Amidst the whirlwind of my crazy family, house repairs, and awesome job I’ve finally snuck in a minute to write. It’s 10:30p right now and the kids are asleep (in my bed of course), The Hubs is working late, and the dogs are fed and being lazy. I’ve hopped in the tub to wash the funk off and enjoy a bath bomb. While I’ve learned that self care is much more than hot water and bath bombs, I’m still 100% on board with being able to take an uninterrupted bath that smells nice and has glitter in it. My tub and I are both going to come out of this looking like cheap strippers but at least we’ll smell nice and I’ll have soft sparkly skin.
Realistically, taking a quick shower, putting on an ugly cotton nightgown, and going to bed was probably the smartest choice but my mind is too awake for that at the moment. I had the best day today. One of those crazy days where everything seems to go right and even the annoying things work out in the end. I saw the power of The Universe at work so many times today as people connected in an effort to make a positive difference in the lives of others. I won’t bore you with details but suffice it to say that I said many prayers of thanksgiving in my head throughout the day. It feels cheesy to say things like “seeing God’s work in action.” I’ve never been one to say things like that, even if I noted them in my head. Yet here I am, bubbling over with excitement for the opportunities I have to help others make a difference.
It’s truly amazing how my life has changed in the past three months because of the people I get to come into contact with on a daily basis and the work that I get to do. For the first time I’m truly appreciating how important it it’s to find work that fills my cup and pays the bills. In a 24 hour day I spend 8-9 hours working. That’s 1/3 of the available hours in a day. When you factor in a need for sleep you see just how much of the available time is devoted to work.
I’ve always said that I’m a better Mom because I work. I admire parents who have the fortitude and patience to stay home with their children. They are clearly made of a stronger material than I am. I was called to be a Mother and I love my children fiercely, but I quickly discovered during the early days of quarantine that I have to have adult interaction to make it through the day. I feel like my Mom duties never end and my work allows me to have completed projects and feelings of accomplishment almost every day. Motherhood doesn’t do that for me. I’m 100% okay with that. All this to say that I’ve learned that I’m the best Mom I can be when I’m working a job that feeds my soul.
When I was unhappy at my previous jobs, it bled over into my life at home. I was always upset with myself for not being able to shake it but when you think about spending 1/3 of your day unhappy it makes sense why it’s so hard to break the spell when you get home. That’s magnified when you have toddler twins who begin demanding your attention and what little energy you have left as soon as you pick them up from daycare. At my worst point I realized I was so grouchy that I was yelling at everyone in the house over everything. Even stupid things that didn’t matter. Coming home in a better mood has helped me to slow down and enjoy my family. The Twins are starting to do things like help with dinner. The big kids are taking on more chores. The Hubs and I laugh together more. Before, I was so grouchy and tense that I didn’t take the time that I needed or have the patience required to make these things happen. I’m not saying I haven’t had bad days, but they’re fewer now.
I’m also not as wiped out on the weekends so I’ve been able to do more around the house and have more quality time with my family. The Twins and I have done brunch, The Boy and I binge watched a new show on Netflix (do yourself a favor and watch Sweet Tooth, it’s the bomb), and Crazy Eyes and I have had some great conversations. I’ve even been able to watch movies with The Hubs after the kids go to bed without falling asleep…okay that’s a partial truth. I still fall asleep but it’s about half way through and not ten minutes in. (It’s become a Pavlovian Response to watching movies in our comfy chair, don’t judge me.)
While I may not be as tired on the weekends, I’ve exhausted all of my remaining energy tonight. Time to get my shiny hiney to bed. Tomorrow it’s off to a seminar to learn more sales and marketing techniques. Sounds boring to most but I’m excited. Hopefully by then all this glitter will have fallen off so no one gets the wrong idea. Haha! Here’s wishing you all a lifetime of job satisfaction and an abundance of sparkles!
Mom Van Confessions 