This morning I sat to read cnn.com and saw the link on how to reclaim your weeknights. The story recaps how three women manage to get all the evenings activities done, dinner on the table, and still have time for themselves. Problem is that two of them work part-time and one is a full-time mom.
Someone still needs to write the article or book for moms who work full-time (and then some) with less than helpful spouses and sports-minded kids who are involved in lots of activities. This needs to be written for those of us who aren't comfortable flinging their kids out into the world to manage on their own while mom sits back and watches her favorite TV show.
I'd write the article but I haven't figured it out yet. I was doing great to crunch my schedule up more so that I can take golf lessons with the boy. If I did write it, it would have a whole helluva lot to do with taking cattle prods to men who think their day is done when they hit the door in the evening...
Comments (4)
I thought the same thing when I read the article on reclaiming weeknights. How does a single mother with two children under the age of ten pull it off? Sorry, but I can only leave them in the bathtub by themselves for a few minutes, so sometimes dinner just has to wait until that chore is finished. I work fulltime, so staying up after the kids are in bed is actually punishment, not reward. My alarm clock will ring at 5:15 a.m. and if I'm still up at 11:30 "catching up with girlfriends", I'll pay for it the next day. I'd love to see an article on claiming some time for myself written from my perspective, but I haven't figured it out yet, either.
Posted by Cheryl | August 7, 2007 9:40 AM
Posted on August 7, 2007 09:40
Tell 'em, Lisa! You know, it's funny: I didn't hear any of these moms mentioning doing 6 loads of wash twice a week, grocery shopping, writing bills, fighting with the health insurance company over covering doctor services, waiting for kids to get done the excessive homework til 11 at night, taking kids (and sometimes husbands) to doctors, picking up the car from the repair shop again, checking on elderly parents, ironing, sewing, running various necessary errands, cleaning of any type, etc. Do you get my drift? What world do these women live in? I worked part time when my kids were younger, then full time: I just stack my favorite books up on the end table, hoping some day to get a chance to read them. Let's hear about the evenings of real women!
Posted by Madelyn J. | August 7, 2007 10:05 AM
Posted on August 7, 2007 10:05
I completely agree! I read this "article" and said, "What?" As a mom that works full time and has a hefty commute, I was expecting more from the article when I saw the title. Luckily I have a helpful husband or I would be in real trouble. How about some REAL advice and tips on how to make dinner, give a bath, put the kid (or kids) to bed, straighten the house AND have some time to relax in the whopping 3-4 hours I have after getting home in the evening.
So, when I saw your blog I just had to chime in.
Also, I couldn't believe that the "advice" included eating dinner at a different time than your kids. Maybe I am old fashioned, but a family meal is important!
I have nothing but respect for stay at home moms, but having tried both full time work and part time work, it is MUCH easier to keep your life in order when you have those few extra non-working hours to meal plan and clean.
Posted by Charlotte | August 7, 2007 10:16 AM
Posted on August 7, 2007 10:16
As I was read through the article "how to reclaim your weeknights" I kept waiting for the one from the mother that works 40+ hours a week. The majority of working mothers work 40 or more hours plus drive time. I totally agree with the last blog - still waiting for the article on real working mom's and ones that have kids that are pre-teens and teens. Try getting them to sit down and eat together for dinner and seem to have a later bedtime than I do and a husband that doesn't seem to want to get off the golf course in order to help out.
This article was definitely geared towards women that don't work full-time and have younger kids. I would love to read one about mothers on the other end of the spectrum.
Posted by Christy | August 7, 2007 10:53 AM
Posted on August 7, 2007 10:53