a) do the grocery shopping online?
b) nap?
c) update your blog?
When baby is sleeping I am faced with this kind of choice. Practical me will probably finish up the grocery shopping. Though the nap would definitely take the edge off my day. Sometimes I choose to blog a bit (after the groceries). Because that is good for me, too!
I am now officially on what the French call parental leave (congé parental). After the ten weeks post birth, I chose to extend my time at home with baby. And I am trying to find something of a routine without feeling tied down to it either.
My days are structured around picking up Juliette for lunch, taking her back, and getting her at the end of the day. Remi can help out in the morning for now at least which allows baby (and me) to rest a bit longer. Then it is feeding baby (which doesn't exactly stick to a strict schedule), putting up dishes and generally starting some other household chore.
But I don't want my time as a Stay At Home Mom, for lack of a better term, to just be defined by cleaning and cooking. These next 8 months are supposed to be quality time with my new baby and some catching up with my big girl. I get to help her more with her homework (which sometimes leads to me pulling my hair out) and take her to the library or make cookies on Wednesday afternoons.And being a list-maker (got this from my mom!), I have things I want to get done in this period of time. That includes some major organizing of my house. I don't think all the plastic tubs in the world will make my place one of those pristine clutter-free homes, but it is still a goal of mine. I also hope to do some more sewing, an activity that calms me, finish up that scarf I started, oh, two years ago, and do more writing (hence the blogging to get back into practice).
And catch up on some tv because my busy work and home life of the past few years has gotten me way behind. Sometimes life imitates art, too, because when I watch Jane the Virgin I am reminded of my pregnancy and newborn concerns. Or Modern Family to reassure me that my crazy day isn't so crazy after all. Plus I have added as a goal (yes, a serious one) to watch all things Jason Bateman that exist on Netflix. From Arrested Development (check!) to Ozark (check!) and all mediocre films in between (getting there). How is that for a bucket list goal?
In between the school pick ups and drop offs, the dishes and the puttering, I will try to remember to enjoy this time. A brief pause in my working life, a necessary time to put some things aside and focus on family. With no regrets.
1 comment:
You will never regret this time with Alexandre and Juliette. It's time you can't get back, and babies grow so rapidly in that first year of life--so many milestones to cherish. It is also vital to help Juliette share the throne she has enjoyed for nine years! I would suggest compartmentalizing the week. Make THE LIST Sunday evening. Assign priorities to different days of the week, with Wednesday being that fun day with both kiddies. Have a de-clutter/sort day, a blogging/reading day, a shopping day, and so on...Don't try to do it all at once, but move forward towards your goals while you have this extra time. Before you know it, you will be juggling runs to the daycare, middle school, and your work! Stamp that little foot down and make a pathway for your goals. La vie est courte!
Post a Comment