Change is good. Change is inevitable. Change is time consuming.
Time consuming is an understatement of biblical proportions in my life. I have been both blessed and challenged by my life changes. Meeting my husband, starting a family and embarking on the roller coaster ride of life has taking up a lot of my time, not leaving much time for writing. Well with some new changes on the horizon I am making the effort to write on a more regular basis. It is something that I need to do for my own sanity.
In my last post I wrote about the newest addition to our family, baby Arthur. Well 'baby' Arthur is starting school in September. As he is my last child to start school I am going to be home alone for the better part of the time. Don't get me wrong, I do have other things to keep me busy, but I will save my rant on that for another post. So the inevitable of my youngest starting school, no longer a 'baby' has been hitting me daily.
Change is good. I have been going through a much needed, long awaited change recently. I have always been a pack rat. I keep things, I think everything is important, no matter how small. Clutter is no stranger to me, but it has become a HUGE problem. With three kids, a husband and commitments that are important to me I found that I was forgetting more and getting more stressed at the chaos I had created. I know it was me and it was up to me to change. My father in law helped me take the first step. He offered his support and ordered a dumpster for me. In two days I filled that dumpster! The purge had begun and it was amazing! Sure I was scared at first, all these 'things' I was hanging onto being tossed. I took the time to see what I was hanging onto and asking myself why. There was no really good answer..and with that I tossed. I have kept some things, but like I told myself..keeping a milk crate full of things compared to the dumpster (two dumpsters when all said and done) that I tossed I did great!
The physical act of throwing out what I no longer needed has been life changing. I have seen and felt how much easier it is to get around as the clutter is slowly disappearing. I have donated 8 garbage bags of clothes and toys so far, and I say so far because I am mid way through the process of cleaning. Most importantly, I feel less stress with each area cleaned and sorted. Yay me.
My journey into a new lifestyle has just begun...I will journal more as it happens. Even add a picture or two!
Cheers,
Michelle
Saturday, May 12, 2012
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Everything DOES happen for a reason
Well it has been some time since I last posted to this blog. Truth be told I forgot I had it and it wasn't until recently that it dawned on me that I did have it. Doesn't matter either way, I haven't had TIME to write. Even now I should be doing something else but I'm not.
I have to keep reminding myself of my life mantra 'everything happens for a reason'. Whether you like the reason or not, things seem to happen on their own agenda and we just play along. In the past 8 months I have lived through several significant changes. I had another baby (Arthur! bringing the total to 3), bought a house, renovated said house (partially), signed up for life insurance (again), been on the wackiest financial roller coaster I dare be on (do I have a job, or is that too something I dream about?), transfered my children to a new school (not my choice..thank you busing boundries! NOT) and finally I have watched my kids grow up, albeit too quickly.
Although things do happen for a reason, my question is timing. Why does things happen WHEN they happen. I know, I know, that too has a reason. Frankly everything can be explained away on some level. If I hadn't gotten pregnant again (and no it wasn't planned) then my husband wouldn't have taken the time off (paternity leave) and basically got his life back on track. I feel like I've been hanging on for dear sweet life and I can't say I am enjoying it too much. Sure it is great that the house is now ours (although ours is really his on paper) and we are taking steps to secure our future I still feel windblown and wiped out. My current focus is on my kids, the two older ones being transfered to a new school has been more traumatic for me than for them. They are thrilled that they get to take the bus. I am happier as the bus is safer than me driving in the crap weather we are sure to get this winter. My youngest, Arthur, well he and I need to get out and do some bonding things. The trick is now, finding the funds and getting approval from the CFO (the husband).
I want to work, I like to work but I want to work at something that I find challenging, interesting and exercises my creative mind. I am finding that this isn't always easy to do. The course my life is currently on doesn't afford me the luxury of delving into this.
As with all things, I am going to wrap it up here, not because I really want to but because I need to.
Until time permits.
I have to keep reminding myself of my life mantra 'everything happens for a reason'. Whether you like the reason or not, things seem to happen on their own agenda and we just play along. In the past 8 months I have lived through several significant changes. I had another baby (Arthur! bringing the total to 3), bought a house, renovated said house (partially), signed up for life insurance (again), been on the wackiest financial roller coaster I dare be on (do I have a job, or is that too something I dream about?), transfered my children to a new school (not my choice..thank you busing boundries! NOT) and finally I have watched my kids grow up, albeit too quickly.
Although things do happen for a reason, my question is timing. Why does things happen WHEN they happen. I know, I know, that too has a reason. Frankly everything can be explained away on some level. If I hadn't gotten pregnant again (and no it wasn't planned) then my husband wouldn't have taken the time off (paternity leave) and basically got his life back on track. I feel like I've been hanging on for dear sweet life and I can't say I am enjoying it too much. Sure it is great that the house is now ours (although ours is really his on paper) and we are taking steps to secure our future I still feel windblown and wiped out. My current focus is on my kids, the two older ones being transfered to a new school has been more traumatic for me than for them. They are thrilled that they get to take the bus. I am happier as the bus is safer than me driving in the crap weather we are sure to get this winter. My youngest, Arthur, well he and I need to get out and do some bonding things. The trick is now, finding the funds and getting approval from the CFO (the husband).
I want to work, I like to work but I want to work at something that I find challenging, interesting and exercises my creative mind. I am finding that this isn't always easy to do. The course my life is currently on doesn't afford me the luxury of delving into this.
As with all things, I am going to wrap it up here, not because I really want to but because I need to.
Until time permits.
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Domestic Duties
I currently hate this term 'domestic duties' because frankly it is very one sided. Men honestly don't understand what it means to have domestic duties or what is involved in getting them completed. What burns me is when all the hard work that is done get's glossed over with 'those are her domestic duties'. Frankly that is crap!
Women are natures managers and leaders. This is confirmed on a daily basis. Most men would reply to such a statement with 'men are the doers'. Well MEN, if you are the doers are you also prepared to be the do-overs too? I have found since being a mom that my skills for managing have been honed rapidly. Children make you a multitasker. Men make you the omni tasker (she who does everything, or feels like it anyway).
If you work from home like I do your job is given less credibilty than those women who work outside the home. That is total nonsense...okay..that is total BS!!! I work from home doing something I really like, it challenges me, it lets me use my creative talents and it makes me available to my children who are not yet in school but almost. However because I don't go out to a job it isn't considered work, even though there are deadlines, time sheets and pay days involved. Nope, as far as the men in my community are concerned I am doing nothing short of sitting on my ass all day watching the grass grow. Demeaning to say the least. Being a Mom is a full time job, so is being a wife/life partner. I honestly don't think men get that. We have to make sure that their needs are met, they are fed, entertained, comforted, supported....and when we ask for our feet rubbed they make out like they have been run ragged. When they screw up...being the doers....who has to fix the screwups? that's right the women... It is a rare quality in someone ( of either gender) to admit that they are wrong or made a mistake. It is often rarer still to hear someone say thank you for a job done. Imagine this if you will...a woman takes care of her child(ren) all day and the husband has been at work, away from the kids. He comes home with the expectation that his house is still standing, his child(ren) are safe and this immediate needs (food/comfort) are going to be met. And when they are what do we hear? .....SILENCE!!! never a thank you or wow you worked hard today. Men assume and then get bitchy when we have to tell them how to do things. It isn't like they would do it or do it right.
Yes this post is me venting, my blog is about me venting. I see too many women, great women, not get the support they need. Especially when they are having to juggle multiple roles and are doing that successfully. I resent not being taken seriously. I resent being second guessed and treated like hired help. I HATE THE LACK OF THANK YOUS!!!
Okay...here endeth my sermon for now. The house is quiet. The kids are hopefully asleep after their father read them a story ( tonight I rebelled, I let him have the honours). I have dinner dishes to clean up, camp prep for a 5 year old tomorrow and a quick tidy up so no one looses a limb in the dark navigating around little man's trucks.
For all the women out there and the men who are doing the work too (I know you are out there) I say Thank you! Thank you for caring about others, thank you for your hard work. Thank you for doing the hardest job there is out there...being a parent.
Women are natures managers and leaders. This is confirmed on a daily basis. Most men would reply to such a statement with 'men are the doers'. Well MEN, if you are the doers are you also prepared to be the do-overs too? I have found since being a mom that my skills for managing have been honed rapidly. Children make you a multitasker. Men make you the omni tasker (she who does everything, or feels like it anyway).
If you work from home like I do your job is given less credibilty than those women who work outside the home. That is total nonsense...okay..that is total BS!!! I work from home doing something I really like, it challenges me, it lets me use my creative talents and it makes me available to my children who are not yet in school but almost. However because I don't go out to a job it isn't considered work, even though there are deadlines, time sheets and pay days involved. Nope, as far as the men in my community are concerned I am doing nothing short of sitting on my ass all day watching the grass grow. Demeaning to say the least. Being a Mom is a full time job, so is being a wife/life partner. I honestly don't think men get that. We have to make sure that their needs are met, they are fed, entertained, comforted, supported....and when we ask for our feet rubbed they make out like they have been run ragged. When they screw up...being the doers....who has to fix the screwups? that's right the women... It is a rare quality in someone ( of either gender) to admit that they are wrong or made a mistake. It is often rarer still to hear someone say thank you for a job done. Imagine this if you will...a woman takes care of her child(ren) all day and the husband has been at work, away from the kids. He comes home with the expectation that his house is still standing, his child(ren) are safe and this immediate needs (food/comfort) are going to be met. And when they are what do we hear? .....SILENCE!!! never a thank you or wow you worked hard today. Men assume and then get bitchy when we have to tell them how to do things. It isn't like they would do it or do it right.
Yes this post is me venting, my blog is about me venting. I see too many women, great women, not get the support they need. Especially when they are having to juggle multiple roles and are doing that successfully. I resent not being taken seriously. I resent being second guessed and treated like hired help. I HATE THE LACK OF THANK YOUS!!!
Okay...here endeth my sermon for now. The house is quiet. The kids are hopefully asleep after their father read them a story ( tonight I rebelled, I let him have the honours). I have dinner dishes to clean up, camp prep for a 5 year old tomorrow and a quick tidy up so no one looses a limb in the dark navigating around little man's trucks.
For all the women out there and the men who are doing the work too (I know you are out there) I say Thank you! Thank you for caring about others, thank you for your hard work. Thank you for doing the hardest job there is out there...being a parent.
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Am I crazy?
Every once and a while I start to wonder if I am crazy. Things that piss me off don't seem to phase many people. Is that because I care too much or my priorities are screwed up. I am trying very hard not to start saying things that will get me into trouble so for now...just for now I am going to end my blurb here.
Don't worry...there is plenty more inside waiting to get out....
Don't worry...there is plenty more inside waiting to get out....
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