those little things they see

I was mowing the lawn today, which I VERY rarely do, and I looked over and saw Lucy watching me. It suddenly occurred to me how good for her it is to see me doing this thing her father almost always does.

I am woman - watch me mow!

Contemplating my benefits package

I recently took the first two solid days off from my job (that is, being mother/organizer/house-cleaner/daytime personal chef/entertainment specialist) since we had #2. She is 19 months old. I spent two days with my best friend, and it was glorious. And I wasn't one bit guilty or concerned about their well being while I was gone. But it did make me excited to return to work and also wish that paid time off was a regular part of this gig.

Wait . . . I actually wish that being paid at all was a part of this gig. I opened my junk mail folder today to find an email titled, "It's time for a raise." YES! And of course the email was actually selling an online degree. I already have a degree but one more would get me no closer to the benefits that I, and so many other parents deserve.

In my husband's profession things like study leave and sabbatical (3 months paid leave after 5 years of work!!!) are a part of the contract. Can you imagine!?? Three months, and honestly I would settle for one week, of paid time to study or travel and recharge and renew yourself for mentally and emotionally exhausting work.

Even as a true-blue equality feminist, it's hard for me to honestly say that I believe in absolute equality anymore. My work and my husband's work are just different. He gets time away from the needs of children, but he misses us and he still has to meet the needs of a whole lot of other people. His deadlines are more scheduled, while mine are always immediate and urgent. We both have a lot of fun at work . . . sometimes. He gets a paycheck (that we both agree is really ours) and we both get a lot of intangible benefits. I feel valued in this house, most days, but I sure could use a contract, sick days, and sabbatical.

Currently Gaming The Sims 2 By Electronic Arts see related

Life in the mundane lane

I haven't written in a while, so here's an update:

• I have a crush on Jon Bon Jovi. Why now, you ask, and not in his 80's glory days? I don't know (back then I was dreaming of Christian Slater and Val Kilmer) but I keep dreaming about him, I get giddy when he appears in film or television and he has that song out right now that's sort of country, "Who Says You Can't Go Home" which really speaks to me right now.
• My toddler suddenly screams everything . . . ALL DAY! The good news is, she's mostly hilarious - until near the end of the day.
• My preschooler is out of school for the summer (two weeks earlier than everyone else - bummer).
• I think global warming is doing a number on our weather patterns because we (in New England) are experiencing virtually nothing but wetness, and my native Denver, Colorado is setting records daily for HOT, HOT, HOT. What's up ozone?
• I am leaving my husband and children next week to spend three days with my best friend on Cape Cod (her husband will also be away) and I am SO excited.
• I am extremely upset (again) about the ongoing war, the president and his friends, and the general state of things in our country.
• I have started subscribing to magazines left and right in an effort to surround myself with more easily accessible reading material. By the end of the summer I should have an stockpile of new recipes, information about random celebrities (to add to my already impressive reserves), home decorating tips, and style ideas.
• I have lots on my mind and no good way of organizing it, so there you go. And more soon . . .

I think it happened:

the wee one is officially weaned!!!! She turns 19 months old next week and I feel fine about it. Of course there is a part of our relationship that is no more, and I mourn that a bit, but we're both ready and it was just time. So here we go . . .

oh, and until my body catches on, I am JUG-A-LICIOUS!

A Retro Return to Mid-day Drinking

Some of you may remember my party ideas blog a while back? Well . . . I finally had the Mid-day Margaritas for Mamas party. It was a huge hit, even on a very rainy day, and 11 mamas (along with their many children, collectively) came, drank, played, and enjoyed one another thoroughly. I highly recommend a little afternoon fun with some fabulous sister-mamas. I'm not advocating for prescription drugs at 10am or anything, but I do like the idea of marrying my modern day feminist parenting with the pre-culture-of-fear and anxiety motherhood of yesteryear. Forget having the cocktail ready for him when he gets home after a long day and just pour one for yourself!  Let's start a new trend - less isolation, more socializing . . . less worrying, more relaxing . . . fewer rules for ourselves and our kids, more fun, more freedom, more friends. No guilt! Ok, that's a long mantra, but I'm working on it.