Life as a mom, especially an urban mom, = RUSH?! Having a three year old and a 9 month old I feel as though my life is now on fast forward. My heart beats so quickly, I am on a constant adrenaline rush! I rush at home, at work, and when I’m driving. I rush through my workouts, the grocery store, and every other errand that is part of my everyday life.
I wake up and RUSH to get ready. I hit snooze twice because my three year old woke up twice, crying for no reason whatsoever and my 9 month old woke up an hour after that for his 4am feeding – yes I know, he should be over these nighttime feedings but he’s not. My older son didn’t stop them until after he turned one so I guess I’m doomed. What can I say, my boys have healthy appetites, which isn’t surprising because they were born at 10.5 lbs & 9.5 lbs respectively – but that’s a whole other story. Anyway, I have to rush to get ready so that (a) I can get to work on time & (b) I can see my boys for a few minutes before I struggle to get to work on time.
I have gone back to work part time, before my year was up, because it is a family business and I kind of run things there and honestly, things were not running as well as they could have. O.K, I’m not fooling some of you…I also wanted to get back to work so I could get some sort of peace of mind a few times a week. Yes, being at home with my kids was beginning to drive me a little batty. There, I said it! I actually WANTED to go back. Anyway, I’m only there a few hours a week yet there is enough work for me to be full time already. I think the RUSHING around at work is therefore self explanatory. Did I mention my husband works evenings? Therefore, after rushing around the office all day, I RUSH home so he can get to work on time.
On my days off I go to the gym. It’s the YMCA and it’s great because they have daycare. YES!!! Someone to look after my boys so I can go exercise & release any stress I may have. The clincher is, the daycare is extra. Yes, above and beyond the amount I’m already spending for a family membership. Don’t get me wrong – the women who run it are GREAT!!! It’s just that if you’re going 3-4 times a week with 2 kids, well it adds up. That is why I RUSH to get in my workout & shower (who has the time to shower at home) in the least amount of time possible.
My groceries are usually bought in RUSHED spurts, unless the husband and I have the rare hour together to do a proper shopping. Unfortunately that means packing up two kids, using two carts, and buying things that not only weren’t on our list, but end up in my cupboards for months, maybe years! Someone gets hungry or ends up in tears (usually me) and we go home without the important things which were on my list. Thanks, I’d rather go alone and buy in spurts. I’m buying in spurts however because whoever is watching the kids, husband or mom, usually is waiting for me to get home because they have somewhere else to be. Did I mention my husband is also an actor, which means he has auditions any time of the day, usually the exact time I have an appointment and was counting on him to watch the kids!!! My mom is great, but she too is a woman on the go, hair appointments, choir practice, dances, dinners, a very socially active woman, God love her!
Anyway, as I RUSH home to the family, I RUSH to put groceries away in between making a RUSHED dinner for my frantic 3 year old. I then RUSH to bathe them because my baby is cranky & tired, almost his bed time. After putting baby to bed I RUSH to clean up the kitchen which is a disaster because of the rushing to make dinner, sorry, I am also a clean freak, but again, a whole other story. I then RUSH back upstairs to read a story to my older child and put him to bed before my TV show starts – ANY MINUTE. I watch 1 show, then I RUSH off to bed EXHAUSTED, but I must do so because I know tomorrow – it will start… all…over again…
Maria is an urbanmoms.ca member and busy working mom. Share your thoughts and experiences with Maria below, in comments.
Omigosh!!! Rush RUSH RUSH! Story of my life! There’s never any respite, is there! I seriously can’t keep up — especially being pregnant right now! Ah well, it’s all worth it. And, we do manage to get what’s necessary done, don’t we? SOOO great to meet you at Mom’s Night Out, Maria! You’re so gorj! And, I just loved your energy. Hope you got to slow down and enjoy that evening at least. 🙂
Maria I am so rushed to get to bed tonight in order to have a day like yours tomorrow that all I can say is, “I feel your pain baby…and I wouldn’t have it any other way” Would you?
Thanks for contributing, Maria! It was great to meet you at Mom’s Night Out!! Hope you had fun.
Guess what?… it will be a while before the “Rush” stops! My kids are now teens and I’m still rushing. Having stayed home with them during their childhood… going back to work when they were in grades 6 and 4….and eventually deciding the corporate world wasn’t for me anymore…..becoming an entrepreneur….quitting my job/trying to survive in business….and still catering to my family has me spinning! I get workouts in at 6am or 8:30 pm (yoga). As I lie on the mat desperately trying to meditate…my mind is working on tomorrow’s menu, what groceries I need, is the laundry done, what do the kids need for school and any errands that need to be done. A bath is a great idea! in fact I do this almost every night! I’ve discovered Aromatherapy…the real thing and it has worked wonders in helping me to keep my cool. Aromatherapy has an immediate affect on the mind and you can use it when you are rushing around for strength, and to keep you calm. Some oils also help to balance hormones…and it’s all healthy for you, not to mention your home will smell like you’ve walked into a spa! Nights out with the gals will also help a great deal. Just save some energy/time for yourself and remember that everything you are doing is a step in building a solid foundation for your family, and you will reap all the rewards that goes along with your hard work and RUSH-ing.
Oh Man you sound like me!
Ok granted I have been a SAHM since ’99. I had a gym membership, where I couldn’t get into the babysitting unless I called at 9am 24 hours in advance or they would be booked full for the one Yoga class that I could get into so I could pickup one son at school.
Oh hun I so understand your life!
I have recently started working Parttime doing marketing. Yes this is on top of me running a HBB.
Just remeber to take time out for you, Flylady recomends a bath for 30 minutes every night. I take it as a 30 min. to read, or paint my nails, etc. For you it is time at the gym.
I have lots of ideas on how to simplify things to make your week easier, although many of them are in theory for me 😉 Even ordering groceries online might help with the time crunch.
Hang in there mommyhood is a wild ride!
Tara