Sweats versus Blouses

As the days go by since I left my job, I wonder how difficult it is going to be for me to get back in the swing of things.

For the past couple of weeks, I have become the queen of hoodies, jeans and sneakers. Not to mention, I have become very used to just pulling my hair back in a pony tail, no make-up and taking my kids to school. Don't get me wrong- I still get up just a hair after 6:00, just like before but I don't spend that time preparing myself for a long day at the office. I just throw on clothes (I wouldn't do that except fear of a flat tire) and go. I spend the time now, preparing pancakes for my youngest daughter (her favorite food) and allowing the teenagers to consume the bathrooms for the next hour and a half before we hit the road.

This leads me to my next thought- maybe they will be the real ones having a hard time adjusting- my family.

Right now, the kids are aware that Mom can just jump in the shower when I get back home, so they aren't very concerned with sharing. My husband used to feed the animals of the morning, before he left for work. That was our system- I took hold of getting the kids fed and off to school and he went out and fed the horses and dogs. Well, he now only worries with that on weekends.

Supper used to be his responsibility on Monday nights, the longest day of the week in the newspaper business. Needless to say, he no longer has to dread Monday nights. There are always clean towels, we never run out of toilet paper anymore and supper is on the table just before 6:00 every night, instead of possibly 7 or even 8 at night.

The house is also staying much tidier than it used to. It is still very difficult with 5 kids running around (who think the word chore is a form of punishment). I guess before too long, we will be stepping over bookbags and shoes once again.

Being at home definately has its ups but so does working. I miss seeing a lot of people I used to see almost daily. I miss feeling like I have done something other than clean all day. I miss the incredible feeling of seeing the finished product Wednesday mornings and knowing that I did all that, top to bottom. Sometimes I actually miss putting my make-up on first thing in the morning. And of course, I miss the extra income. It was fun to go out every now and then and get my hair highlighted or a manicure and not feel guilty about it because I knew that it wasn't going to kill us on the upcoming week's bills.

Oh well, I think that being the sole bathtub cleaner, clothes washer and school carpool driver entitles me to a mani-pedi every now and then- in fact- I might just go get a manicure tomorrow. ; )