The SAHM Series of Marathons February 25, 2013

Lately I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about motherhood, SAHM-hood, and so on.

Today has not been an easy day with Mark, age 4. It occurred to me as I did my rounds through our main floor yet again — possibly the fortieth time this afternoon (another way of saying “going nowhere, fast”) — that many, many days of SAHM-hood are like running a series of marathons, one right after another. I call this the SAHM Series of Marathons.

In the SAHM Series of Marathons, in general, there is no one is there to cheer me on, pick me up when I fall, step in for me when I’m whipped, tell me I did a good job, or assure that tomorrow might, just might, be a little easier than today.

The hardest things about being a participant in the SAHM Series of Marathons are:

1 – Once you’re signed up, you are committed for years and years at a time, with few breaks.

2 – Many people, sometimes your own spouse/partner, aren’t even aware that you have run five marathons per week for the last (fill in number here) years.

Monday morning

Sitting at my favorite coffee shop for 1 1/2 hours, drinking a latte, and working on record keeping for my business — I can’t think of anything I’d rather be doing this morning. Mark, age 4, is at preschool this morning, and thank heavens for that. He has missed so many scheduled preschool days over the last month or two, due to illness, weather, and other obligations, and I’ve really missed having this time to myself.

Sitting at home watching Netflix or reading a book, while Mark is at preschool — these things can be relaxing and rejuvenating, but lots of times, I just want to work. Be productive in a realm that is all my own.

February Update February 21, 2013

Fellow moms and dads, it has been a rough month or so around here. I’m so thankful that I have this venue to vent! I can start every post with “it’s been a rough day/month/year,” and not worry about being judged by family and friends.

I don’t know what exactly it takes to make me happy (or whatever) as a SAHM, but three to four weeks of the kids being sick, followed by an unexpected death in the family and the subsequent frantic funeral-clothes shopping, and in the midst of all that, learning that DS2 will need speech therapy three times per week, are probably not factors working in my favor.

I realize that my life is very, very good. Even so, I can’t figure out how to feel joy and peace when I wake up in the morning and wonder how I’m going to stay sane while trying to keep DS2 “entertained” for yet another day, while trying to cook and clean, while trying to eat right so I might possibly lose a few of these extra 40 pounds, while trying to shop for and prepare meals and snacks that further the health of myself and my kids.

Anyway, I wanted to share with you awesome moms and dads a link to some amazing insights about parenthood. http://www.today.com/id/46942778/site/todayshow/ns/today-books/t/confessions-scary-mommy-honest-look-motherhood/#.USawYaWFySo

I hope you enjoy. And, I apologize that this post isn’t a little more coherent. DS1 and DS2 are yelling, running around, and creating general mayhem.