Embracing Life

Last week, a co-worker leaned across the table and whispered loudly, "You look tired!" The other people at the table turned to me and stared, their gazes scrutinizing me,  causing me to stammer something about how I am running a fundraiser for the kids' school. She responded with a comment on how I work full time and have three kids, so why am I volunteering? Ummmmmmmm........"because that's what moms do" didn't really seem like the right response. Neither did "well no one else stepped up", although those both are the reasons. The real response I should have given to "you look tired" is not completely professional or work appropriate. Yelling loudly, "Well of course I do! I'm trying to balance 20 million things at once, and I'm overloaded! I don't sleep well since I can't shut my brain off at 10 p.m. when the to-do list didn't get done, and I feel like crap because of some health issues I have! Not t...

It was a crazy summer with my new duties at work as well as other things (like just sitting back and enjoying life), so I do admit that I have not blogged as much.  This week I am participating in the SITS girls "Back to Blogging" challenge. Today's topic: " Share with us some of your autumn traditions, or create a Fall Bucket List" You know me, I'm all about the lists ! So here are just a few things I'd like to do this fall: Pumpkin farm - Every year, we head to the same one. The kids LOVE it. There is a corn maze, apple cider donuts, and a spooky walking trail.  Speaking of apples.... I just found a new recipe for Apple-Bacon Mac and Cheese thanks to the Better Home and Gardens 100 Days of Holidays email I received. Boo at the Zoo! We love to check out the spooky happenings at our zoo. Paddleboat - This year, we are going to take a paddleboat down the Fox River and check out the scenery.  With the leaves beginning their annual color c...

I hear my kids misbehave after school. I wouldn't know, as I work full-time. And it's not because I want to (although I do enjoy helping students). I work to pay the bills and carry the insurance.   I miss the moments of picking the kids up from school and finding out about their day. Instead, I walk in the door at 5:10 p.m. to chaos with the kids running around and the husband telling me that supper is ready. We hurry to sit down; there is still so much left to do before bed. It's hard to keep the lives of five people straight. I feel my brain is on overload: the never-ending to do list, the volunteer "jobs" I'm involved with, the constant demand on my time....at work, the door is constantly being opened by people who need my assistance; at home, it's always "mommy, mommy, MOMMY!"; the emails - did you do this? finish that? can you update this?  I'm spent I tell you.   This working mother thing is hard. Will I som...