The kids were all smirking. They'd heard my husband's decree: Woman, if you don't pick up your game around here, YOU'RE going to be grounded!
He's tired of digging through laundry baskets every morning looking for something to wear. Everything is wrinkled. Our bedroom looks like a warehouse.
The thing is, I can't recall when I have not been washing clothes all day. I know I did the wash constantly this weekend. I also ran errands, went grocery shopping, took the kids to Church, threw a birthday party for our youngest, made several meals, fed our special needs kiddo…the only work I didn't do was my home business.
Maybe I need to learn how to prioritize. I can always take a cue from my husband. After all, this weekend he managed to play an online computer game, turn the sprinkler on the front lawn and drive us to McDonald's once to eat.
There are drawbacks when staying home. I'll never be promoted. Unless that's what being a grandmother is called. But I'll also never get demoted. It's not like the kids are going to suddenly jump up and offer to clean the house and take over for…I mean BEYOND the pittance of chores required of them.
I'll also never get a review unless I ask for it and I actually do ask my husband and kids to grade me in several categories once or twice a year. Otherwise all I hear is: When is dinner? What's for lunch? Can you buy me clothes? Have you washed my clothes? I need cupcakes for a class party today. Did you sign the note my teacher sent home? Where are my keys?
All those questions make me doubt I ever achieve anything as a homemaker/wife/mom.
There was a time when I worked outside the home. It was great. I had my own office — my own room — all to myself! It didn't matter what they paid me. I don't have a room all to myself at home unless you count the laundry room. And no one pays me to be in it all day.
All I know is that I'm tired at the end of the day. It has something to do with the fact that once we finish one meal and the dishes are cleared, in come the kids for dessert, then snacks, then drinks, then… hey! Where did everyone go? And why is Mom looking at another mountain of dishes to wash?
Why is it that as soon as I empty the hampers, fold and put everything away, I turn around and there's another hamper full? Where's the incentive here?
I'm thinking it's time for a vacation. Boy is everything going to pile up now.
