Balancing Act

Now that I don't have an official job (stop--it's still new enough that I have to stop and celebrate for a moment this new freedom from my previously uninspiring, oppressive environment), I am learning to balance "working" and being a full-time stay-at-home mom. I would have thought that I had learned part of this, when I went back to that other job a few months ago. Now I realize that I didn't since this is what I actually did: dropped off baby at my mother's, went to work and did what was required of me there (missed baby all day), after work, I picked up baby from my mother's and came home to exist only for baby. In the meantime, all the housework stuff, organization stuff piled up so that weekends were for that. Ughh. What a life.

Now, I actually do have to balance "working" and taking care of baby and taking care of my home and well, just having me-time. And somehow, it's all working out. First thing I've learned over the last few weeks: turn off the tv. I used to have the tv on for "background noise" all the time. Then one day, I turned it off and marveled at how much more I got done. I realized that when the tv was on all the time, I would stop in front of the tv constantly, and waste precious time. So now, I try to have the tv off most of the day. Second, stay off Facebook when I'm trying to actually get something done on the computer. Sounds easier than it is. (Major addiction that. I don't know what it is about Facebook, but it totally eats up my time!) Third, make realistic to-do lists. I used to make these long, long to-do lists and get almost nothing done, then, I would beat myself up over it. Now, my to-do lists can only include a few things. Writing is at the top of the list everyday, non-negotiable. So then I can add: go the supermarket. Or do laundry and iron. Or sweep and mop and dust. Or visit mom. Or take baby for his doctor's checkup. Etc. Never more than 2 or 3 items on the list since I know I won't get through more than that. Fourth, get baby on a schedule. It's a work-in-progress, but I have to say that the last 3 days have been pretty consistent with eating times and nap times and play time and bedtime. Keeeping my fingers crossed that it continues.

My little tyrant, oops, baby, does like to be entertained and gets easily bored, so husband and I share the entertaining/play time. Sometimes it's just playing with him, sometimes it's baby watching us work. Baby seems to particularly enjoy sitting out in the backyard watching husband paint and watching the dogs. But once he's bored, he's very vocal about it, and if it's not feeding time, or a dirty diaper, or sleep time, that means he would like new entertainment. He's quite demanding for someone who can't talk yet (thank god!), but he's so damned cute, that we tend to forgive him. ;-)

(Little tyrant on his throne)

I guess I also have to add that I'm lucky that husband's here to help me throughout the day, whether it be sharing on the childcare, or cleaning or cooking. I think life would be much, much harder if I had to do it all alone, though I think this schedule I'm working out will make it just a little easier.

There are a few things left to still: finish organizing every little aspect of my house. I've found that the more organized things originally are, the easier they are to keep clean and organized. And there's the little matter of getting to bed at a decent hour so I can start waking up ealier than I have. Instead of jumping out of bed to prepare baby's food, it would be nice to get up, stretch, exercise, and just think before starting my real day. I guess I'll work those into my own schedule in the coming weeks. In the meantime, I'm planning tomorrow's to-do list: write, translate resume, visit mom. (There you go: 3 doable things.) :D