No, I haven’t done a 180° on you. I’m just recalling a phrase I used a week or so ago with my husband. I was explaining to him (and trying desperately to convince myself) that I’m the head of this household, in looser terms. This WAHM isn’t the breadwinner of the family by any means, but I would like to think that it is my duty to be in charge of the house proper. Problem is, I’m still having trouble convincing myself of that, especially when I’m being bossed around by a 3-year-old, among other things.
I don’t know if it’s a sad thing to think of maintaining my house as a job, but having a job made me feel important. Yes, I feel important, for the most part, in my daughters’ lives. I say “for the most part” because, if you read the previous post, you’ll understand at this point I’m not feeling very important at all. (Although, I am doing a bit better and not as “paralyzed” as yesterday.) I worked for at the same organization for 15 years. Since having my first daughter, I haven’t worked outside of the home, with the exception of a part-time 3 week stint for the job I’m working now, for 3 1/2 years. It starts to do a number on you.
I’m not sure where I’m trying to go with this, other than to get something off my chest. Maybe to explain my crash and burn from yesterday. Maybe even to see if someone has a trick up their sleeve to make me actually believe that I run this place. Other moms have multiple children, pets (who are practically like additional children), work from home and still find it in themselves to cook fabulous meals in their idyllic homes. I’m not being a smart ass. I want to know how it’s done. I can’t say I don’t have the time, because I know I do. When I’m down in the dumps like this, the clock ticks by ever-so-slowly. The time is there; the motivation and/or experience is/are not.
Did I get myself in too deep? I mean, it’s too late now. I would normally say that I’m in it to win it (stupid, yes but truthful). But did I? People used to come to me for help/advice/lessons because I knew what I was doing. Dammit, I was left in charge of buildings too many times to count. Now I can barely tell my ass from a hole in the ground. What the hell happened to me? (Didn’t I ask something like that in the last post?)
Since yesterday, I’ve had quite a few people contact me, concerned for my well-being. I thank all of you for your thoughts and apologize for your worries. Like I said in my last post, I’ve been through worse than this. And I’m still here. You can’t get rid of me that easily. I’m not out of the woods yet, but I’m working on it. Getting blindsided like that can really send you into a downward spiral right quick. But I appreciate the love a great deal.
I think I’ve clichéd the shit out of this post, so I’ll call it quits for now. Have to go see who is going to deliver an average dinner to my imperfect home.
~S