Self Audit

Ok.  Having been told over the weekend that I am a lazy princess (I said I didn't want to go to work = lazy, and said if I did work I would like a cleaner a couple of hours a week at home = princess) I am self-auditing my days to see how lazy and princess like I really am, compared to being a wage slave.

Yes I am VERY ANGRY about this accusation, which is one every bloody SAHM has to put up with, not just from husbands who think the fridge never needs cleaning because it is always clean (yep, fridge elves), but also other women - ones that work, mostly.  I admire women who work enormously because it is proven time and time again in research that women still do the lions share of household chores, are paid less than their male colleagues, are overlooked for promotion, and are often the first to have to drop work to look after domestic/childcare issues (leading to a lack of consideration for promotion).  This does not an easy life make!  I don't want to be part of this!  But anyway, I shall audit my days because I am interested in what a SAHM does all day anyway :)

*Tuesday

• 7.35:  Get Oldest and Youngest up, cajole in a happy manner down to breakfast.  Make breakfasts, ensure Oldest wiped his bum properly after a poo, washed hands etc, get children to eat breakfast.  I drink a coffee, am knackered after being up with Youngest in the night.

• 8.05:  Get kids upstairs, brush children's teeth.  Dress Oldest because he is tired and scatty and won't do it himself.  Get told am mean for making him undress in the cold.  Get Youngest's nappy changed, cajole him to lie still for a new nappy and to get changed while Oldest teases him with a toy just out of reach.  Tell Oldest to leave Youngest alone, he sulks.  Get Youngest dressed while singing nursery rhymes.  This is all done while feeling frantic but exuding cheery in-control-mumness.

• 8.30:  Get me dressed.  I don't have time to shower, hair scraped back in a greasy bun.  Nice.

• 8.35:  Herd children downstairs, shoes and coats on, Oldest given his schoolbag with forms filled in that came home with him last night, fresh water in his water bottle, reading books in to be returned.  Youngest put in his pushchair.  Hats found, though forgot Oldest's.

• 8.40:  Off to school.  All in good time, should be pleased but still feeling stressed!  Is all ok, the .75 mile walk to school always burns off any stress energy.

• 9.10: back from school, wait for phone call re: counselling session this afternoon, find it is cancelled.  Find wallet to pay for church group we are off to now, leave wallet on bed.  Plug in phone to charge, run downstairs to toddler, pop him in the car.

• 9.30:  at church group.  My new friend whose son plays with my son at school is there.  She is lovely and kind and listens to me whine on about the fact I am underappreciated at home (!).  is very supportive of my complaints and concerned about me going into children's and families as a social worker.  I am concerned to but pretty determined that that's what I want to do.  Youngest has an awesome time even tho this is usually his nap time.  Is kind, sociable and independent.  I chat and almost relax, though obviously I don't because I need to keep an eye on the toddler in case he decides to snatch a toy/climb on the slide and stand up/stop another child from playing with something/throw sand/eat playdough/fall face first down the stairs etc etc.  All without him knowing I am doing this, and in full conversational mode. 

•  11: leave church group.  Youngest is exhausted, time for a nap.  Put him in his bed and feed him to sleep.

•  11.45:  come downstairs, he is finally asleep.  I have to order the weeks food from the Cornish food box company before 12 to make it for this week.  I also need to hang the clothes up from the washing machine asap, DB frets if it is left in there too long.  Do this while computer is starting up to order the shopping.

• 12.39:  Am blogging while Youngest still naps :)  This is time I have taken for ME though I should be looking for jobs...  I will look for jobs now.