I was listening to Shai Reshef speaking about the cost of higher education on the TED channel this morning. He is the founder of the University of the People (http://uopeople.edu/), a non profit university that has free tuition for anyone wishing to get a B.A. or Associates in Computer Science or Business Administration. The catch? Students pay only for their exams. The way he figured it, that number works out to approximately $4000.00 total for four years of college.
I went to a four year university and earned both my B.A. and my M.A., and while I will treasure every moment there, as well as the wonderful people I met during my time, the price tag was astronomical. I should have been a doctor. Reading the loan papers, by the time I am finished paying off my school loans, I will have paid them $300,000.00 in interest alone.
Yes, you read that right. Three hundred thousand dollars in interest to pay off my student loans. I am pretty sure the minimum payment is a thousand dollars a month, to go up as my pay increases over the years. (In case the government hasn't figured it out yet, most people are broke, and even with the college degree won't make too much more than minimum wage.)
But, what if Mr. Reshef is correct in his dream of higher education? What if a student could get a degree for next to nothing, online in their spare time? What if the degree earned was looked on favorably by employers? Yes, I know that there are plenty of online colleges, and that physically attending school is not the only choice any longer, even for kids as young as elementary age. However, when it comes to higher education, it gets tricky.
The University of Phoenix charges $22,000 a year for their business program. That is a huge difference from the $1000.00 a year Mr. Reshef is suggesting. The Art Institute, Kaplan University, Walden, they all charge typical college prices, despite being online.
Coursera (coursera.com) is another free online site that allows anyone to take college classes taught by the actual professors from prestigious schools, and they only ask $45.00 per class if you want to get a certificate that says you finished the class and your grade.
I know that free education is going to be an uphill battle, but it is on the horizon. Someday in the future, all higher education will be free. This is a dream I share with many others. What about the professors? Will they still be paid? Will there be anyone left to teach if all the schools are free? Will I be out of a job? I think Mr. Reshef and Coursera have fixed that by charging for the exams. Professors still get paid, students earn a degree and the computer servers are well maintained with the monies collected.
Some day students will graduate with a four year degree without the mortgage sized bill hanging over their heads.
Sallie Mae be damned.
Tuesday, August 26, 2014
Monday, August 25, 2014
First day of school.... Summer's really over.
Today the kids went back to school. Ana is in first grade and Alexandra started High School. I have mixed feelings on this, which are mirrored in the way both the girls acted this morning.
Alex was excited and jumped out of bed, getting ready in record time. But, she was nervous when we actually got to the school, and actually told me that I couldn't make her get out of the car. I was just as excited and nervous for her. We played her favorite music on the way to school, and then the school assembly started out with the theme song from Supernatural, which must be a sign. I have gotten a text message in between her classes since then, keeping me updated.
Ana took the longest to wake up this morning, but, once we got into the car, she was thrilled to be able to get back to school. She couldn't wait for me to get her there. When we got to her school, she dropped her bag off and found a friend with barely a look goodbye.
And now here I sit, in my quiet house with Joshua sleeping. And I can write in quiet which is a blessing. But I am already missing the bickering of the two girls and the chaos that seemed to be our summer. I am thankful that I have the opportunity to get my house back in order with routines for the day, and at the same time I know that the wheel of the year is turning; that soon it will be cold and then another year will have passed. Time. Such a funny thing. Some days it seems never ending and others it seems to fly away.
Alex was excited and jumped out of bed, getting ready in record time. But, she was nervous when we actually got to the school, and actually told me that I couldn't make her get out of the car. I was just as excited and nervous for her. We played her favorite music on the way to school, and then the school assembly started out with the theme song from Supernatural, which must be a sign. I have gotten a text message in between her classes since then, keeping me updated.
Ana took the longest to wake up this morning, but, once we got into the car, she was thrilled to be able to get back to school. She couldn't wait for me to get her there. When we got to her school, she dropped her bag off and found a friend with barely a look goodbye.
And now here I sit, in my quiet house with Joshua sleeping. And I can write in quiet which is a blessing. But I am already missing the bickering of the two girls and the chaos that seemed to be our summer. I am thankful that I have the opportunity to get my house back in order with routines for the day, and at the same time I know that the wheel of the year is turning; that soon it will be cold and then another year will have passed. Time. Such a funny thing. Some days it seems never ending and others it seems to fly away.
Friday, August 22, 2014
The people in charge of school lunches should be ashamed
We went to Ana's open house last night and met with her teachers and her principle. I think she's going to have a great year. One of the papers sent home was the calendar for school lunches. While I applaud Mrs. Obama's pet project, details of which can be seen here,Healthy hunger-free kids, they missed the boat.
A sample of the daily meals:
Children are required to take "at least 1 fruit or vegetable and at least 3 items, total of the 5 groups."
Now, I'm all for more fruits and veggies in lunches, but let's be realistic. Every day in the meats/grains category, the offerings are deep fried, breaded garbage. All to be washed down with a carton of chocolate milk or watered down 1%.
But... you might say... they have the choice to take only fruits or veggies and a milk. The meat/grain is optional.
This is true. I will agree with you on that one. But how many kids do you know are going to pass up pizza, chicken nuggets, cheeseburger sliders or burritos in favor of carrots and leafy green salad? (My kids might, and I emphasize might, but they are far from the norm)
The country is so worried about obesity and fighting disease that we spend billions of dollars a year to stay healthy and thin. Why isn't anyone looking at the foods that we are giving our kids from first grade on? And then we expect them, at six years old to make healthy decisions and skip the fried foods.
Seriously?
There is hope. Jamie Oliver started the School Lunch Revolution. However, America doesn't seem to be as ready for a change, or as open minded or open pocketed enough to implement the plan.
A sample of the daily meals:
Children are required to take "at least 1 fruit or vegetable and at least 3 items, total of the 5 groups."
Now, I'm all for more fruits and veggies in lunches, but let's be realistic. Every day in the meats/grains category, the offerings are deep fried, breaded garbage. All to be washed down with a carton of chocolate milk or watered down 1%.
But... you might say... they have the choice to take only fruits or veggies and a milk. The meat/grain is optional.
This is true. I will agree with you on that one. But how many kids do you know are going to pass up pizza, chicken nuggets, cheeseburger sliders or burritos in favor of carrots and leafy green salad? (My kids might, and I emphasize might, but they are far from the norm)
The country is so worried about obesity and fighting disease that we spend billions of dollars a year to stay healthy and thin. Why isn't anyone looking at the foods that we are giving our kids from first grade on? And then we expect them, at six years old to make healthy decisions and skip the fried foods.
Seriously?
There is hope. Jamie Oliver started the School Lunch Revolution. However, America doesn't seem to be as ready for a change, or as open minded or open pocketed enough to implement the plan.
Thursday, August 21, 2014
How the Sims flooded my kitchen
My family and I have been trying to eat extremely healthy over the last year. My youngest daughter, Ana, is gluten intolerant and my husband Carlos is diabetic. I could stand to loose a few pounds myself, and the only one that eats junk (read Twinkies and Ding Dongs) is Alexandra, and that is few and far between.
So, last night I had a wonderful dinnner planned. We were going to have Jamie Oliver Chicken in Milk .
Looks good right? So I realized at around two in the afternoon that the chicken needed to be taken out of the freezer. No big deal. I put it in the sink to thaw, water running. Then...
So, last night I had a wonderful dinnner planned. We were going to have Jamie Oliver Chicken in Milk .
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| Photo from JamieOliver.com |
I got sidetracked.
Ana had asked me earlier if I would help her set up the Sims3 on my computer. So I went into the office to help her out with that. An hour later I remembered the chicken. (Josh was napping or I am certain that this would not have happened.)
I walked into the kitchen to check on the chicken and stepped into a lake. The entire kitchen was a puddle of water. My first thought was that Alex had spilled something and not wiped it up. My second was 'Does the downstairs lady have flood insurance?'
After my moment of complete and utter disbelief, Alex and I jumped into action. Every towel in the house was on that floor. We would lay one down, pick the other up and quickly run to the patio to wring it out. Alex grabbed the broom to tie the towels around, making the wringing out easier. We must have been quite the sight, twirling the broom in circles like a karate master while the other held on to the towel for dear life. Eventually I got smarter about it and tied the towels to the patio post and twisted the towel instead. Duh.
Twenty minutes later and my floor was almost dry. At least I don't have to mop again till next week. :)
Just as we finished, Carlos walked in the door asking if we were ready to go. Go? Go where? He looked at me like I had lost my mind. There I was, soaking wet, no makeup, and hair a mess... but at least I had a fresh washed floor. We were supposed to be at Alexandra's freshman orientation in fifteen minutes.
We got there on time, as put together as possible...but, Dinner ended up being burgers on the bbq. Still, it was a nice night and we all sat on the patio around the grill as we ate and talked.
Lesson of the day: Be flexible with your plans and don't play the Sims when chicken is in the sink.
Monday, August 18, 2014
Who's Organized? ME????? How I keep it all together.
Not long ago a friend of mine looked at my house and my life and commented that they were impressed with how organized I was.
I had to do a double take. Me? I looked around the room just to make sure she was talking to me. No way could I be the recipient of that compliment.
My entire life I have been disorganized and something of a disaster. When I was a kid my room was constantly covered with clothes on the floor, the dresser top covered with little things that I wanted to keep, but had no idea where to put, and more than a little trash that never made it into the garbage bin. My bed was never made, and I think I was pretty typical of a sidetracked kid. I hated doing dishes, scrubbing the toilet, and putting things away.
Fast forward to today.
My bed is made every day, even though sometimes it doesn't happen until five at night.
My dishes are done and the sink shined almost every day.
Mostly everything has a place in my house.
Meals are planned on the calendar every week and groceries are purchased accordingly, and we almost always follow the plan.
Yes, I still have clutter, and when Joshua is awake my home looks like a tornado has hit it, but it doesn't take that long to get cleaned up, even if it is a one step forward two steps back project.
How?
I have routines. No, I don't religiously follow them. I don't scrub the toilet every day. I don't lay out my clothes the night before. I don't look at the calendar to find out what to pull out for tomorrow night's dinner. I have dust and it lives on my tv stand. Sometimes I am looking at the clock ten minutes before Carlos comes home, in a stupor, wondering what I am going to feed him. Some days it really is only Mac & Cheese with veggies and maybe a can of tuna.
But, my kids and I have set days that we do set chores. Thank you grandparents. You had the right idea. I don't try to do everything every day. That is pure madness. The kids each get a day to do their laundry. If they forget, they wait until the next week, or do it themselves. The kids each have a day to cook dinner, clean the bathroom, vacuum and clean the kitchen. This helps me so much, knowing that twice a week, I don't have to worry about these things.
Grocery shopping comes after menu planning. Planning comes after budgeting, which comes after paydays. Kind of like building blocks. I can't do one without the other.
Running the house is pure chaos some days, and some days it really does just flow. Yesterday we had a day of struggle because Josh refused to take his nap, so he was cranky all day. Trying to get anything done with a one year old who only wants to be held is not productive. Today we spent three hours registering Alex for High School. I only planned on one.
My secret: go with the flow, don't stress, and drink a lot of coffee. Everything is better with coffee. Pick up the toys and run the vacuum. Empty the dishwasher and the sink. Swap laundry, wipe down the kitchen table and light a scented candle. Then... sit for a few minutes and just breath. Everything is just fine.
Organized? Me? I don't feel like it, but I guess that to the untrained eye, we just might be.
I had to do a double take. Me? I looked around the room just to make sure she was talking to me. No way could I be the recipient of that compliment.
My entire life I have been disorganized and something of a disaster. When I was a kid my room was constantly covered with clothes on the floor, the dresser top covered with little things that I wanted to keep, but had no idea where to put, and more than a little trash that never made it into the garbage bin. My bed was never made, and I think I was pretty typical of a sidetracked kid. I hated doing dishes, scrubbing the toilet, and putting things away.
Fast forward to today.
My bed is made every day, even though sometimes it doesn't happen until five at night.
My dishes are done and the sink shined almost every day.
Mostly everything has a place in my house.
Meals are planned on the calendar every week and groceries are purchased accordingly, and we almost always follow the plan.
Yes, I still have clutter, and when Joshua is awake my home looks like a tornado has hit it, but it doesn't take that long to get cleaned up, even if it is a one step forward two steps back project.
How?
I have routines. No, I don't religiously follow them. I don't scrub the toilet every day. I don't lay out my clothes the night before. I don't look at the calendar to find out what to pull out for tomorrow night's dinner. I have dust and it lives on my tv stand. Sometimes I am looking at the clock ten minutes before Carlos comes home, in a stupor, wondering what I am going to feed him. Some days it really is only Mac & Cheese with veggies and maybe a can of tuna.
But, my kids and I have set days that we do set chores. Thank you grandparents. You had the right idea. I don't try to do everything every day. That is pure madness. The kids each get a day to do their laundry. If they forget, they wait until the next week, or do it themselves. The kids each have a day to cook dinner, clean the bathroom, vacuum and clean the kitchen. This helps me so much, knowing that twice a week, I don't have to worry about these things.
 |
| Example of our weekly chore chart |
Running the house is pure chaos some days, and some days it really does just flow. Yesterday we had a day of struggle because Josh refused to take his nap, so he was cranky all day. Trying to get anything done with a one year old who only wants to be held is not productive. Today we spent three hours registering Alex for High School. I only planned on one.
My secret: go with the flow, don't stress, and drink a lot of coffee. Everything is better with coffee. Pick up the toys and run the vacuum. Empty the dishwasher and the sink. Swap laundry, wipe down the kitchen table and light a scented candle. Then... sit for a few minutes and just breath. Everything is just fine.
Organized? Me? I don't feel like it, but I guess that to the untrained eye, we just might be.
Sunday, August 17, 2014
Watching where you Skate (on the board and in real life)
Not long ago I was in Twin Falls with my family. We were trying to get some school clothes shopping done. While we were walking out to the car, a couple of boys on skateboards came skating by. Normally, this wouldn't be even vaguely interesting, however, this time was different.
My car was parked by it self. On one side of the car was three empty spaces, and on the other was two. My car was parked almost up to the curb facing the Snake River Canyon in the Old Navy parking lot, which means that there was about two feet of clearance in front of my car. My mom had been in front of me with Josh, and Ana was walking along the ridge with our friend Sue. Along came three or four boys on their boards, and they made a point of skating around the front of my car. As the last boy skated by, he looked back to check me out and fell off of his board, sending the board flying in one direction while he went flying the other.
Of course, his buddies cracked up. My mom cracked up, and I couldn't help but laugh. While this kid was in the process of trying to impress me, which is funny because I am probably twenty years older then him and his cronies, he miffed it.
It makes me think, about how we act in our daily lives. How often do we crash and burn when we are trying to impress someone we don't know, or because we failed to watch where we were going. How often do lives crash because we took our eyes off of our goal, getting sidetracked by something that most defiantly is not for us? In the long run, do our friends laugh at us when they watch us trip over ourselves, even while holding up a helping hand?
Better, I think, to keep our eyes fixed on our goals, then get sidetracked by an illusion.
My car was parked by it self. On one side of the car was three empty spaces, and on the other was two. My car was parked almost up to the curb facing the Snake River Canyon in the Old Navy parking lot, which means that there was about two feet of clearance in front of my car. My mom had been in front of me with Josh, and Ana was walking along the ridge with our friend Sue. Along came three or four boys on their boards, and they made a point of skating around the front of my car. As the last boy skated by, he looked back to check me out and fell off of his board, sending the board flying in one direction while he went flying the other.
Of course, his buddies cracked up. My mom cracked up, and I couldn't help but laugh. While this kid was in the process of trying to impress me, which is funny because I am probably twenty years older then him and his cronies, he miffed it.
It makes me think, about how we act in our daily lives. How often do we crash and burn when we are trying to impress someone we don't know, or because we failed to watch where we were going. How often do lives crash because we took our eyes off of our goal, getting sidetracked by something that most defiantly is not for us? In the long run, do our friends laugh at us when they watch us trip over ourselves, even while holding up a helping hand?
Better, I think, to keep our eyes fixed on our goals, then get sidetracked by an illusion.
Saturday, August 16, 2014
Bon Bons and Day Time Tv
"I am a stay at home mom. My husband works some crazy shift hours and I stay home with the kids."
When I tell people that I stay home, I get many reactions. Some filled with contempt for having the luxury to stay home, some jealous, and others pitying me for wasting my life. (Please understand... I am not the stereotypical ideal of a house wife. I am neither barefoot and pregnant nor a Stepford. I am a photographer and a writer, have earned my M.A. in English and work as an adjunct college professor from time to time.)
Then, the inevitable question that typically follows... "What do you do all day?"
What do I do all day? Those six words are filled with wonder, mystery and more than a little jealousy... as though having 24 hours to myself not to have to go to a nine to five job is so Housewives of Jersey Shore.
I used to think that if I were a stay at home mom, and didn't have to work that I would have so much time to get things done, and I would use the time to do something that I really wanted to do. I was so delusional.
My morning typically looks like this:
6ish: Wake up to Josh yelling at the top of his lungs to get out of his crib. Stumble into his room to find that he has once again pulled the changing table pad and everything that was on it to the floor. Side step the toys that are left over from last night as well as the monster bear that mocks me with his giant eyes, dead center of the room. I reach Josh, pick him up, only to realize too late that his bottle has leaked all over him, and that if only I would have remembered to take it away last night, he would probably still be sleeping right now. We turn to the empty dresser, stoop to pick up the changing pad, and get him settled to change his diaper. As I am trying to get my eyes to focus, Josh is pulling at the blackout drapes and helping mommy to see that it is, most definitely daylight. Now, I am blind and the mini-blinds are misshaped from his help. The thought flits through my mind that eventually, when we move out of our apartment, this is one more thing that will be replaced.
Sometime after that: Jake and the Neverland pirates takes up our tv in the living room, blocks and stackable toys are scattered everywhere, Josh is in his high chair eating cereal, or more accurately, throwing it on the floor to save for later. I think I have coffee somewhere, and am not sure I have made it to the bathroom yet. I would attempt to go, but am fairly certain that Josh would be climbing down from the highchair before I got sat. And, yes, he is belted in. Don't judge.
My son has learned how to climb. This morning he climbed up on top of our fireplace surround, which is a foot off of the ground, and on to the pack and play that is sitting on top of that. He has an interesting method of getting down. We have tried to teach Josh how to turn around so that he goes feet first, but he prefers to go down head first. It usually looks something like this:
Josh: Hand down, other hand down, HEAD to floor, slide to my belly
He does this every time he gets down off of something, no matter if he is on our bed or only a foot away from the floor. This boy is going to give me a heart attack, and the other kids aren't even up yet.
After breakfast, which is cereal again, dishes are washed, or at least put in the sink.
"Mom, is it hot outside?"
"I don't know, I haven't gone out yet." I say absently looking at the phone for weather details for the day. "Shorts today girls."
"Mom, Ana won't get out of the bathroom," Alex says.
"Go use mine." Alex makes a face and heads in the direction of my bedroom.
"Mom, I got dressed!" Ana says.
"Did you put on panties?" I ask. She walks back into her room pouting.
Josh bites my toes as I try to drink my coffee and look at the budget for today's errands. Post office, groceries, oil change...etc. Thank God I don't have any clothes that actually require dry cleaning. School is starting in another week, and then things will slow down a little. School supplies need to be purchased, since we only yesterday got the list for Ana, and won't be getting the list for Alex until after the first day of school.
Lunches are made, groceries got, nap taken, more food for Josh (who at 1 is already eating constantly.) Toys stepped on, picked up, pulled out again, blocks knocked down, barbies dressed, undressed and dressed again, laundry in the washer... or re-washed from yesterday. You tube videos watched with Alex, comments on minecraft and Supernatural.... I look at the clock and yep, time to make dinner. I think the clock must be broken. It was just 10:00 in the morning a minute ago. Start dinner, vacuum, wipe down the kitchen and make the bed. I have a headache, did I eat anything today? Yep, part of Josh's apple, I think.
Depending on which shift Carlos is on, dinner has been ready since 4 to go with him for the night, or will be ready to eat by 7:30 when he gets home.
After dinner baths are taken, and dishes washed, being careful not to do both at the same time, because our water is wonky and will scald anyone in the shower if the toilet is flushed. Josh is the first to go down around 8:30, then Ana around 9. It takes me half an hour to get each of them tucked in, and several trips to make sure they stay that way. Say good night to Alex, remind her that Grey's Anatomy will still be on Netflix in the morning, and look longingly at my computer, knowing that I should write something, but am so tired that all I want to do is lay my head down. By 11, I double check the locks on the door and head to bed, needing a shower and a drink, but opting for sleep. Everything else can wait.
And my husband wonders why I don't take the time to put on make up in the mornings.
It has taken me three kids to figure out how hard it really is to be a MOM. No, I do not go to a typical job. My job is in the home where I wear the different hats of so many women through out history. I am a nurse and a chef, a chauffeur and the maid. I am a teacher and the accountant, the secretary and the librarian. I am the monster killer, spider killer and the shoulder to cry on. There are no days off, no holiday time, vacation or sick days, no 401k and no pension. My toes know the difference between chewed up apple and soggy captain crunch cereal. I have no clue what the inside of a salon looks like, but Chucky Cheese and I used to be on a first name basis.
I chose to live this life, and would not trade it for the world. I love the time I spend with the kids, and watching them grow, so do not pity me. I am blessed to have a husband who will support this decision. But at the same time, if you are not living it, you have no idea what I am going through, and have no right to be angry that I am not working. I work. I work harder every day than many others.
When I tell people that I stay home, I get many reactions. Some filled with contempt for having the luxury to stay home, some jealous, and others pitying me for wasting my life. (Please understand... I am not the stereotypical ideal of a house wife. I am neither barefoot and pregnant nor a Stepford. I am a photographer and a writer, have earned my M.A. in English and work as an adjunct college professor from time to time.)
Then, the inevitable question that typically follows... "What do you do all day?"
What do I do all day? Those six words are filled with wonder, mystery and more than a little jealousy... as though having 24 hours to myself not to have to go to a nine to five job is so Housewives of Jersey Shore.
I used to think that if I were a stay at home mom, and didn't have to work that I would have so much time to get things done, and I would use the time to do something that I really wanted to do. I was so delusional.
My morning typically looks like this:
6ish: Wake up to Josh yelling at the top of his lungs to get out of his crib. Stumble into his room to find that he has once again pulled the changing table pad and everything that was on it to the floor. Side step the toys that are left over from last night as well as the monster bear that mocks me with his giant eyes, dead center of the room. I reach Josh, pick him up, only to realize too late that his bottle has leaked all over him, and that if only I would have remembered to take it away last night, he would probably still be sleeping right now. We turn to the empty dresser, stoop to pick up the changing pad, and get him settled to change his diaper. As I am trying to get my eyes to focus, Josh is pulling at the blackout drapes and helping mommy to see that it is, most definitely daylight. Now, I am blind and the mini-blinds are misshaped from his help. The thought flits through my mind that eventually, when we move out of our apartment, this is one more thing that will be replaced.
Sometime after that: Jake and the Neverland pirates takes up our tv in the living room, blocks and stackable toys are scattered everywhere, Josh is in his high chair eating cereal, or more accurately, throwing it on the floor to save for later. I think I have coffee somewhere, and am not sure I have made it to the bathroom yet. I would attempt to go, but am fairly certain that Josh would be climbing down from the highchair before I got sat. And, yes, he is belted in. Don't judge.
My son has learned how to climb. This morning he climbed up on top of our fireplace surround, which is a foot off of the ground, and on to the pack and play that is sitting on top of that. He has an interesting method of getting down. We have tried to teach Josh how to turn around so that he goes feet first, but he prefers to go down head first. It usually looks something like this:
Josh: Hand down, other hand down, HEAD to floor, slide to my belly
He does this every time he gets down off of something, no matter if he is on our bed or only a foot away from the floor. This boy is going to give me a heart attack, and the other kids aren't even up yet.
After breakfast, which is cereal again, dishes are washed, or at least put in the sink.
"Mom, is it hot outside?"
"I don't know, I haven't gone out yet." I say absently looking at the phone for weather details for the day. "Shorts today girls."
"Mom, Ana won't get out of the bathroom," Alex says.
"Go use mine." Alex makes a face and heads in the direction of my bedroom.
"Mom, I got dressed!" Ana says.
"Did you put on panties?" I ask. She walks back into her room pouting.
Josh bites my toes as I try to drink my coffee and look at the budget for today's errands. Post office, groceries, oil change...etc. Thank God I don't have any clothes that actually require dry cleaning. School is starting in another week, and then things will slow down a little. School supplies need to be purchased, since we only yesterday got the list for Ana, and won't be getting the list for Alex until after the first day of school.
Lunches are made, groceries got, nap taken, more food for Josh (who at 1 is already eating constantly.) Toys stepped on, picked up, pulled out again, blocks knocked down, barbies dressed, undressed and dressed again, laundry in the washer... or re-washed from yesterday. You tube videos watched with Alex, comments on minecraft and Supernatural.... I look at the clock and yep, time to make dinner. I think the clock must be broken. It was just 10:00 in the morning a minute ago. Start dinner, vacuum, wipe down the kitchen and make the bed. I have a headache, did I eat anything today? Yep, part of Josh's apple, I think.
Depending on which shift Carlos is on, dinner has been ready since 4 to go with him for the night, or will be ready to eat by 7:30 when he gets home.
After dinner baths are taken, and dishes washed, being careful not to do both at the same time, because our water is wonky and will scald anyone in the shower if the toilet is flushed. Josh is the first to go down around 8:30, then Ana around 9. It takes me half an hour to get each of them tucked in, and several trips to make sure they stay that way. Say good night to Alex, remind her that Grey's Anatomy will still be on Netflix in the morning, and look longingly at my computer, knowing that I should write something, but am so tired that all I want to do is lay my head down. By 11, I double check the locks on the door and head to bed, needing a shower and a drink, but opting for sleep. Everything else can wait.
And my husband wonders why I don't take the time to put on make up in the mornings.
It has taken me three kids to figure out how hard it really is to be a MOM. No, I do not go to a typical job. My job is in the home where I wear the different hats of so many women through out history. I am a nurse and a chef, a chauffeur and the maid. I am a teacher and the accountant, the secretary and the librarian. I am the monster killer, spider killer and the shoulder to cry on. There are no days off, no holiday time, vacation or sick days, no 401k and no pension. My toes know the difference between chewed up apple and soggy captain crunch cereal. I have no clue what the inside of a salon looks like, but Chucky Cheese and I used to be on a first name basis.
I chose to live this life, and would not trade it for the world. I love the time I spend with the kids, and watching them grow, so do not pity me. I am blessed to have a husband who will support this decision. But at the same time, if you are not living it, you have no idea what I am going through, and have no right to be angry that I am not working. I work. I work harder every day than many others.
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