Tuesday, November 10, 2009

I heart Tuesdays!

Because on Tuesdays...

... I get to drop Riley off at preschool and pick her up, hearing all about the fun she had learning.
... I get a chance to go to the grocery store, Costco, Target, etc., with 2 kids instead of 3.
... I get some quality time with my boys.
... I'm not stressed out about homework being due or laundry or other housework or leaving for a trip or any of the other things that usually occupy my time and energy. I take Tuesdays off from all of that.

On Tuesdays, I feel like the wife and mother I wish I were more often or all the time for that matter!

Sundays come in a close second to Tuesdays... we are up and out of the house early for church at 8:30am and then spend the day as a family doing various errands or other fun stuff. A relaxing day with all five of us home and no real agenda or schedule. Wonderful.

I don't like Mondays because I'm usually stressed out about homework due that night in class... mainly because I've neglected it all week because it comes in last in my list of priorities- always. So, I scramble to finish it before class and find myself extra stressed if the kids don't nap when they should or require more of my attention. Lame. Totally lame. Totally not their fault if I'm stressed and didn't finish my homework. I'm working on this one. Then there is the 4 hours I have to sit in class, missing out on time with my husband and kids... Pretty much, Mondays usually suck.

I don't like Wednesdays because I'm usually consumed with finishing all of the laundry so I can pack for work and leave town, knowing Rick and the kids will have clean clothes while I'm away. I cook 2-3 meals so I will have some good food in my food bag for work and so Rick has some food for leftovers while I'm gone. I usually make a quiche' and a casserole or chili or some other soup that travels well, then prepare the rest of my food for the 3 days I'll be gone. I also try and clean up the house as best as possible so that Rick will have one less thing to worry about while I'm gone and so Sarah (our wonderful nanny) can have a clean house to be in on Thursday and Friday, too. Basically, Wednesday means preparing myself to leave and preparing the house for me to be gone. Then I jet off on Wednesday nights to Oakland to start my trips...

Which brings me to Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Not particularly horrible days, especially when I'm working an easy trip with long overnights (which doesn't seem to happen lately). Sometimes I get to relax in my hotel room, catch up on my reading for pleasure, grab and In N' Out Burger, see a movie, or just sleep... more often lately, I work a 12 hour day, get to the hotel with a 12 hour overnight (not as long as it sounds), then back out the door for another long day of flying- AND, I am away from my family. I don't get to drop Riley off at preschool on Thursdays and hear about her day or enjoy the quality time with Tyson and Cooper. Planning fun times with friends is tough because I'm gone, so Rick misses out on social stuff, too. Plus, he's home with the kids all by himself each evening after working all day and getting them up and ready each morning without help, too. Things that bring a little bit of guilt for me. Saturdays are spent working in the morning, then sitting around waiting to catch a flight home from Oakland, so I'm usually completely exhausted by the time I step foot in the door sometime late Saturday afternoon.

So... for right now, I love Tuesdays. I think because it represents the life I wish I could have everyday- the homework-free, no flying, stay-at-home mom life. The kind where I'm not stressed and all the laundry is finished and the house is clean and organized and I have time and energy to do fun and creative things with my kids and I have a homemade dinner on the table every night and I can do creative projects like scrapbooking and sewing and so on and so on and so on...

It will be really interesting to see what it will be like when I am student teaching, not flying, and home every night, although gone all day- something I'm NOT used to at all!

Alright... I'm done whining for a few posts, at least.

Happy Tuesday everyone!

12 comments:

Lisa Joy said...

Hey, don't feel too bad...we all have those grandiose dreams of what being a stay-at-home mom "should" look like. Even without working and schoolwork, my days never turn out quite as I'd envisioned them.

Oh, and can I just say, I'm pretty sure my laundry is having a hay-day and *breeding* down in our basement! I swear, how can two adults, a 3-yr-old and a baby possibly wear that many clothes?

Lisa said...

Happy Tuesday, Brooke!

You're going to stop flying? For good or for Student Teaching time?

David said...

have you ever seen the movie I Heart Huckabees?

also, i hear that In N Out is expanding into utah. perhaps elswhere? maybe they'll head to oregon??

The Manlupig Family said...

you guys should really let me, your wonderful nanny, do more...seriously tho... I could fold laundry, run a crockpot, or something....believe it or not sometimes I get a little bored...:) :) I heart Wednesdays by the way...McKenzee is off school so we all get to relax at home where I also envision the life of a mom and a wife, cleaning and doing laundry, cooking and playing with the kids!! :) atleast we are blessed with atleast one day of the week we get to enjoy, and just savor!! :)

Maggie said...

Maybe someday you can have your hearts desire or maybe you can find a way to make it more days of the week? I know how you feel though some days you just wish for it to be Groundhogs Day!

Anonymous said...

your blog is linked from a friend of a friend and I enjoy reading it. However, I can't not comment today. You CAN be a stay at home mom if you want to. Look at that house you're buying. You don't HAVE to buy it. It take some sacrafice, but if you want it as much as you say you do you can. I'm not trying to be mean, but I hate hearing people whine about wishing they were home with their kids full time, yet living extravagant lives.

The Donald said...

You know what is even worse Brooke? People who are too chicken to say something like what anonymous said and not put a name down.

Agree or disagree with the whole working mom/stay at home mom debate, at least have the courage to put your name down when leaving what could be construed as a negative comment. Don't hide behind the anonymous title. That is what weak minded people do.

Oh, and next time you fly, eat an In n Out burger for me will ya?

Brianna said...

Brooke, I think you are amazing. I don't know how you don't complain more often. :)

Emily said...

Brooke! I second Donald!! You are great and I think that you and your husband have found what works for your family. It's not always easy! Your children are lucky to have a mom who works hard for them (at home AND at work) and who is following her dreams.

David said...

you got an anonymous comment! lol i remember that happened to lisa a while back.

The Manlupig Family said...

Anonymous has no idea your financial situation, if they did they would probably not be commenting. they have no clue how actually responsible you guys are with your money. I am very impressed all your cars paid off, no credit card debt! that is a Dave Ramsey dream! and you didn't even need him to do it!! You guys are very responsible and provide an amazing life for your children! go fly, feeling good that you are doing what is best for your family. People judge based on perspective, and obviously Anonymous doesn't have the correct perspective prior to their comment. More information is clearly needed before making such a harsh judgment. See you(well, not you, but everyone else later) lol...

libbie said...

HOW DID I MISS THIS!!! Oh, wait! I have been on a blogging hiatus! I LOVE anonymous commenters. They make life so much more interesting! I had one once . . . . . :)