My working life began part-time. I was 15, Friday nights and Saturday mornings were spent serving donuts, chips and hotdogs at the local shopping centre.
After completing high school I stumbled into a fun job as a barmaid, working into the wee hours of the morning Thursday through Sunday.
The weekend working routine continued well into my career. In fact until my children arrived I had always worked regular weekends.
To this day I draw upon memories of weekend parties and sporting events missed and dinners left early to prepare for work in the morning.
There is a bliss for me now knowing weekends are with my family. Precious days home, not taken for granted. The gift from 20 years of consistent weekend work.
Once I became MUUUMMMMYYYY my work hours in, and outside the home changed.
I discovered new blocks of time when I am off the grid. No TV, no chatting on the phone, no painting toe nails. Intense little windows requiring my full attention.
You may fondly know these time blocks as witching hour or for me crazy hour. Those hours from 5pm to 7.30pm, when the energy levels rise, the demands increase and this Mummy is ON DUTY. Cooking, bathing, reading, packing bags for the next day, tidying, cleaning, all while kids are tired, hungry and prone to tantrums.
The tick tock of the clock looming boldly, adding pressure to have children in bed, clean, fed and ready for rest, ON TIME!
Mmmm how could I ever long for this routine.
I do, oh yes I do.
Our family schedule has changed recently, Miss 9 is getting older and swims until after 7pm two nights each week and then has netball on a third night.
That is 3 nights when the routine is wacky, we all eat at different times. Hubby and I split up, one of us home preparing the little guy for bed while the other perches beside the pool waiting for the laps to cease.
I have rapidly gained a new appreciation for those few nights when we are all home together, eating, bathing and reading stories.
I find bliss in the nights when at 5pm I am On DUTY in my home surrounded by those who love and need me.
In recovering something we momentarily lost we often discover unforeseen bliss.
This is Day 23 in my series of 31 Days of Captured Bliss
Gosh, all those years working at the shopping centre! You in one shop, me in another. Waving to each other as one of us journeyed up the escalator for a toilet break. Those were the days!
Netti fun times I look back with great fondness.
This post shone new light on my current experience. Previously it was me dashing everywhere. Soccer practices x 2 at the same time, different locations etc. Just lovely.
Now it is my daughter who has had to miss things because of work. She’s a swim coach and had to go to work right after being up all night for grad. Work insisted she come in for that early Saturday AM shift. All of her pals were going out for breakfast. Ah well – character builders I say. Character builders.
Kelly what a fantastic perspective to offer. How life changes and how exciting that it does.