Ode to the Stay-At-Home and Working Moms

I've been "off" for a few weeks now. Graduation came and went, the NCLEX has been conquered, Colorado wedding complete. So time to just sit back and relax right? Um, not so fast. I have been busier this week than ever before and it gives me such a greater appreciation for all the moms (and dads) out there who are running households. I have 24 kids. They are grown, which means they can dress themselves and generally feed themselves. Although sometimes feedings happen at 3am which automatically negates all teaching on clean-up that has previously occurred. Even when feedings happen at normal meal times, my kids drop crumbs, chunks, liquids that dry or congeal on the floor. But I love them.

This week has been especially busy for some reason. I had a meeting at the school of nursing Monday morning, hit the gym, took my computer to get fixed again, meeting with our caterer to discuss how things are going and to make changes in our meal plan, come home, unload the dishwasher, take out the trash, take out the recycling, clean up lunch that was left on the counter - pack it all up, throw away undesirables, clean out the refrigerator so the new food fits, get the Dustbuster out to pick up crumbs, put away pans left out from late night brownie baking, change a light bulb, squeeze in a load of laundry including all the dishtowels that were crusty with leftover chili from the day before, and test all the smoke detectors for inspection.

I thought the rest of the week would settle down but then the A/C on the 2nd floor went out so the repair man came at 7pm, right as I was supposed to be at happy hour with my new kickball team. The squirrel in the attic on the 2nd floor is scratching like crazy so it's time to have him removed. Call friends who might know how to build a trap and then just give in and call Critter Control. "There are bugs in my room!" Call pest control to get rid of stink bugs. Oh and we need toilet paper, but I can't be at Sam's club buying TP when I have to be at home waiting for the pest guy and a phone call from the city inspector. Unload the dishwasher, clean up lunch, dinner, and late night snacking. Then the caterer emails one of my collegians to tell her that he is only providing 1/2 the amount of BBQ he donated for their philanthropy event this weekend. So I put on my running shoes and go down there, all sweaty, to let him know that Indian giving for Charity events is completely unacceptable. I am a very protective mama bear and you better not cross my girls! He agrees to be a decent human being and apologizes for his "brain fart."

Get car inspected. I was sure that this would result in an absurdly expensive repair of some sort, but to my delightful surprise, all it needed was a $1.00 light bulb. I'll take the win. Social dance - finish off the rumba with the random people in my class. That story deserves its own blog post. Kickball happy hour, clean out the fridge again. Bake and decorate cakes for birthdays and baby showers. Buy gifts for baby showers. Plan surprise birthday party. Arch's with girlfriends. Ahhh. And they have grasshopper flavor. The best part of my week! Gym, dishwasher, sweep, pick up cups and cans in dining room. Go to the bank, cook macaroni and cheese dinner for 24, chaparone date function (ok that was last week), drive girl home from date function due to fight with drunk boy, dance it off at zumba, 6:15am cycle, wipe down counters, fix ice machine, sam's club run for aforementioned toilet paper, cleaning supplies, and miscellaneous house supplies. Sort mail, fold blankets in tv room, pick up shoes left in tv room, investigate leaky shower, research and purchase liability insurance.

I'm not complaining. I love this life. I signed up for it and it gives me great joy. It just makes me realize how much it takes to a)run a home b)raise children and c)balance your life. I'm hoping that I can manage to do "C" when I start work next month. In the mean time, here's to all you homemakers and working parents out there. Your kids really do appreciate all that you do even though they don't say it!