So all of my babies are now in school. Yep, they let the teeniest little people go to school!
I feel like we just threw out the potty seat, and now my last little guy is reading to me. I know that seems like a small thing, reading. But he was just this big not but a moment ago. And now, just like that, he reads.
As I was anticipating this school year, the year where all my little people would be off getting smarter for 7 hours every day, I was starting to wonder what my days would look like. I wasn't the only one. Plenty of people would ask me, 'what is it that you are going to do all day?' And while that question might cause a young mom with two babies in diapers to burst right out into tears, suddenly it seemed totally relevant. What was I going to do all day?
And for the first weeks of the fall, this question frustrated me. I felt like I just got breakfast cleaned up before it was back for pick-up. My days were overflowing! I was running from one thing to the next and wondered how on earth did I get it all done with kids in tow... my calendar squares were bursting! What happened to eating bon-bons and watching Days of our Lives?
Eventually, the to-do list did get knocked down a bit, and I got caught-up from the summer daze. And one day, I found myself in the house, completely alone. The house was clean and the laundry done. Now what?
Self-discipline has never been my strong suit. As a student, I was a terrible procrastinator. The thrill of starting a 10-page paper at 10 pm the night before it was due, that was where it was at. I thrived under pressure. The more I had to do, the more I got done. I liked it that way.
So in this new phase of life, I decided to start a SAHM domestic-diva bucket list, to focus my efforts:
First, iron. For the first several years of our marriage, I didn't even own an iron. I know how to iron. I just never saw any real purpose in it. If clothes needed an iron to maintain, well then, they didn't belong in my house.
Eventually, I realized there might be ironing emergencies. And so, for emergency purposes only, I bought a mini Ikea iron. It really isn't any good, but for emergencies, it would do.
But to be a true domestic, I decided ironing would have to be a thing. I sat down the other day with a whole pile, such a satisfying stack of freshly pressed clothes!
Second, bread-baking. The first batch wasn't great. Under-cooked to the point that one side completely sagged over all lopsided. Didn't bother me! I'd attempted the impossible!! I baked bread! Uncooked but edible. My pride in my little saggy loaf would've been embarrassing if I wasn't so busy celebrating.
Today, during my second attempt, my mom called me up,
"Whatcha doing?" she asked.
"Oh yeah," says I. "Just baking some bread." No biggie.
"You're baking bread???" A moment of silence. "You mean you are baking bread in the oven?"
Haha. Yeah.
A little bit of kitchen heaven:
So that's what I do all day. I mean, there's other stuff, too. But my primary job is my home and loving my people. It is a daily struggle to use my time well, for sure. And my bucket list is in its infancy. But I'm kind of loving my new job, and I'm super-thankful to get to be the one to do it! Such a gift!
Raising a family, phase II.
