We got trouble right here in River City...
I've decided that there needs to be a new description for what I do because "Stay At Home Mom" isn't cutting it. That expression has always rubbed me the wrong way. Something about it implies relaxation, like I'm calling in sick. ("Yeah, I think I'll just Stay At Home and Mother today!") Here I am, sticky and gross from the daily house clean (once your kid gets mobile, mopping seems less like a burden and more like an imperative), wearing maternity shorts and one of Matt's college tees ("you know the one. With the curry stain. Mrrrroooow!") and nursing a hardcore desire to kvetch, so bear with me, m'kay? I see mommies at the garden in their Toby Birch flats and flowy hippie dresses (ain't nothing peaceful about the price, I guarantee) and I wonder how they do it. It's not even about the fact that they look so good, although that's definitely a component - it's that they seem so TOGETHER. An acquaintance of mine somehow finds the time to market her hilarious 'zine, The East Village INKY, which she writes and illustrates, while simultaneously penning a monthly column in BUST Magazine, meeting the deadline on her FIFTH novel, arranging readings and book tours, acting in downtown theatrical productions, and raising two children under the age of 10 with her equally-talented husband (who co-wrote "Urinetown", one of my favorite musicals). JK Rowling wrote Harry Potter while her kid napped. I have one child, 2 cats, and a tiny apartment and I am ashamed to admit the lengths I go to to avoid the laundry. (I've been known to throw a burp cloth over the wet spots in Will's crib.) He's great at playing independently (good thing since I'm not getting any younger and adoption isn't getting any cheaper) but even when he wants to be left alone, I can't seem to focus on anything longer a blog entry. Most of you work outside of the home yet still manage to keep the house clean and the kid alive. How do you find time for a creative life? Or do you? And for those of you who don't work outside the home, what do you say when you're asked what you do? What do you call yourself?
Oops - I hear the impatient coughs of someone who would like to get out of his crib now, please. Time to make the donuts!
6 comments:
Let's see the first quote is from the Music Man. The second quote is "Business Time" Flight of the Conchords.
I will have to think about the rest of your questions and get back to you.
I didn't actually mean to include the Music Man quote in the contest, so for going above and beyond - 20 points to Missy!
I want to be that person on the fifth book and the zine etc... damn. Let's pretend that's me.
I don't sleep much. And, I outsource most of my cooking and cleaning. and thank GOD my husband does a lot of that shit.
I think you should call yourself Mistress of Excellency, and that means you do whatever the hell you want.
I WANT TO OUTSOURCE MY COOKING AND CLEANING! I'm going to put that on my Christmas list, along with a vacation to the Galapagos Islands and some whiter teeth?
And me too, Pursued. Me too.
I don't call myself a stay-at-home-mom. I am the Domestic Engineer!!
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