This has been a very tough week. I am not feeling well, I have one sick child, I had that job interview that blindsided me, my husband is sick, there was a snow day, plus I got my period. I don’t know whether it is required for me to spiral into an existential depression every time hormones and low iron levels hit me, but that is what seems to happen.
In the words of Tears for Fears, from “Mad World”:
All around me are familiar faces
Worn out places, worn out faces
Bright and early for their daily races
Going nowhere, going nowhere
And their tears are filling up their glasses
No expression, no expression
Hide my head I want to drown my sorrow
No tomorrow, no tomorrow
And I find it kind of funny
I find it kind of sad
The dreams in which I’m dying
Are the best I’ve ever had
I find it hard to tell you
‘Cos I find it hard to take
When people run in circles
It’s a very, very
Mad world
But spring is around the corner and I have a lot to do. My plan is that carrying out this simple list of projects (in whole or in part, which is more likely!) will help me get back in touch with my focus and let me bring my full attention to every detail and start living in and enjoying the moments of my life again. Instead of sitting around worrying what those people running in circles think of me.
List of projects for a successful stay-at-home mother
- Declutter the basement
- Organize/purge kids’ accumulated art projects/school work
- Finish painting the laundry room
- Stay on top of laundry loads
- Work on Brownie badges with Meghan
- Plan and prepare healthy family dinners at least 4-5 times per week (prepare semi-healthy meals 16-17 times per week)
- Help Meghan study for rider level test
- Complete school’s online Scholastic book orders in timely fashion
- Declutter my desk
- Complete photo albums in Aperture and order prints
- Contact all elementary schools in Greater Saint John area re: fundraiser (as per role on fundraiser committee)
- Visit and present characters to elementary schools (as per role on fundraiser committee)
- Purge kids’ DVD collection
- Work out 5 days per week
- Keep food record
- Provide treats for teachers on St. Paddy’s Day (as per role on Special Events committee)
- Declutter garage
- Buy groceries
- Hang hooks in stairwell for backpacks/sports equipment
- Repair walls in laundry room, front hall
- Hang new laundry rack
- Ensure kids practice piano daily
- Help kids with homework daily
- Drive kids to and from all extra-curricular activities and playdates on time
- Get birthday present for Clara’s friend
- Plan summer vacation camps, trips, etc.
- Plan trip to London
- Pursue digital photography hobby
- Read books I have purchased re: education, giftedness, health & dieting, photography, spirituality
- Paint three bathrooms and two bedrooms
- De-mold the upstairs windows
- Clean all windows
- Make/order blinds for kitchen windows
- Install new shelf in Meghan’s room
- Mail Helena’s housewarming gift
- Blog 3-4 times per week
overeducated & understimulated 
Um….I hope that you put some things on that list you have already done, just so you can cross them off. Or am I the only one who does that…I any case, I would suggest grouping the list into categories “For yourself” “For Family” and “For Home”. Then for every 1 you do for yourself you get to do 1 from the other categories…just a thought. Hang in there!
Good suggestion about the categories. I do sometimes put things on my list that I have done already, but not this particular one! It’s quite a big list of simple stuff.
One thing a friend reminded me of is that I need to add hanging out with friends as well!