Last week was my first whole week at home in a little while, following a stint of work – but, and I’ve always said this, getting back to one’s housewifely/motherly duties is when the hard work really starts.
I had so many plans for the week. BIG plans.
Top of the to-do list was sorting out our clothes – not just mine, which are now so crammed into the wardrobe I can’t even see what’s there, but also the boys’ clothes. Their baby clothes (they’re 3 and 6 now) were to be given away, their shoes tried on and organised and their t-shirts filed in size order.
The guest-room vision: No Disney characters in sight
I was going to go jogging every other day, and cook several low-carb, low-fat dishes – stashing extra portions in the freezer. I saw myself making vegetable soup with the radio on in the kitchen and eating it for lunch, with a brown roll, every day. I was sure I’d lose at least 2lb and feel great.
I was going to reply to emails dating back to 2010, get passport photos taken of LB and start writing an article for a friend who’s doing a jolly good job raising awareness of coeliac disease in the UAE.
Oh, the optimism.
What I’d forgotten was that DH was home for 4 days last week, the school day is over in a blink and the kids are always so ecstatic I’m not working, they won’t let me out of their sight. Needless to say, our clothes are still clogging up the wardrobes, the article didn’t get written, I’m still a hopeless pen-pal and I didn’t even buy the paint.
So what did I achieve?
● I hung out with the boys and marvelled as BB miraculously started to read [proud moment – he can be challenging]
● Ate chips and a giant pastry-rich vol au vent at the Belgium Beer Cafe on a date night with DH
● Drank tea with friends in Costa Coffee and Starbucks
● Went down the road to Silicon Oasis to catch up with friends I haven’t seen for a year
● Enjoyed seeing my in-laws who surprised us with a visit from Beirut, where heavy rain had stalled work on the house they’re building
● Had my hair chemically straightened
● Power-walked round the block, once
Wonderfully sociable, even if nothing got ticked off the list.
There’s always this week, though DH has just got back, it’s LB’s half-term and, snow-permitting, we’ve got more visitors arriving on Tuesday for a week-long sleepover with Winnie the Pooh.
INSPIRATION: Dubai’s Desperate Housewife; PHOTO CREDIT: New Bedroom Designs
I like this. I’m a working mom and this is how my weekends are. I start off with all of the things I would like to get done. On Sunday night very little on the list is checked off, but I have had a ton of fun with my two kids!
Thank you for stopping by and commenting! Yes, so many things to do, but having fun with the kiddos is the priority! I’ll be popping over to your blog asap…