I suck at multitasking. There. I've admitted it. It's out there. I think I'm good at multitasking, as I often am working on many, many things at one time, but at the end of the hour, afternoon, day, I look around and see that while I may have done many things, really, I haven't actually accomplished anything.
Worst of all, all this busyness has distracted me from my kids. So, not only have I not accomplished anything, I also have neglected spending some quality time with the boys, which is why I'm home doing all this crazy stuff in the first place.
It's hard to admit to the multitasking problem, because it is fun to be busy. I love being home, but I miss working in an office with the routine of publishing deadlines and specific tasks, and a boss giving guidance on prioritizing. I miss the thrill of working hard and making that last FedEx departure. Yes. I miss having a boss, because some days I look at the house and the zillion things that need to be done, and I don't know where to start, and one job leads to another and to another and then the day is over, the house is a mess, the clothes are still in the dryer and I get to start all over in the morning.
But wait. I digress. The point I'm trying to make here is that while I may think I'm able to check email, update Facebook, listen to NPR, clean the toy room and and spend quality time with my kids, I can't.
So today, I sat on the floor and played with Nick, ignoring the crumbs of dog treats underneath us. I read to Christopher at random points of the day, not just at bedtime, and didn't try to clean up around him while we were hanging out. I didn't shoo Steve off to bed as soon as we finished his latest Magic Treehouse, but spent some time just snugging and talking about his book and his day. And yes, the toy room is still a mess, the clothes are still in the dryer and I have zillion things that need to be done. But today when I was with my boys, I was really WITH my boys, and despite the disaster surrounding me, I think I got something right today.
But, now that they are asleep, Facebook here I come!
Monday, February 22, 2010
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Subculture? What subculture?
"I enjoyed learning about your subculture."
What? What subculture? Sitting in a tiny classroom, having just had my writing-butt handed to me through a class critique on my admittedly cheesy essay on choosing a preschool on the Main Line, I was unable to say anything but thanks as the twenty-something next to me handed my her thoughts scrawled on a copy of my paper.
I was confused. Since when was I part of a subculture? And what subculture is that? I believe she was referring to motherhood. I'm not sure if she knew I was a stay-at-home, because that would probably put me in a sub-subculture, I suppose. But either way, since when has being a mom become a subculture? I suppose since I have been immersed in it for seven very odd years, and most of my friends are parents at one stage or another, I consider it to be more normal life.
Was it just that I was older? Was it that I was trying to go back to school -- again -- after yet another hiatus to have another rugrat? Was it that obvious that I felt like I didn't belong in that class?
Whatever she meant, it hit a nerve. I've never been a big fan of definitions as they are so limiting. But it also made me wonder who I am anymore.
Yes, I am a mom. I'm also a wife, I have an odd sense of humor, am a fan of eighties alternative music, and am an ex-editor of trade magazines as well as an amateur writer -- hence the blogging. While I love being a mom and a wife, I'm so much more than that and I've decided that I'm going to have fun trying to figure out what some of that more actually is. I'm turning 38 this year and I figure perhaps it's time to discover what I want to be when I grow up. Chocolatier and balloon artist have crossed my mind...
So, in order to get my butt in gear -- and since this is Ash Wednesday -- sort of like New Year's for Catholics where we can use the 40 days of Lent to jump-start us into making ourselves better -- I'm declaring that I will use this space to chronicle year 38, relax and have fun, and maybe even discover my particular subculture. If anyone besides my wonderful husband is reading this, I hope you enjoy the ride!
What? What subculture? Sitting in a tiny classroom, having just had my writing-butt handed to me through a class critique on my admittedly cheesy essay on choosing a preschool on the Main Line, I was unable to say anything but thanks as the twenty-something next to me handed my her thoughts scrawled on a copy of my paper.
I was confused. Since when was I part of a subculture? And what subculture is that? I believe she was referring to motherhood. I'm not sure if she knew I was a stay-at-home, because that would probably put me in a sub-subculture, I suppose. But either way, since when has being a mom become a subculture? I suppose since I have been immersed in it for seven very odd years, and most of my friends are parents at one stage or another, I consider it to be more normal life.
Was it just that I was older? Was it that I was trying to go back to school -- again -- after yet another hiatus to have another rugrat? Was it that obvious that I felt like I didn't belong in that class?
Whatever she meant, it hit a nerve. I've never been a big fan of definitions as they are so limiting. But it also made me wonder who I am anymore.
Yes, I am a mom. I'm also a wife, I have an odd sense of humor, am a fan of eighties alternative music, and am an ex-editor of trade magazines as well as an amateur writer -- hence the blogging. While I love being a mom and a wife, I'm so much more than that and I've decided that I'm going to have fun trying to figure out what some of that more actually is. I'm turning 38 this year and I figure perhaps it's time to discover what I want to be when I grow up. Chocolatier and balloon artist have crossed my mind...
So, in order to get my butt in gear -- and since this is Ash Wednesday -- sort of like New Year's for Catholics where we can use the 40 days of Lent to jump-start us into making ourselves better -- I'm declaring that I will use this space to chronicle year 38, relax and have fun, and maybe even discover my particular subculture. If anyone besides my wonderful husband is reading this, I hope you enjoy the ride!
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