Split Shift

Over the last couple of years, I've gone back and forth about beating myself up about being a stay at home mom whose kids are in full time day care. Yeah, I'm a bit spoiled that way. But then I owned up to the fact that really, I'm a pretty decent housewife, just a crappy stay at home "mom". Don't see the difference? It's the kids! As a housewife I clean, cook, do laundry, shopping, minor household repairs, change lightbulbs, clean out closets, vaccuum, mop, dust, take out the trash -- you know all those types of chores. Now, add in the mom part with kids at home you have to add in all the rest. Diapers, entertaining, educating, totting them around, settling arguments, putting down for naps, feeding lunch and snacks, all that stuff that i really am just not up for doing ALL day long. My hat is off to those of you that do it. And I am in awe of those of you who even make it look easy.

But I have come to the realization, whether anybody wants to acknowledge it or not, that I do indeed work with the girls at least a full 8 hour day -- everyday. I just do it in a split shift. I do three hours in the morning from 5:30 - 8:30 am. Then I put in another 5 hours from about 4:00 pm - 9:00 (or later). Which means all the house wife stuff in the middle of the day is extra. And the weekends when I do it all together?? Well, I think that should be considered overtime. I certainly can't just say .. Nah, I'm taking the day the off. And the whole simple "wife" role seems non-exsistent when so overshadowed.

Maybe I'm just justifying why I'm not going back to work full time. The thought of doing all that on top of a job outside of the home which would require a wardrobe and makeup and commuting and tolerating other people....i don't think there is enough anti - anxiety medication available to make me cope.

Well, it's off to the kitchen. And those bathrooms are calling out my name rather loudly today.