It's Just Really Hard

The title says it all...this whole working full-time, working two part-time jobs, raising an energetic, intelligent, and challenging little boy, attempting to take care of a house constantly under construction, doing laundry, planning/shopping for/preparing meals, and trying to have a life is really hard.  It sounds whiny, doesn't it?  I feel like a child stamping her foot out of an immature frustration.  Of course, I'm not surprised that it's hard-I'm just surprised by how incredibly hard it is. 

I guess I'm not a good time manager, but I'm finding that I just can't get the house clean or laundry folded or meals prepared each week.  One thing may get done, but not all that needs to get done.  Not even close.  This past weekend, Saturday was a family day and date night.  We spent the amazingly clear and hot day picking pumpkins and navigating corn mazes and slinging apples into a lake.  Saturday night, Builder Boy headed to the grandparents while Remodel Man and I had a yummy dinner, a favorite place from our early married days, and went to hear an awesome band.  The day was lovely, it truly was, but it left me stressed and anxious.  I worked on Sunday so my weekend was done. Sigh. How to get anything done?

During the week, my time is even more constrained.  After picking Builder Boy up from school, we head home, changes clothes, and grab a snack.  Builder Boy usually watches a tv show and then we play or read.  Soon after that, it's time to make dinner, eat dinner, and clean up dinner.  That leaves at most an hour before the bedtime routine begins.  We've been having Wii bowling marathons and we try to master our Wii Jedi skills (okay, I just watch on this one!) so we can spend some family time together.  After Builder Boy is in bed, usually around 8:15 if we're lucky, it's time to make lunches, get the coffee ready for the next day, and set out clothes, bags, etc. for the upcoming school day.  At this point, I'm exhausted. I should go to bed, but there's work to be done.  I fall into bed between 11:00 and midnight.  It begins again the next day...I'm living Groundhog's Day!  Add to that the occasional shift at my part-time retail job and the daily checking of my on-line students. 

I just can't figure out how to fit in all that needs to be done.

And I won't lie...I heavily envy those who get to stay home.  I recognize how difficult it is and have profound respect for those who do it, but I'm so incredibly jealous.  Jealous that some days, she can get up, throw on her sweats and drive her child to school, only to go home and enjoy a cup of coffee, the daily newspaper, and a long, hot shower.  Me?  The alarm goes off at 4:49 AM (don't worry, I hit snooze a zillion and one times!), I take the world's fastest shower, usually only shaving what is absolutely necessary to shave, frantically racing around getting dressed and made up, grabbing the coffee, a protein bar, and heading out the door.  And it's really hard. 

On the positive side, though, financially we are finally making all of our bills.  We're still not paying anything down, but at least we're not falling farther behind.  I'm enjoying teaching this year more than I have in the past few years.  And I'm heading to a professional conference in Disney World (woohoo!!!) in a month paid for by my school.  These are all wonderful, positive things.

So if you are a full-time working outside the home mom (and I can't even begin to tell you how very much I have always hated having to differentiate between the SAHM and the WAHM!!), I'd love your tips on how you manage your time.  I'm not asking, I'm begging, because I'm drowning in it all right now. 

HELP!!!!!  :)

Comments

[Heidi]

I'm overwhelmed just reading this post! You have a lot on your plate. I think it's only natural to let some things go. Heck - I let some things go and I'm not working like you are!

[Porsche Nut]

You know I'm right there with you. For me I have to prioritize. Not what's most important because it's all important! But what can I let slide for a few days or a week. What's least important? It changes constantly so I can at least have an appearance of sort of keeping up. But it does make me feel like I'm always rushing around getting things done at the last minute. So maybe that's not good advice. I read about people who are able to have set schedules; I wonder what that's like? I hope your readers have some great ideas 'cause I need them, too!!!