I'm taking the first 3 weeks of September off from my electrolysis job (except the 12th, where I'll be playing catch up for the desperate). I started working from home before Eva was born and I haven't taken much time off since. Even when the babies were born, I was back in the saddle - or white esthetician chair - within a couple weeks. Looking back, I don't think I'd do that again.
It feels so liberating to go about my business at home without worrying about whether or not I'll have all my housework done by 6 pm. Supper dishes not cleaned up? No worries, we can sit at the table and chat a bit. Didn't get my hair done right this morning? 'Tsokay, and may as well keep the comfy clothes on. Graedy throwing a fit on the floor of the waiting area? No clients looking slightly embarrassed and uncomfortable.
It feels a little strange, too. I'm so used to rushing and trying to see my home through a stranger's eyes. It will take some getting used to being so laissez-faire.
I could definetly get used to this.
My mom asked me this morning if I was enjoying my children. No one ever asked me that before. I thought about it, and I've realized that yes, I am. Still, because I work from home, I spend a lot of my time getting ready for receiving my clients. I'd much rather be reading a book with the kids or colouring. Every so often they hit a milestone and I realize that months, years have gone by without my taking particular notice of the individual days. I've been trying very hard lately to make more time for them, not to worry about reaching some status quo in my activities, lifestyle or home.
I know so many mothers who participate in every activity they can with their children. I admire their energy, courage and scheduling abilities. It's not for me, though. There was a time when I tried to cram in Library StoryTime, Cubbies, Gymnastics, Play Group, Play Dates, Moms Night Out, Volunteering, Women's Bible Study and frankly, IT DROVE ME NUTS!! Any of those things are wonderful, but all of them are a sure and certain path toward my mental breakdown.
So, we pick and choose. I believe in volunteering, and so that stays. The kids love Cubbies, so that stays. The occasional play date, one activity per child at a time and as many cuddles, under cover story telling, and impromptu nature walks as we can fit in. It's not fancy, but it's how we love each other.
Showing posts with label electrolysis. Show all posts
Showing posts with label electrolysis. Show all posts
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Weekend Madness
The weekend was busy with a capital B. First up was our homeschool group's Culture Fair on Friday night. Each kid chose a culture or time in history and made a presentation on the subject. We learned about the Holocaust, Ireland, England, cowboys, Nigeria and New Zealand. The great thing about our group is that the kids are all different ages. There were kindergartners, all the way to middle school. It was fun!
Saturday was the annual Women's Fair. I had a booth again this year. It's my biggest advertising of the year, but it's hard to say how successful it was. Attendance was down because of the weather (gorgeous!). In a few months, I'll be able to judge whether or not I have a new set of clients from the fair. The fair is a long day. It starts at 9 am, and goes until 5 pm. I work alone, and so most of the day is spent standing around, chatting with people as the pass by and trying to look interesting.
The evening was spent with Rich, who took me out for my birthday. Yay! I can't believe I'm 27...that's very close to 30. Eep.
The problem with our town is that there really isn't much to do for fun. Our dates are pretty predictable - we go out to eat, drive around trying to figure out what to do next, then go shopping at Walmart. Call me picky, but I just didn't want to do that on my birthday. We ended up visiting with some friends we hadn't seen in months. She'd just made brownies, so double score!
Sunday - Mother's Day! I got spoiled with bacon and eggs breakfast, annuals to plant in my garden and lots of hugs and kisses. We spent the entire day visiting our moms, and came home exhausted and ready for bed!
Next weekend, we're doing nothing. And that's cool, too.
Saturday was the annual Women's Fair. I had a booth again this year. It's my biggest advertising of the year, but it's hard to say how successful it was. Attendance was down because of the weather (gorgeous!). In a few months, I'll be able to judge whether or not I have a new set of clients from the fair. The fair is a long day. It starts at 9 am, and goes until 5 pm. I work alone, and so most of the day is spent standing around, chatting with people as the pass by and trying to look interesting.
The evening was spent with Rich, who took me out for my birthday. Yay! I can't believe I'm 27...that's very close to 30. Eep.
The problem with our town is that there really isn't much to do for fun. Our dates are pretty predictable - we go out to eat, drive around trying to figure out what to do next, then go shopping at Walmart. Call me picky, but I just didn't want to do that on my birthday. We ended up visiting with some friends we hadn't seen in months. She'd just made brownies, so double score!
Sunday - Mother's Day! I got spoiled with bacon and eggs breakfast, annuals to plant in my garden and lots of hugs and kisses. We spent the entire day visiting our moms, and came home exhausted and ready for bed!
Next weekend, we're doing nothing. And that's cool, too.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Tax Time
Yep, it's that time of year again. Tax time. For weeks, I've been scrounging under car floor mats, chasing dust bunnies from under the printer and shooing the moths from my wallet in the quest for any extra receipts I can claim toward Noble Electrolysis. I've filled out my spreadsheets, I've organized and filed, and I've raced to the mailbox everyday in hopes of my long-awaited T3s, T4s, Twhatevers. And today, I made my annual trek to THAT PLACE. H&R Block.
In the waiting room, all they had to read was Maclean magazine, and the TV set was on CNN (no remote in view). Not only must you wait an eternity, you also evidently must learn about politics and finances while you are there, and make idle chit-chat with strangers who are asking themselves the same questions as you...just how much are we being screwed for this year? Or, hmmm, since I didn't make enough money to pay my bills on time this year, maybe I can escape bankruptcy with my tax return!
So, finally, my name is called and I trudge into the office. I do my best to look innocent and somewhat financially responsible. My hands tremble, my eye twitches, and I can't wipe the stupid grin off my face. I might sweat a bit. I sit on the edge of my seat trying to decide whether I should look casual or concerned. I am an uptight business owner, and I go out of my way to be entirely on the up and up. No receipt for this expense? Too bad, can't write it off. Got paid? Sorry, no under the table. And, yet, I can't help but wonder - what if there's a rule I didn't know about? What if I made an innocent mistake and they catch it and sue me for tax evasion? Oh my gosh, what was that amount for??? Am I going to jail???
And that's why I pay way too much to get it done by professionals.
In the waiting room, all they had to read was Maclean magazine, and the TV set was on CNN (no remote in view). Not only must you wait an eternity, you also evidently must learn about politics and finances while you are there, and make idle chit-chat with strangers who are asking themselves the same questions as you...just how much are we being screwed for this year? Or, hmmm, since I didn't make enough money to pay my bills on time this year, maybe I can escape bankruptcy with my tax return!
So, finally, my name is called and I trudge into the office. I do my best to look innocent and somewhat financially responsible. My hands tremble, my eye twitches, and I can't wipe the stupid grin off my face. I might sweat a bit. I sit on the edge of my seat trying to decide whether I should look casual or concerned. I am an uptight business owner, and I go out of my way to be entirely on the up and up. No receipt for this expense? Too bad, can't write it off. Got paid? Sorry, no under the table. And, yet, I can't help but wonder - what if there's a rule I didn't know about? What if I made an innocent mistake and they catch it and sue me for tax evasion? Oh my gosh, what was that amount for??? Am I going to jail???
And that's why I pay way too much to get it done by professionals.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
End of the Rope
I grew up as a PK - Preacher's Kid. My dad, who is now on hiatus, is an awesome pastor. People understand him, they "get" his sermons, and in his quiet, non-assuming way, he "gets" them, too. However, I think that deep down, my dad is first and foremost a farmer. He's farmed all his life, and he's good at that, too!
When we were growing up, we'd have various animals in the barn, outside, in the house - it was wild sometimes. We had a goat for a while which we kept tied to a post on our lawn. It would munch on the grass, shearing a golf green of sorts. It had a nasty temper though, and it was easily provoked. We'd stand just out of reach of it's rope and egg it on until it would drop it's head and run at full tilt to butt us across the yard. Silly goat - it never realized that we were standing only a couple feet beyond it's reach. It would run at full speed, until the rope snapped taut and the poor beast's body would slingshot toward the outside of the circle while the rope kept it's head and neck inside the circle. It was great fun, until one day, the post got loose without our realizing it....good times.
Anyway, the reason I'm posting this story is because it reminded me of our Philippines journey. When Newlife first became an option for us, I felt like God just threw me a whole pile of rope and I just ran with it. Then - snap - I reached the end of the leash, and God reeled me back in to the post. Slowly, slowly, I feel like He's been feeding me the rope an inch at a time, sometimes taking back a couple, but doing it slow and steady rather than at breakneck speed like last time. It's hard to know if I'll end up at the edge of the circle, or maybe just in the middle, but I am going somewhere. Somewhere.
Here are a few examples -
*I've been reading more birth stuff, with a renewed zest.
**I struck up a conversation with one of the moms at Preschool and turns out she's Filipina! She's given me advice, caution and has offered to get in touch with some missionaries she knows in the Philippines.
***Rich and I have decided that if someone offers to buy the house, it will be our sign. Obviously, not our only sign, and not the make or break of it all, but it would be like a smack on the back of the head to get our butts in gear. No one has offered, but, again, out of the blue, we met up with a couple who mentionned that they had put an offer on it before us...and, also out of the blue, a client of mine has expressed interest in pursueing a career in electrolysis - perhaps buying me out. Not that I don't like my job, but I've been hemming and hawing on whether to continue with it.
It's a hmmmm kind of day.
NOTE - For those who read the last post - I am feeling MUCH better! I'm all healed up, although still tired and a bit dazed. God is good - and He does work in mysterious ways. I think the Mastitis was just a way for Him to tell me to shape up and start taking better care of myself. More sleep, more water, better food. He's only given me one body - I better get the best use out of it as I can.
When we were growing up, we'd have various animals in the barn, outside, in the house - it was wild sometimes. We had a goat for a while which we kept tied to a post on our lawn. It would munch on the grass, shearing a golf green of sorts. It had a nasty temper though, and it was easily provoked. We'd stand just out of reach of it's rope and egg it on until it would drop it's head and run at full tilt to butt us across the yard. Silly goat - it never realized that we were standing only a couple feet beyond it's reach. It would run at full speed, until the rope snapped taut and the poor beast's body would slingshot toward the outside of the circle while the rope kept it's head and neck inside the circle. It was great fun, until one day, the post got loose without our realizing it....good times.
Anyway, the reason I'm posting this story is because it reminded me of our Philippines journey. When Newlife first became an option for us, I felt like God just threw me a whole pile of rope and I just ran with it. Then - snap - I reached the end of the leash, and God reeled me back in to the post. Slowly, slowly, I feel like He's been feeding me the rope an inch at a time, sometimes taking back a couple, but doing it slow and steady rather than at breakneck speed like last time. It's hard to know if I'll end up at the edge of the circle, or maybe just in the middle, but I am going somewhere. Somewhere.
Here are a few examples -
*I've been reading more birth stuff, with a renewed zest.
**I struck up a conversation with one of the moms at Preschool and turns out she's Filipina! She's given me advice, caution and has offered to get in touch with some missionaries she knows in the Philippines.
***Rich and I have decided that if someone offers to buy the house, it will be our sign. Obviously, not our only sign, and not the make or break of it all, but it would be like a smack on the back of the head to get our butts in gear. No one has offered, but, again, out of the blue, we met up with a couple who mentionned that they had put an offer on it before us...and, also out of the blue, a client of mine has expressed interest in pursueing a career in electrolysis - perhaps buying me out. Not that I don't like my job, but I've been hemming and hawing on whether to continue with it.
It's a hmmmm kind of day.
NOTE - For those who read the last post - I am feeling MUCH better! I'm all healed up, although still tired and a bit dazed. God is good - and He does work in mysterious ways. I think the Mastitis was just a way for Him to tell me to shape up and start taking better care of myself. More sleep, more water, better food. He's only given me one body - I better get the best use out of it as I can.
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