Just a Mom: What Did You Do Today?

What did you do today? Somehow this question has the ability to grate on my nerves sometimes. There is the immediate knee jerk reaction to explain exactly what I did in a day to make sure that it sounds like enough. Just to put some things into perspective, I thought I would share a typical day that is in fact my day OFF from work. Yes, a day off from work...you get to relax right?

This is my day off this week, just one of them.

7:00 Out of bed
7:30  Kids are up
8:00 everyone is fed and we hit the road
8:30 kid 1 is dropped off to summer camp (School in the Fall)
8:45 I arrive at work usually, but today is my day off. So, I fed a friends cat early, I did three loads of laundry, I weeded a dandelion patch (that still looks like I didn't touch it), I sent some texts to check in with friends, I spent 5 hours trying to fix a broken USB stick, I made lunch, I got invaded by neighbouring kids and their playfulness, I forgot about lunch and got back to it two hours later, I arranged to move a piano, I dealt with trying to pretend to drink the younger kids version of butter milk (Miranda - I owe you some creamer), I listened to conversations and stories while I attacked another dandelion patch and now it is ..,
2:00 I have taken some time to write this blog so I guess you can say I had a break.
2:15 Shower time and then back to the front lawn and dandelion patrol.
I still have to make supper, go to the grocery store, pick up the oldest from summer camp, arrange a sleep over, do math homework with both kids, go for a bike ride, and maybe just maybe, by 10:00 the house will be quiet.

While you can see, even on my days off, life goes at a breakneck pace, I like it like this. I like to be busy, social and have fun. I like the interaction with the family and friends but when everyone needs to have their needs met first, where does that leave just the mom? We have to be understanding and supportive of the games, and bruises. We have to sense what isn't being said as well as what is. We have to know intrisically that everyone else is hungry and tired at the end of the day. Moms are needed, loved and completely engrossed in the lives of those around them...unless they are broken and then don't judge, other moms will help. Because that is what we do.

I often don't get to bed until 1:00 or 2:00 am. While I do have insomnia, there is another reason for that as well. From 11:00 to 1:00, that is often the only thing that I have that is MY time. This is when I read, scrapbook, catch up on the Tour de France or Formula One. This is that downtime that everyone else seems to get during the day. This is when I get to have fun, with no demands or expectations. This is my time, and if I am tired, keep in mind that I happen to be a little busy. Just a little busy, being just a mom, even on my day off.