to do so many of the things I enjoy as hobbies. Maybe it's focus that I lack. I can't seem to focus on just one thing and make a go of it.
This is my dilemma. Am I ready for the working world? The professional world sounds so scary. My resume is on hold right now as just the bones of it. I need to get creative and focus on what it is that I can get going before school starts. I hate feeling rushed...but time is already running out!
My husband wants me to get a job. I can't decide if I want to work outside the home, or get something going here, at home. Of course, I'd love to stay home. But we do have to have some income or we just won't make it. I need to replace an $800 a month income...and soon. I've been browsing Monster and Yahoo Hotjobs for jobs, and actually found one for my father. He started last week with an opportunity that should take him through the rest of his working life.
As for myself, I've seen some postings that have had potential. I guess I'm not sure where to start. I started working on a resume today. That's a joke. Let me tell you. When it comes to experience, I don't feel like I have enough in any one area to get a job that I might enjoy making a living at. I can't even imagine what employers are looking for at this stage in my life.
Top my lack of experience with a lack of education and I can certainly tell you that I feel like my options in the traditional workforce are extremely limited. I graduated high school. That's the extent of my education. It doesn't seem like much, especially when you put it down on paper (or computer screen...)
Now for the big question. What do I want to do with the rest of my life? And how can it make me enough money to get by as a contributing member of society--as well as my household? Grrr....it's frustrating and freeing at the same time. I'm enjoying not 'having' to work right now, just managing my kids and household, the usual stuff--laundry, meals, shopping, organizing, entertaining, kid extra curricular activities and such.
All that's fine, but it seems as though if I'm to stay home in the fall when the kids go off to school, I'll need to have something in place to have an immediate income. It feels like my spouse is really pushing me out the door to get a job, even though I'm not sure the perfect job is out there. I'm not ready to leave the kids completely on their own. A job will have to fit into their schedules as well, not to mention the spouses schedule. Is there really a job out there with the hours of 9-3 so that I can get the kids to school and home again without feeling like I'm abandoning them before or after school?
There are things I'm working on, that I really need to focus on and get going. There's my seamstress 'career'. I make quilts, blankets and bibs for The Storks Cradle. I also have lots of ideas for an online store for handmade items made by me and my mom. My spouse would LOVE it if I could finish just one of the many 'books' that I've started writing and sell it. I feel so unprofessional though, to become an author, though, wouldn't that be cool!?!
I love to take photos, but again, feel like such an amateur. I would love to purchase a couple of backdrops and a small lighting kid to just start taking portraits. I'm not sure if I'm good enough though. I lack self confidence in a bad way to be able to do so many of the things I enjoy as hobbies. Maybe it's focus that I lack. I can't seem to focus on just one thing and make a go of it.
This is my dilemma. Am I ready for the working world? The professional world sounds so scary. My resume is on hold right now as just the bones of it. I need to get creative and focus on what it is that I can get going before school starts. I hate feeling rushed...but time is already running out!
Friday, June 20, 2008
Summers Here. Transitions and good days
Today is a beautiful summer day in the greater Chicagoland area. I'm officially retired as a daycare provider and can be a parent to my own five children. Being retired from that particular fall back career does not provide me any income, so I begin the search for a real job. Perhaps not a real job, but some sort of income provider.
Today is an interesting day because my two older girls, 11 and 13 are participating in a summer enrichment program at our local high school until lunchtime. Top that with my neighbor inviting my 7 and 9 year olds to 'friend day' at their day camp today. They won't be home until just after 4p.m.
In the house it's just me and the 5 year old, who threw a fit this morning when she found out she wasn't going to get to go to the day camp. She's currently happily coloring with markers a couple of coloring pages that we printed out from nick jr.
There's nothing pressing to do. I've got a few errands to run. This afternoon we have to go to the store to get a birthday present for the 11 year old to take to a birthday party this evening. She'll be sleeping over, so I'm sure I'll be discouraging the 13 year old from inviting over anyone willing to have a sleep over here.
Everything has certainly slowed to a somewhat more leisurely pace. We're not quite in the lazy days of summer. We haven't even made time to get up to the library to sign up for the summer reading program. We're hoping to get that done tomorrow morning. Small town library is actually closed 3 days a week, and then doesn't open before noon. Apparently, I tend to be busier in the afternoon, and would prefer if my library was open at 9 or 10 a.m. a couple days a week--or at least one weekday.
There's only one softball game tonight as well. It's a local game, two blocks away, so I can send the 13 year old on down the street so she can play her game--if it doesn't rain. We've got some clouds moving into the area. Even the spouse has got some leisurely plans to go out with his best friend for a few beers tonight.
I'm looking forward to putting the kids to bed, lighting a few candles and chilling out on a nice summer evening with the windows open and a slight breeze flowing through the house...
Today is an interesting day because my two older girls, 11 and 13 are participating in a summer enrichment program at our local high school until lunchtime. Top that with my neighbor inviting my 7 and 9 year olds to 'friend day' at their day camp today. They won't be home until just after 4p.m.
In the house it's just me and the 5 year old, who threw a fit this morning when she found out she wasn't going to get to go to the day camp. She's currently happily coloring with markers a couple of coloring pages that we printed out from nick jr.
There's nothing pressing to do. I've got a few errands to run. This afternoon we have to go to the store to get a birthday present for the 11 year old to take to a birthday party this evening. She'll be sleeping over, so I'm sure I'll be discouraging the 13 year old from inviting over anyone willing to have a sleep over here.
Everything has certainly slowed to a somewhat more leisurely pace. We're not quite in the lazy days of summer. We haven't even made time to get up to the library to sign up for the summer reading program. We're hoping to get that done tomorrow morning. Small town library is actually closed 3 days a week, and then doesn't open before noon. Apparently, I tend to be busier in the afternoon, and would prefer if my library was open at 9 or 10 a.m. a couple days a week--or at least one weekday.
There's only one softball game tonight as well. It's a local game, two blocks away, so I can send the 13 year old on down the street so she can play her game--if it doesn't rain. We've got some clouds moving into the area. Even the spouse has got some leisurely plans to go out with his best friend for a few beers tonight.
I'm looking forward to putting the kids to bed, lighting a few candles and chilling out on a nice summer evening with the windows open and a slight breeze flowing through the house...
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Getting the Big Family out the door in the Morning
Getting five kids out the door and on their way to school every morning is no easy task. It seems simple enough. In this 2007-08 school year that is coming to an end, we've done this so many times, but I can likely count on one hand the super smooth mornings we've had.
On a day that the spouse works, he wakes before me and gets himself off to work. I wake when he leaves. I shower and get started with my day. My getting started routine includes a shower, clean clothes, brush teeth, dry hair, straighten hair and all the things that go along with rolling out of bed in the morning. This usually takes me from 6:20 a.m. until at least 7 a.m.
Between 7 a.m. and 7:10, I pause what I'm doing and wake any children that haven't already gotten up on their own. Lately, that's all five of them. The boy hates to get out of bed when I wake him. If he gets up on his own, he's fine, he'll go start his breakfast or at least turn on the tv or something before the girls join him. So, I have to give him a shove and some sort of inspiration to get him out of bed. This week the inspiration to get out of bed is one of several prompts such as, you have a tball game today, there's only 3.5 days of school left, one more day til olympic day at school.
I move from his bedroom to the shared room of the younger girls. There is a rescue pet alarm clock in this room, but it doesn't push them out of their beds, so I usually have to wake them both. The older of the two (9 year old girl) is a pretty easy up. Give her a tickle and she's awake and doesn't take too much prodding for her to get out of bed. Sometimes I'll skip the bottom bunk and go to the next room before coming back to my youngest, who is at her most pleasant when she's sleeping!
I give a tug on the oldest girl's pillow, which wakes her easily. She lays there for a minute while I attempt to wake the sleeping log. My pre-teen 11 year old girl is rough on the waking and has taught every snotty thing she knows to the littlest princess/demon. I nudge her, tickle her nose with her hair, pull off her comfy blankets, shake her shoulder and tell her its time to get up before I get a reaction.
Once she moves around a bit, I can go, because she'll get up once she's awake. I return to the youngest, hating that I must wake her, but give her covers a little shake and her eyes flutter open. Will she be a princess or a demon today? I never know what to expect. I tell her bunkmate to get moving and she climbs down the ladder and heads downstairs for breakfast. I ask the little one if she wants to pick her clothes or for me to pick them. She wants to do it. I tell her to get moving and go down for breakfast while I finish up in my bathroom.
On my way back to my room for any finishing touches, I tell the boy he'd better get downstairs before the girls do or there won't be any of his favorite cereal left. He reluctantly climbs out of bed. I make it to my bathroom to finish whatever is left, moisturizing, a little more straightening of the hair. It's not more than 2 minutes before the demon starts yelling.
Today she is screaming at an older sister to get her something to drink. Her siblings think she's spoiled, but she's likely just misunderstood. She doesn't want to be left out and can only do so many things for herself. She's little, what do you want. I shout down the stairs for someone to help her get her breakfast ready and the 11 year old complains that she did it yesterday and 9 year old is already eating and doesn't want her cereal to get soggy.
The oldest says she'll do it, because as she says, she 'does everything around here'. I beg to differ with that statement, but am satisfied that breakfast is underway and it's not even 7:30 yet. I finish my stuff, and head down to supervise breakfast clean up because without daily reminders, no one will clean up after themselves.
After they eat, most of them head back upstairs to get dressed. The demon whines for someone to push her chair out so she can get down, something she can do herself, but today refuses to. I ignore her and tell her to get dressed. I've brought an outfit down for her. She finds it on the spouses recliner, but decides it is not what she wants to wear. Demands I fetch something different.
I cannot, we're running low on time. I put together 2 butter sandwiches, 1 peanut butter sandwich and 1 pb&j and put them in the lunch boxes. Once their dressed, they'll come back down and put the rest of the things they want in the boxes, juice box, granola bar, etc. I add 3 slices of salami to the demon's princess lunch box, a juice box and a granola bar today because I know she won't be ready to do it herself. I still have to brush her hair.
She finally realizes that I'm not fetching her clothes, much to her loud demands and arguing with me she goes upstairs to find something better. She can't find what she's looking for and I end up going up there anyway and opening the next drawer and handing her the outfit she was looking for. I go brush the hair of my 9 year old girl. Direct the boy to get his lunch finished and in his backpack.
The older two pretty much do their own thing. Once they've eaten breakfast, they're in their room primping. After primping they finish making their lunches and get ready to walk out the door. I yell to the little one to hurry so I can get in my last bit of torture, the hair brushing. I pull out yesterdays rubber bands at 7:56. There's no time for a cute french braid, so a ponytail holding the front hair off her face will do. She whines and complains the whole time. By now I've shooed the rest of the kids into the minivan and they're waiting on us. We're doing good if we get in the car before 8:05.
We drive the .75 miles through town to the middle school to drop off 11 and 13. They request a ride home. The little one is cold and didn't bring a jacket. I don't have time to run back home. Back towards home and pass the elementary school and drop off the other 3. She still wants a jacket, which she wouldn't have needed if she'd worn the outfit I'd originally picked out for her, which I of course mention. She ends up taking 9's sweat-jacket with her.
I head back home to wait for my daycare kids to arrive, which happens around 8:20, minutes after I get there.
On a day that the spouse works, he wakes before me and gets himself off to work. I wake when he leaves. I shower and get started with my day. My getting started routine includes a shower, clean clothes, brush teeth, dry hair, straighten hair and all the things that go along with rolling out of bed in the morning. This usually takes me from 6:20 a.m. until at least 7 a.m.
Between 7 a.m. and 7:10, I pause what I'm doing and wake any children that haven't already gotten up on their own. Lately, that's all five of them. The boy hates to get out of bed when I wake him. If he gets up on his own, he's fine, he'll go start his breakfast or at least turn on the tv or something before the girls join him. So, I have to give him a shove and some sort of inspiration to get him out of bed. This week the inspiration to get out of bed is one of several prompts such as, you have a tball game today, there's only 3.5 days of school left, one more day til olympic day at school.
I move from his bedroom to the shared room of the younger girls. There is a rescue pet alarm clock in this room, but it doesn't push them out of their beds, so I usually have to wake them both. The older of the two (9 year old girl) is a pretty easy up. Give her a tickle and she's awake and doesn't take too much prodding for her to get out of bed. Sometimes I'll skip the bottom bunk and go to the next room before coming back to my youngest, who is at her most pleasant when she's sleeping!
I give a tug on the oldest girl's pillow, which wakes her easily. She lays there for a minute while I attempt to wake the sleeping log. My pre-teen 11 year old girl is rough on the waking and has taught every snotty thing she knows to the littlest princess/demon. I nudge her, tickle her nose with her hair, pull off her comfy blankets, shake her shoulder and tell her its time to get up before I get a reaction.
Once she moves around a bit, I can go, because she'll get up once she's awake. I return to the youngest, hating that I must wake her, but give her covers a little shake and her eyes flutter open. Will she be a princess or a demon today? I never know what to expect. I tell her bunkmate to get moving and she climbs down the ladder and heads downstairs for breakfast. I ask the little one if she wants to pick her clothes or for me to pick them. She wants to do it. I tell her to get moving and go down for breakfast while I finish up in my bathroom.
On my way back to my room for any finishing touches, I tell the boy he'd better get downstairs before the girls do or there won't be any of his favorite cereal left. He reluctantly climbs out of bed. I make it to my bathroom to finish whatever is left, moisturizing, a little more straightening of the hair. It's not more than 2 minutes before the demon starts yelling.
Today she is screaming at an older sister to get her something to drink. Her siblings think she's spoiled, but she's likely just misunderstood. She doesn't want to be left out and can only do so many things for herself. She's little, what do you want. I shout down the stairs for someone to help her get her breakfast ready and the 11 year old complains that she did it yesterday and 9 year old is already eating and doesn't want her cereal to get soggy.
The oldest says she'll do it, because as she says, she 'does everything around here'. I beg to differ with that statement, but am satisfied that breakfast is underway and it's not even 7:30 yet. I finish my stuff, and head down to supervise breakfast clean up because without daily reminders, no one will clean up after themselves.
After they eat, most of them head back upstairs to get dressed. The demon whines for someone to push her chair out so she can get down, something she can do herself, but today refuses to. I ignore her and tell her to get dressed. I've brought an outfit down for her. She finds it on the spouses recliner, but decides it is not what she wants to wear. Demands I fetch something different.
I cannot, we're running low on time. I put together 2 butter sandwiches, 1 peanut butter sandwich and 1 pb&j and put them in the lunch boxes. Once their dressed, they'll come back down and put the rest of the things they want in the boxes, juice box, granola bar, etc. I add 3 slices of salami to the demon's princess lunch box, a juice box and a granola bar today because I know she won't be ready to do it herself. I still have to brush her hair.
She finally realizes that I'm not fetching her clothes, much to her loud demands and arguing with me she goes upstairs to find something better. She can't find what she's looking for and I end up going up there anyway and opening the next drawer and handing her the outfit she was looking for. I go brush the hair of my 9 year old girl. Direct the boy to get his lunch finished and in his backpack.
The older two pretty much do their own thing. Once they've eaten breakfast, they're in their room primping. After primping they finish making their lunches and get ready to walk out the door. I yell to the little one to hurry so I can get in my last bit of torture, the hair brushing. I pull out yesterdays rubber bands at 7:56. There's no time for a cute french braid, so a ponytail holding the front hair off her face will do. She whines and complains the whole time. By now I've shooed the rest of the kids into the minivan and they're waiting on us. We're doing good if we get in the car before 8:05.
We drive the .75 miles through town to the middle school to drop off 11 and 13. They request a ride home. The little one is cold and didn't bring a jacket. I don't have time to run back home. Back towards home and pass the elementary school and drop off the other 3. She still wants a jacket, which she wouldn't have needed if she'd worn the outfit I'd originally picked out for her, which I of course mention. She ends up taking 9's sweat-jacket with her.
I head back home to wait for my daycare kids to arrive, which happens around 8:20, minutes after I get there.
Monday, June 2, 2008
Job vs. Career: On the Job.
I graduated from high school. That was my big accomplishment, that was my goal in high school. To graduate. And I did. But I didn't strive for more than that. I didn't think that going to college was an option for me. I would say I was a 'B' student, but with a little academic pushing, I could have tried harder and made better grades. I didn't see the point though.
I probably should have gone to the cosmetology vocational class, but I didn't think my parents would want to pay for it. I could be a hair stylist--everyone's got hair. Well almost everyone. I could have gone for scholarships and that, at the least been encouraged to go to community college to study something.
I was pushed to get a job. I dreamed of moving out of my parents house and providing for myself. To do all of that, I needed a job that would pay me. I had standards, I wouldn't work at a fast food place--couldn't stand the thought of any job that might include hairnets. I wasn't afraid to work or learn something new.
A couple months out of high school a friend recommended a place. A cafe. It was a sandwich shop open for lunch in Geneva, Il. I didn't go there right away, until summer was almost over and I was getting desperate. I got the job.
I quickly moved through the ranks at the deli, and was soon babysitting the head sandwich maker's 10 year old son a couple nights a week. After I bought my very first car, on my own--a Red Geo Tracker w/ white ragtop. I was promoted to the chain store the deli owners had in St. Charles, Il. I had a nice thing going there, working at the deli 6 days a week, never past 5 p.m. But I eventually wanted more.
I needed to get into a world where there was more room for advancement. A friend and I applied at an upscale discount retail chain that was building a store in a blossoming Batavia, Il. We were hired. For a while before the store opened, we worked stocking shelves and training on cash registers. I worked the deli by day and went straight to the discount store after the deli as many nights they would give me.
I eventually got promise of full time hours at the discount store, so I quit working at the deli and went full time for the big corporate chain store. That is where I took my first and only maternity leave from. That's the last 'Real Job' I had.
Thirteen years later I'm trying to decide if I should just get a job or follow a passion or a hobby and make a career. Am I too old to start a career. Does a career have to revolve around only one area of expertise? Could I still be a fashion designer or an architect? A writer or a business owner...entrepreneur?
I probably should have gone to the cosmetology vocational class, but I didn't think my parents would want to pay for it. I could be a hair stylist--everyone's got hair. Well almost everyone. I could have gone for scholarships and that, at the least been encouraged to go to community college to study something.
I was pushed to get a job. I dreamed of moving out of my parents house and providing for myself. To do all of that, I needed a job that would pay me. I had standards, I wouldn't work at a fast food place--couldn't stand the thought of any job that might include hairnets. I wasn't afraid to work or learn something new.
A couple months out of high school a friend recommended a place. A cafe. It was a sandwich shop open for lunch in Geneva, Il. I didn't go there right away, until summer was almost over and I was getting desperate. I got the job.
I quickly moved through the ranks at the deli, and was soon babysitting the head sandwich maker's 10 year old son a couple nights a week. After I bought my very first car, on my own--a Red Geo Tracker w/ white ragtop. I was promoted to the chain store the deli owners had in St. Charles, Il. I had a nice thing going there, working at the deli 6 days a week, never past 5 p.m. But I eventually wanted more.
I needed to get into a world where there was more room for advancement. A friend and I applied at an upscale discount retail chain that was building a store in a blossoming Batavia, Il. We were hired. For a while before the store opened, we worked stocking shelves and training on cash registers. I worked the deli by day and went straight to the discount store after the deli as many nights they would give me.
I eventually got promise of full time hours at the discount store, so I quit working at the deli and went full time for the big corporate chain store. That is where I took my first and only maternity leave from. That's the last 'Real Job' I had.
Thirteen years later I'm trying to decide if I should just get a job or follow a passion or a hobby and make a career. Am I too old to start a career. Does a career have to revolve around only one area of expertise? Could I still be a fashion designer or an architect? A writer or a business owner...entrepreneur?
End of the Year. The School Year
Today I'm getting ready to call the school year over. This also marks the end of the work year for me. Summer Vacation. For millions of parents all over the United States, the school year is coming to an end. The children will be off school for something like 11 weeks before they go back and start a new grade, a new school year.
I do not have to go back to work though. Well, not in the sense that I worked this school year. I'm currently employed as a day care provider. I work from home. I've only a few days left of this career before I take a family vacation and embark on a work at home mom adventure.
We are kicking off our summer vacation with an actual vacation. So, I'm keeping myself busy these last few days of 'work' with getting ready for summer and ready for vacation. I'd like to start the summer on a good note, an organized note.
I'm cleaning up my office, getting it ready for when we return from our vacation. I'll need to dive right into my work, figuring out what my new career will be. I'm doing a little bit of everything today. Everything includes changing diapers, feeding children, catching up on General Hospital, pre-vacation tasks like charging my Dell Jukebox and other misc. tasks.
With the school year coming to an end, final report cards will be here soon along with backpacks full of papers. I cleared out my school paper bins, keeping only one out of three bins full with papers to keep and report cards from throughout the year. I'll sort them by kid after I get the last day of school and put them in their baby boxes.
I also started clearing out the bins/drawers that I use for my day care kid supplies. Extra outfits, misc socks and pacifiers all have been tossed into a paper bag to be returned to the family at the end of the workweek this week. I don't know how much I really condensed as I'll still need to use diapers and wipes and bottles, but at least I've got a bag set aside so in four days I can just toss the rest of the stuff in the bag and hand it over to daycare mom.
I will continue my contract sewing gig, so I'm straightening up my sewing area so that I can dive right into my work once we get settled into a summer routine after our vacation. I'm a starter of projects, many of which don't always get finished, or get finished up in a hurry. I move stuff around hoping that it looks clean, feels clean in my office. I work better when it feels clean and straight, but I've got so much stuff it's hard to get that feel and keep it.
Every little bit helps, I guess. I still have to place a photo order. I've got some collage ideas for some empty photo frames in my room. On the back burner is a birthday party at the end of the month, as well as a family reunion and my own birthday. Would love to start making curtains for the house this summer. I think window coverings would help a bit with utility bills.
This will be a busy week getting ready for summer and summer vacation, but one that I've been looking forward to for months. It's hard to believe it's finally here. The winter blahs seem to have lifted for the most part. I mean, there's still PMS to deal with, but for the most part, things are going well, or at least I feel like they are.
I do not have to go back to work though. Well, not in the sense that I worked this school year. I'm currently employed as a day care provider. I work from home. I've only a few days left of this career before I take a family vacation and embark on a work at home mom adventure.
We are kicking off our summer vacation with an actual vacation. So, I'm keeping myself busy these last few days of 'work' with getting ready for summer and ready for vacation. I'd like to start the summer on a good note, an organized note.
I'm cleaning up my office, getting it ready for when we return from our vacation. I'll need to dive right into my work, figuring out what my new career will be. I'm doing a little bit of everything today. Everything includes changing diapers, feeding children, catching up on General Hospital, pre-vacation tasks like charging my Dell Jukebox and other misc. tasks.
With the school year coming to an end, final report cards will be here soon along with backpacks full of papers. I cleared out my school paper bins, keeping only one out of three bins full with papers to keep and report cards from throughout the year. I'll sort them by kid after I get the last day of school and put them in their baby boxes.
I also started clearing out the bins/drawers that I use for my day care kid supplies. Extra outfits, misc socks and pacifiers all have been tossed into a paper bag to be returned to the family at the end of the workweek this week. I don't know how much I really condensed as I'll still need to use diapers and wipes and bottles, but at least I've got a bag set aside so in four days I can just toss the rest of the stuff in the bag and hand it over to daycare mom.
I will continue my contract sewing gig, so I'm straightening up my sewing area so that I can dive right into my work once we get settled into a summer routine after our vacation. I'm a starter of projects, many of which don't always get finished, or get finished up in a hurry. I move stuff around hoping that it looks clean, feels clean in my office. I work better when it feels clean and straight, but I've got so much stuff it's hard to get that feel and keep it.
Every little bit helps, I guess. I still have to place a photo order. I've got some collage ideas for some empty photo frames in my room. On the back burner is a birthday party at the end of the month, as well as a family reunion and my own birthday. Would love to start making curtains for the house this summer. I think window coverings would help a bit with utility bills.
This will be a busy week getting ready for summer and summer vacation, but one that I've been looking forward to for months. It's hard to believe it's finally here. The winter blahs seem to have lifted for the most part. I mean, there's still PMS to deal with, but for the most part, things are going well, or at least I feel like they are.
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