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Where does my time go?
June 8, 2007 – 7:30 amA funny thing happened to me the other evening. Well, not really funny, but interesting.
I was at a charity dinner with many of my ex-colleagues, having a rather lovely time. It’s great to get together with people when there’s no politics involved. Hello Mr. Senior Vice President, that’s really a very ugly tie you’re wearing and, oh my, what IS that big black thing between your teeth? By the way, have you put on weight…?
Yessiree, not only to you get to treat people in accordance to their PERSONALITY and BASIC HUMAN CHARACTER rather than silly stupid things like title and WHETHER THEY’RE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR RAISE, but additionally you learn who your true friends are. But I digress.
I chatted and gabbed and hugged and schmoozed, and in all this socializing I quickly recognized a pattern. Everyone wanted to know what I was doing with my time now that I’ve quit my job. And oh, by the way, was I bored yet?
Call it irony, or fate, or just happenstance (now THERE’S a word I’ve always wanted to use), but whatever you call it… today I am being asked THE SAME QUESTION again. But this time with the allure of cash and glamour at the end (see contest details below).
So, here goes. What HAVE I been doing with my time? Where DOES it go?
If only I knew. Maybe it would be easiest for me to start with where my time DOESN’T go.
I do NOT spend my time:
1) working or earning money in any way
2) cleaning house
3) cooking healthy and delicious Martha Stewartesque meals
4) organizing fabulous dinner parties
5) traveling, modeling, hanging out with celebrities, or curing diseases
Wow. How depressing. I’ll bet you’re REALLY wondering now, aren’t you?
What DO I spend my time on? It’s hard to say really. Back at the dinner, I found that I struggled to respond. All I could do was come up with what I’d done THAT DAY. Because it varies. And some days, I really don’t accomplish much at all, while others I’m a whirlwind of effective efficiency (but usually the former).
And in the spirit of confessions (I’m not sure why I’m in that spirit, but I’ll go with it), I will tell you that USUALLY when someone asks me this, I try to put myself in the best light. “Oh, nothing really, just little things like reading important biographies, cooking nutritious meals, practicing my yoga, and providing a nurturing and highly educational environment for my son.” But because YOU are my dear friends who I love deeply (along with assorted spammers, stalkers and plagiarists), I will be honest and open to the point of nausea. You can thank me later.
So here’s a random sampling of some of the ways I’ve spent my time:
- downloading new music
- creating new playlists based on the new music I purchased with the money I don’t make
- playing the new playlists with said new music while dancing wildly with son through the house I didn’t clean
- photoshopping my head onto strangely formed figures
- spending inordinate amounts of time pondering the search terms that led people to my blog.
- running my car into our other car
- calling insurance to fix damage from above incident
- reading books about 1) harems, 2) how to get rich*, and 3) ghosts.
*One thing I learned from the book about how to get rich is that it’s best NOT to run your car into your other car. And if you insist on engaging in this behavior, it’s best NOT to drive a BMW. There you go, some free advice for the day. - Exploring the glorious beaches, parks, playgrounds, zoos, museums etc. that Seattle has to offer.
- Picnics at the drop of a hat
- etc.
In response to Daring Young Mom’s question as to what’s on my resume (great post, by the way)… just see above. Wouldn’t YOU want to hire me?! (DON’T ANSWER THAT!)
So here’s my takeaway. Since quitting my job, I am hands-down less efficient. I am hands-up (?) more happy. And really, isn’t that what matters?
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This is an entry into a contest to have BlogHer conference fees paid courtesy of the Parent Bloggers Network and Light Iris. For more contest details, see here (hurry, because you have to post TODAY to enter!)
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By An Ordinary Mom on Jun 8, 2007 | Reply
I am overly joyed to be a stay at home mom even if I am working 24-7.
Here are a few things I did today: changed dirty diapers, went to the gym, kept the household supplies up by shopping at Costco, sat through Kindergarten graduation, picked out rocks in the gravel for my two year old and took a power nap to get through the rest of the day.
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By tulipmom on Jun 8, 2007 | Reply
So far today:
–spent an hour calming an overanxious boy so that I could get him to the point just to take his medication let alone think about breakfast, getting dressed, etc.
–made the lunches
–dropped Sweet Boy at school
–went to the grocery, unpacked the groceries
–surfed online for a recipe to bring to a party tomorrow
–here I am “wasting time” blogging
thinking I should have some lunch and throw in a load of laundry before leaving to pick up Sweet Boy from school
–Exciting? Original? Nope. But I’m also not forced to stick my kid in Aftercare all afternoon when that would be TOO long a day for him. I can pick him up, I can take him to therapy, and then I can spend one-on-one time with him. It’s not easy being a SAHM and sometimes I just want to run away, but I know I’m fortunate to have the choice and I know it’s what’s best for us.
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By tulipmom on Jun 8, 2007 | Reply
Yes, I realize a more with-it mom would surf for recipes BEFORE she goes to the grocery. DUH!!
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By Kimberly on Jun 8, 2007 | Reply
One of my favourite lines (probably because it came from me…I think) is, Professional Mother - Paid in Love.
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By Kel on Jun 8, 2007 | Reply
Efficiency is absolutely over-rated, and happy is the way to be. It really is a different world when you aren’t running the 9-5 gauntlet, isn’t it? Great post, I’ll be back! And thanks for the visit through the Blog Blast.
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By Queen Heather on Jun 8, 2007 | Reply
Yes but since quitting your job, you’ve become ever so efficient at being happy. And some people never get how to do that.
Get this, I actally spend a lot of time DOING THE THINGS I WANT. Whatever that may be at the moment. No boss to tell me I have to write so boring ass lame report any more. Can they imagine the horror o being free like that? I don’t think the people at the charity thingy could handle that kind of horror! tehehe!
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By shauna on Jun 8, 2007 | Reply
I love Seattle! I’m from Clarkston and hope to move back to Washington someday. And I’m glad there are more SAHM who don’t have immaculate houses. Enjoyed the post. And thanks for visiting Up in the Night.
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By dana on Jun 8, 2007 | Reply
Cleaning does take up a lot of time. I wish I could fight the urge to clean. I’d have more time!
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By The Daring One on Jun 8, 2007 | Reply
Yes ma’am it is what matters. I emailed you yesterday but my email has not been working well lately. If you don’t get it soon, will you let me know. Thanks!
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By Jennifer Playgroupie on Jun 9, 2007 | Reply
We should both win! Then we could meet. And waste some fun time together!
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By Cathy on Jun 9, 2007 | Reply
OK, I’m not a SAHM, but truly, I now pride myself on my inefficiency at work and home.
I EXCEL at it.
I couldn’t tell you what exactly I’m doing at either place. Ha!
(Neither could anyone else.)
But I swear, I’m busy all the time. I just rarely see any sort of … results…?
Great post. I’m still laughing.
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By Seattle Mamacita on Jun 9, 2007 | Reply
great post fellow seattle mama. I’ll be back for more..
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By Cate on Jun 10, 2007 | Reply
As a SAHM to two extremely high maintenance boys, I tend not to get much done during the day. And that stresses me out. But I hated my job, and that stressed me out even more. Plus, I would rather be the one raising my boys and seeing all of their milestones firsthand than shipping them off to daycare. And that makes me happy. And that’s worth some SAHM stress!
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By Lilian Burnett on Mar 6, 2009 | Reply
This is the best post I ever read,I’ll stumble this one, thx!
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