I’m back at work full-time now, and it’s going okay. My workload has literally quadrupled: Last year I covered one country and this year it is four. That decision was made while I was out on leave. Ahem. I happen to be super efficient when I need to be, but lordy, it is just go go go in the office these days.
Meanwhile, by the time I get out of the house in the morning, I feel like I’ve already run a marathon. And at night, it’s a flurry, because A and I are both hungry when we get home and there are two kids now and only about an hour before Ella’s bath and bed routine begins and just a bit more till Gatito’s. For Gatito, we’ve got to fit in at least five minutes of viola practice and definitely some playtime. And after that, there’s all the usual stuff: lunches for myself and for Gatito on the days he stays at school all day. General cleaning and I don’t know what-all.
Then there’s the whole moving thing, and I can’t claim that’s taking up any time because we haven’t done much about it, but it sure is taking up a lot of mental energy.
And then! Then I had to go and get a really good idea for a product. And I had it made custom for myself and then my sister suggested I sell it and next thing I know, I’m a full-time working mom with an infant and a preschooler who is trying to start a business on the side. I must be out of my mind.
And lest you think I’m a workaholic, let me assure you: I am one of the laziest people on the planet. I’d like nothing more than to sit around and sleep and read and watch TV. Maybe even blog.
But the fantasy is, if this works, I could potentially quit my job (not for at least two years, best case scenario), run my own small business in 20 hours/week, and be around for the kids after school as they grow up.
My new year’s resolution is to do my phototherapy and moisturize regularly to keep my psoriasis at bay and my skin comfortable, but sometimes it is just too damned much to stand naked in my (cold) closet in front of the light panel for thirteen minutes and I just collapse into bed.
So that’s what I’ve been up to, and what I will be up to, and I hope you will pardon my potentially long absences and maybe even support my business if/when it launches in the Fall.
But before I go, I wanted to ask you: Gatito thinks Ella is, basically, grody to the max. He likes her and he’ll talk to her and make funny faces and I don’t even see nearly as much jealousy as I would expect, but he seems to feel about touching her the way my dad feels about touching the cat, which is about how I would feel about touching a rat. Have you heard of such a thing before? Would you do anything other than ignore it and wait for it to pass? What will happen if he’s not over it by the time she gets mobile and can touch him?
Sounds like you’re taking it all in stride. It’s stressful and busy, but keep your eyes on the prize that it won’t always be so hard.
I guess I missed the moving thing.
I’m so excited for your business idea! I hope it’s a bell-ringer. Go, Cat!
I think Julia at hippogriffs had the same deal with Patrick and the twins, but it wore off when the twins got interesting.
So glad to see your update. Glad you’re well and happy.
You know, I think i too think it will pass for Gatito. And it’s preferable to the alternatives, one of which is swatting at the little one. Not that gatito would ever be mean,but “light touch” isn’t always easy to ingrain.
Frankly, objectively, ella pees and poops and barfs and drools, which is all very cute to us adults (or not) but I can see, logically, why she may seem like a ticking timebomb of fluids for a kid who seems reasonably anti-mess…. just a thought.
Yeah, I’d say count yourself lucky he’s not hitting her.
I think babies can be kind of mysterious to little kids. Even if they seem to understand, I bet it takes them a long time to figure out what that little creature’s capabilities are.
Dying to know what your secret product is!
be glad he does not touch her – trust me once they start fighting and picking at each other and grabbing each others toys and wacking each other you will wish he still did not want to touch her. it is exausting!
How exciting! an actual idea for a product!
Sounds like a good kind of busy.
That’s how my 13 year old felt about Egg. It’s getting better now that Egg rarely spits up, but for a while there it was upsetting for me. I think it will pass, once Ella isn’t so “grody”