So, you know how a few weeks ago I told you here how my life would be changing? I thought some of you who read this blog on a fairly regular basis would like to know how it's going.
I love it.
I am P-O-O-P-E-D. But I love it.
In case you don't know, my mother-in-law living with us and spoiling me rotten by cooking, cleaning, shopping for the last four years kind of stole my household identity. I was home every night, but didn't have much to do and felt a bit lost. That's changed recently (she got a job), and here's how it's going:
I run home from work, often go the grocery store, and pick up the kids. I fix dinner. I clean up after dinner. I do homework with Aaron. All the things that wives and moms wish they had help for, I get to do again. I never thought that would make me happy, but it does. :-) (All I can say, girls, is be careful what you wish for :-))
I think my boys seem a bit better behaved. Well, except for today. But most days, they are better behaved.
I still hate going to the grocery store. But I feel good about preparing a hot meal for my family.
I think I am physically attached to my washer and dryer, because the laundry for three adults and three children is NEVER-ENDING. But that's OK, too. Now I can remember what size underwear everyone has :-)
I'm giving the baths, which breaks my back, but gives me one-on-one time to connect a little more with the littlest boys. And any backache is worth that!
There's always multitudes of little things that have to be done around the house, but now I can honestly say that I do them happily, instead of with dread and whining. I'm starting to get a system worked out, and that has led to a bit more free time, believe it or not. My writing and knitting "want-to" is slowly coming back, and that is a GOOD THING.
I think all this has even made a difference in my marriage. Not that it was bad or anything, but Jeff seems to act more appreciative than before. (Probably because I DO more to be appreciated than before!) We just seem closer. Boy, do I like that!
Of course, give me a few more months of this schedule and I'll probably be begging my mother-in-law to quit work and be here more!
But for now, I'm just enjoying being a wife and mommy again.
Sounds great! I'm glad you're enjoying it. :)
ReplyDeleteI felt like this when my mother moved out after living with us for nine months. It was nice to feel like my identity as a wife and mother was back. Though it was nict to have the help (I had been dealing with a horrible pregnancy with bed-rest), when she was gone I felt much more connected with my family. Weird how that works. :o)
ReplyDeleteyes! It is so awesome-- we'll be getting connected in a small group in October, so that will be awesome, too!
ReplyDeleteGlad everything is going so well. You sound so 'alive'!!!!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy being a wife and mommy again!
Blessings,
Joy
Wow! After I read that, I think Susan and I will abstain another 10 or so years from having kids! (Just Kidding...) [Sort of]
ReplyDeletelol-- ignore Josh's comment above! We are SO having kids before I'm 30!
ReplyDeleteAnywho... I wasn't going to mention this, but since you mentioned it in a comment on my blog... truly the best way (or so I've heard and seen, but not personally experienced) to overcome a pet death, is to get another pet. They have a way of worming their way into our lives and doing adorable things to capture our hearts, even if they're not exactly the same!
I read on The Mountaineer's website (Haywood County's newspaper) that there are a huge amount of dogs in the pound recently and they're going to have to put a lot of them to sleep. And there are always plenty of kittens/cats available too.
Just go with your instinct on this one... you know what's right for your family!
She is. When we first got her we nearly had to baby-proof the house. She would open all the cabinets with chemicals in them, knock over trashcans to dig out Q-tips (well, she still does that!) and keep her away from electrical outlets! Oh, and she kept us up all night and constantly tried to eat my wedding rings!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad it's working out well for you. It's so funny how these things work. When my mil moved out I was suddenly glad to do housework and not have a back up plan for my responsibilities. I took to decorating the house almost immediately. I appreciated many of the same things that you are appreciating. It felt good and right to be the mistress of my home again.
ReplyDeleteNow a few months have passed and I can't say I'm quite as gung ho about the housework or cooking, but I still enjoy having my "role" back as the keeper of the home.
I'm glad you have such a terrific attitude about working *and* keeping house all at the same time.