Tuesday, March 20, 2007

How to fill in a day when you don't "work".

I think Mums who work are amazing, even though it isn't for me. You see, I just don't have time to fit in the paid work thing ...and I have a husband who says he didn't wait until 40 to get married to then never see his wife.
Being on a farm makes it all very different. While my sister and many of you bloggers know that after your husband has left for work you have 8 or 10 hours clear in which to do as you like (READ BLOGS!) I'm generally never sure when mine will walk in the door for a coffee or to get me to deliver a calf/lamb, (because these hands are useful for more things than sewing!) help shift machinery to the next paddock, run to town for parts, draft a mob of sheep etc, etc (as the King of Siam would say!) So time management and Ladies lunches and morning coffees can be tricky...and paid work really takes a back seat. It would have been especially tricky in the past 5 months that precious girl has been more out of School than there, I can't even think of a plan that could have dealt with that!
But, being what is probably a Type A personality that likes to be busy and organising and have a hand in a lot of activities, not being seen as a "worker" can be tough. Our western societies define us by what we do, and overcoming this need to justify our existence can be very tough. Anyway, it may have taken me a while but I am well adjusted about my role now... I look at questions about my stay-at-home role as a type of adult peer pressure, and as I never cared about peer pressure in my Youth, I really can't see why I should let it affect me now.
So lets look at today's "non-work" achievements:
DD having a few tummy pangs so she is at home, try to clean in the morning while intermittently watching "Annie get your gun" with her.(she is fast becoming a musical/Howard Keel addict.)
Finished off the "Writing champion" capes for DS' classroom literacy lessons.
Preparing for the School fete, which I am convening. A parent sent home a box of apples which I convert to 12 foot of Strudel...and it's good.
All the time working on more Zucchini and cucumber pickles, also for the fete (and for me!) The top photo is to show you how they started...a beautiful aroma as they soak... and the lower pic is the end result.
Manage to get the last tray of Strudel out by 2 pm and realise in the 1 and a half hours until I need to go and see my little niece for birthday #2 I could almost make her a tractor blanket so at least she gets something with a tractor on her birthday and here it is-
It's not bound just done in the pillow case style with a bit of seam left for turning then I ran around it with top stitch. Has a nice cosy polar fleece on the back and when I last saw it she was using it to sit on in her lounge room and having a snack. The proper quilt can wait until a couple of free days and no kids at home. I'd say maybe for Christmas now!
Managed to pull out some pre-prepared and frozen-for-just-such-a-day-as-this meatballs from the freezer and turned them into everyone's favourite casserole after arriving home at 6pm.
...So you can probably tell that the detox and extra rest program is going well and I'm feeling pretty good...now if I could just fit in that walk!



14 comments:

Carol said...

First of all Tracey I think that mum's in general have the hardest job in all the world. I get to hand my four step-children back at the end of the day or the weekend, and sometimes I'm absolutely exhausted. So I applaud all the mothers.

Secondly I have a husband who works from home, so I crave to get the house to myself at times. Even on my days off he's here. Which is nice, but I like my own space too.

And as for that strudel, when and where is the fete!!!!

Carole said...

Parents who stay at home have a bad rep. I really don't understand why. I think it had to do with the demeaning role of woman prior to the feminist movement. My mom didn't have a choice, she stayed at home. Now we can make that choice. Good for you that you do what you want! BTW, when's dinner? The food looks good. Gosh you're busy. I'm tired just reading about your day! Keep well!

CONNIE W said...

I say "ditto" of what the other comments read. Personally, being a full time homemaker is rewarding, fulfilling, and makes me very happy. Now that I have an empty nest I do some part-time longarm quilting at home but that's by choice, not by necessity. Your strudel looks heavenly! :D

The Calico Cat said...

You can send a strudel my way...

When I grow up, I want to be a stay at home mom, too bad I am the bread winner...

Tonya Ricucci said...

You're definitely a working mom, don't let anyone tell you different.Wow, you got more done in a day than I'll get done in a week. Excellent blankie which I'm sure your niece will snuggle to bits.

Doodlebug Gail said...

OMG - what a busy day! Apple Strudel .... yummy! Hope your little girl is feeling better real soon.

Libby said...

I used to work outside the home. When I became a 'stay-at-home' I could not for the life of me figure out where I found time to do everything *s* It's a tough job, but somebody's gotta do it and no one better than us.
It is hard to justify our existense and worth sometimes. I have had noses turn up and then away from me at Hubby's office party when it's told that I stay at home. But I'm happy, Hubby's happy, my now adult daughter is happy and for the others it just doesn't really matter.

McIrish Annie said...

I think working AT HOME is probably harder than working OUTSIDE of the home!! Don't let the peer pressure bother you. I personally am Jealous! I would love to be at home. You are definitely BUSY and your kids will remember MUM being there for them!

McIrish Annie said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Michelle-ozark crafter said...

Whew! i am tired just thinking of all you do! You are amazing!

Quilts And Pieces said...

Ooooo - I want to come over for some strudel - it looks WONDERFUL! And you know, staying home is NOT easy. I crave to be at home, but when I am I'm so busy I go nuts! At least when I"m working outside of the house and come home I "think" to myself I have an excuse not to do housework because I"m tired!!!! :)

Kim said...

Tracey, I took three years "off" to stay home with my kids and LOVED it! I think it's absolutely the best time I've had, and my kids really enjoyed it too, even if it meant that working a monthly trip to McDonalds took some budgetary planning. I hated to return to work, but the kids were older and economics demanded it. To tell you the truth, when I was "off," I kind of looked down on the working moms who were too busy to get involved in the school and give their kids the attention they deserved--to me, they seemed kind of lazy! LOL! It's all a matter of perspective, and you know you're probably doing more than "working" moms do! (Do I get a strudel for the excellent pep talk?! LOL!)

Anne Ida said...

Not beeing a mum myself I really can only imagine all the work, but Tracey, it looks like your life is more busy than the lives of most mums working outside the home. And I can easily see that the life of a stay at home farm wife/mother is very different from the lives of staying at home mums/wives living in cities. I will forward you an e-mail I recieved from a quilter on a mailing list I belong to - it is about defining yourself as a Mum :o) and it's wonderful.

All that food preparation looks wonderful, and I'd really like to sample some of the strudel:o)

And I'm sure you made a little girl happy with the tractor quilt :o)

Diana said...

I, too, stayed home when my children were young. I think it was the best for them and me too! It looks to me that you ARE a working mom, just working in a different venue! You do what works best for YOU.