Saturday, September 13, 2014

Let the Reading (for Mami) Begin!

I feel like I have this conversation everytime I meet someone new, from work particularly:

Them - "So, tell me about yourself."

Me - "I've been with the company about a year, I love it for these reasons, I've been successful thus far and am really excited about my future here."

Them - "Do you have a family; what do you do in your spare time."

Me - "I have a five year old (speaks obnoxiously and at length about how cool this little kid is and the excitement of super heroes).  I have this blog I write in (totally overstating how often I post), I try to work out often (again, overstatement)."  ...and change the subject ASAP.

I know that at some point I was more interesting, did more with myself.  The reality is that I, like most of my contemporaries (working mothers), don't really feel like I have spare time.  The real answer to what I do with my time would sound more like - "When I'm not working, I'm often thinking about work and all of the opportunity I currently have that requires more time to fullfill.  I do my best to spend some QT with my little guy.  And I spend lots of time cooking, cleaning, laundering, logging in to pay our bills and update our budget, and generally trying to ensure my household doesn't fall into dissaray between work travel trips.  I try really hard to, and often fall short of, keeping in touch with a small group of close friends and family who I hope know I love them and am just overcome by "busy-ness."  I am usually ready to go to bed by 9 PM but push through to 10 or 11 PM so my husband and I can get some grown folk time...that's about it."

I am definitely not complaining; I rather enjoy this quiet life of routine.  There's a lot of love and smiles and periodic celebrations.  But even writing this I can recognize the importance of having a bit more just for me.  SO when I was invited last month to join a book club, I excitedly accepted!  This would be perfect - new relationships and connections, time for just me and a monthly accountability to reading a non-work-related book.  This will be great!

Here I am on the eve of our first meeting and I still have some reading to do!  It will get done tonight!  I have something like first day of school jitters, am overthinking what I should make and bring, and am looking forward to having more to say when someone asks what I do with my free time.

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