Compartmentalizing

As I would imagine is the case with any mother, especially those working mothers, it is an absolute necessity for me to compartmentalize.  On paper, I do not have a job that you would think would be particularly stressful.  However, the environment that is created here is extremely stressful for me.  Very seldom does a day go by that I don't leave my building to head to the daycare to get my kiddos very stressed out and still thinking (and worrying) about my work day.

While it can be irritating sometimes, I have about a 10 minute walk to my car in the afternoon that really helps to de-stress after a long day.  Honestly, most days (except in this bitter cold) I wish it was longer.  I listen to music or podcasts and it helps to leave all the work stuff behind and think about my home life.  Lately though, I've been having a really hard time letting it all go and 'leaving it all behind'.

Never, ever, (ever, ever, ever) do I want to be a mother that is stressed out at home and let it affect my kids.  I never want to be short with them because I'm thinking about something that happened earlier in the day that they didn't even have anything to do with.  It's a constant struggle.  I'd love to know if this is something that most mothers deal with or if it's the environment that I work in that leaves me feeling this way.  And if it is.... is it worth it?

Slow .... and steady?

Well, I'll say it.  I grossly underestimated the time it would take to paint/update/refurbish our entire new house.  Pair that with two little dudes who turn into hyenas (cute ones though) whenever a parent steps their way into a remodeling space that they can't enter.  You know, because of the dry wall dust, the sharp tools, and the paint strewn about that zone.  I know, I'm such a mean mother for not letting them play with those things.

Never did I imagine that this home remodel would all lead to intense conversations with my husband late at night about whether the downstairs bathroom ceiling was smooth enough to paint or the brand of deglosser to use on the vanity cabinet.  This is what my fantasy had imagined: my boys play together nicely in the basement for 30 minutes while Josh quickly scrapes the ceiling down.  I toss a coat of paint on the walls and ta-da! room done in a weekend.  Yeah.... that's not how it works.

We have so many plans, not enough money in our remodeling fund, and not enough time in the world to do it all.  It's all moving along at a snail's pace with our lack of time and lack of late night motivation in the winter.

At this rate... we will be done with the house just in time to sell it.  Ick.