What's a Mom to do?
My children are being whisked away to their Gpa Mac & Trish's house for 5 days per the request of Grandpa. I love my kids so much and to be without them and at home at the same time, is breaking my heart. SO, to thwart off those feelings I have been thinking, "What to do" during their absense. (Outside the definite pleasure of enjoying the time with my husband, :)!)
Some things are obvious when you are a full time, stay-at-home mom, like getting a haricut. Other things may not seem so obvious, like learning to swim. It is not that these things can't be accomplished with children present either, but for me, if things require too much planning I just forego it and well, it doesn't get done.
Here's my initial list, you are welcome to add more. Sadly, weather will play a big part in my final decisions and these are not necessarily ordered on importance.
1. Get a haircut
2. Finish the basement exterior door
3. De-weed the retaining walls
4. Paint the exterior of the house
5. Re-do the landscaping around the house
6. Fix the "eave situation"
7. Insulate the attic
8. Spend the whole day weeding at the garden
9. Learn how to swim
10. Paint the living room
11. Add an exhaust vent to upstairs bathroom
12. If office floods, do whatever it takes to help
13. See if I can go on a long bike ride
14. Clean and take a load to the garbage dump
15. Power wash the exterior of the house
16. Clean out the stubborn downspout
17. Plant prairie grasses in front yard hill
18. Babysit or help out my friends around me
19. Convince my rock climbing friends to take me rock climbing
20. Attempt to find a pair of jeans that fit (or dare I say, a swim suit)
Out of all of these, I think my haircut and finishing the basement door are the two things I will definitely do. I don't know which of anything else would be the most important so I need to get some input on what next and obviously, weather plays a big role in this.
One thing I think I will definitely be doing the whole time is missing our cuties something fierce. They mean the world to us/me and wo/man, I would rather have a day of complete insanity with them, then to be without any one of them.
Oh Dana! Now that I am a mom, I can for sure relate to your post!!! I don't know what I would do for a week without Jemima...it's even hard to imagine leaving her with you guys for the conference later this month...not that I don't trust you'll take GREAT care of her, but that I will miss her so much! I think you've made a wonderful list of useful things to do that will also help distract you from missing your cuties, if that is possible. :) I think especially the jeans and swimsuit thing is a great plan. I've lost interest in shopping for clothing items for myself for many reasons now that Jemima is here. I much more enjoy finding things for her. :) Hey, are you guys going to Gpa's cabin over the 4th? I think we will be going there on Friday night or Saturday morning... Hmm...should this have been an email rather than a comment on your blog?
Oh Maren, you're the sweetest! I will have to email you! We will be up at the lake house over the 4th, hooray for you all being able to come!
Just think what a great experience it will be for your kids to be under the keep of other adults who love them so much and want to share new experiences with them. it is like they are going to a FREE camp! :) with trusted counselors. It will be good for you as well...the first day always seems the strangest and loneliest to me if the boys go away...not that I let them too often. :)