Career and Kids

Thoughts on a day off

by elizabeth on January 3rd, 2007

Well, isn’t that ironic?

I took the day off from career (actually, from kids, too, since they went back to school yesterday) in order to do several things that really needed doing.

One of the main things I was planning to do was to get settled into this blog. You see where that got me yesterday, don’t you?

But, whether you work in the next room at home, or, down the Interstate, days off often take on a life of their own. The proverbial, “didn’t go as planned”.

Mine didn’t go as planned yesterday, mainly because I didn’t realize my husband (a teacher) had yesterday off. I know it’s weird, but, if I am in serious “get things done” mode I have to be alone.

OK, it’s actually because I want to sing along to my iPod at the top of my lungs, but, that’s just between us, OK?

Anyway, in the rare instance that a day off doesn’t involve a sick kid, I sometimes get paralyzed about what to do with my time.

For example, yesterday, in addition to getting started here, I had big plans to clean out my closet and put away the Christmas decorations. I was going to do those things no matter what. I was not going to be lured by the siren song of the TV, or, my bed even though logic says a true “day off” ought to involve such things.

But, what always happens with me is I end up becoming torn between catching up on the routine, perpetual tasks (like laundry and dishes) and getting “special event” things (like the closet or anything on the fix-it list) done.

If I use the time to get caught up on the routine stuff, I don’t feel like I accomplished much, but, at least I might have some free time in the evening. But, if I complete a “special event”, I feel accomplished, but, there are still dirty dishes in the sink that will need to be addressed just like every evening, and, then I end up wishing I had done that on my day off.

Somewhere in my subconscious, I guess I think that when I “get it all done” there will be more time with the kids, and, life will be less stressful. Funny how that hasn’t happened yet.

So, on my day off, you may find me walking around in circles until it’s time to pick the kids up from school.

For the record, yesterday, in between circles, we rearranged the middle child’s bedroom (long story, but, it involves basketball players looking in his window), and, I fixed my dad’s computer.

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