Tales of Motherhood

This post may strike a nerve with some, so I offend, please ignore. 

I ask myself often why women, mothers attack are so very opinionated towards the two sects.  The working, and the non working.  I have done both,  I have stayed home, I have worked, and I have just worked part time.  Right now I have a full time schedule.  

The question I am pondering today is why they attack each other.  I will prelude this by stating the fact that since I chose to go back to school, that when and if we have any more children I will be a working mom.  I made the choice to take out loans, it is not my husband's responsibility to pay them back.  

Instead of the focus being on who works and who does not should it not be about the real time you spend with your children.  I have a friend who stays home.  This person really does not spend much time with their child.  Their day is spent running from activity to store.  I have a friend who works, a lot.  When she gets home she wants time to herself.  I do not see how one is better than the other, yet inevitably they will make comment about each other.  

I guess my point is one day when my daughter is grown, she will not remember when I worked and when I did not, but the time that I invested in her.  The hours we have played dolls,  read stories under the covers, shared memories and hopes, and just enjoyed the company of each other.  

Whether you work or not enjoy your children....

You know that you are too old..

for college when you start thinking things like this. 

1. You want to scold the person in class behind you for talking while the professor is.  Not because it is bothering you, but because it is rude. 

2. That girl, with the lace finger tip gloves does not know that Madonna made them popular in the 1980's because she was not born yet. 

3. You feel the urge to yank the pants of the boy walking down the sidewalk in front of you because they rest around the bottom of his butt. 

4. You then wonder if he has to do anything when he uses the restroom because his pants are so low. 

5.  When you have to cover up the gray hair to camouflage how old you actually are. 

6. You don't care that you are not in style.  (Back in the day it was black "sorority girl pants" now it is Uggs. 

7. When your professor asks you for the third time when you are moving to Athens.

8. When you park in a parking garage and use escalators to avoid walking outside uphill both ways in the snow.

Okay, that is all I can think of for now.  

In other news the flu arrived this week like a brick wall.  Libby was sick, now Mike is.  I am hoping that I have been exposed to it so much that my tiredness and mild aches are going to be the worst of it for me.  

In the mean time I am going to enjoy the rest of the snow day, and suck up to my hubby, because I am a bad wife. 

Weight Watchers Update!

After nearly three weeks on WW I have lost seven pounds. Oddly, I feel heavier right now...

I am still struggling with getting any workout other than walking to classes into my life. I had one person say you just have to make the commitment to be away from your kids one more hour of the day. You know what, I am not willing. I am barely home as it is!

My goal within the next week is to cut out the junk food cravings, and to start getting up just a little bit earlier to work out.

Wish me luck :0)

Daily life...

Well, did I not tell you I was going to be busy?  

School is going.  Not good or bad, just a lot of work.  I enjoy the drive to Athens as it equates some alone time that I desperately need after being at work and Mike being at home for an unmentionable amount of months now.  I know he is thankful when we leave each morning too!

The thing is, in Athens, I am very old.   I have never been made to feel unworthy of my college education or less of a student because of my age until going down there.  I have one professor who makes it a practice of saying things like "when you grow up", "when you have a real job", "none of you have kids, do you...".  Although I know he does not know any better, it just rubs me the wrong way.  I will be thirty years old when I graduate.  So what, who cares, at least I went back.   To many people say they want to, but then never do.  I am proud that I have stuck with it.  

In other news I am pretty sure that I am going to run for city council for our ward.  If I decide to, this blog will become by invite only.  I consider this my journal, and I am flattered that many of you take the time to read.  You can email at g a r b r a n d t  at columbus. rr. com (without those spaces) I will send you an invite when and if the time comes.  

I want to run because A. I am tired of our current ward leadership.  He has been in for a while and you never hear much from him.  When Mike and I contacted him last spring it was his wife who called us back, and another councilman, a friend, who ending up helping us out.  And B. because to quote our almost president, it is time for change.  Lanc. is very old boys club,  I think a little youth may help!

We have been home for five days now.  Thursday, I had class, Friday I was sick, Saturday Mike's parents came down and we went to a birthday party, yesterday we went sledding, and today we went to see Hotel for Dogs, but it was sold out so we saw Bedtime Stories.  It has been fun, but I am ready to get back to the grind.  Only eight more weeks left of winter quarter!

Back to the grind...

Tomorrow life starts again.  I am going to miss break! 

My new schedule:

Monday: Teach 8:45-11:45

Drive to Athens 11:45-12:45

Sit in Comparative Politics 1:10-3:00

Sit in American Domestic Policy 3:10-5:00

Drive home 5:00-6:00

Collapse on couch....

Tuesday: Teach 8:45-11:45

Force myself to go to the gym 12ish

Pick Libby up from school 2:30

Sit in Geography of Ohio 3:10-5:00

I think Libby will have gymnastics at 7:00 on Tuesdays

Wednesday: Same as Monday

Thursday: Same as Tuesday, except I tutor from 5-6 after I am done with class. 

Friday: Enjoy sleeping in until Mike finds a job....

I am also taking one online class, so I will need to find time to do that too. 

I am thankful that the geography class was being offered here and I will have all of my Social Studies requirements less one elusive Latin America history class complete after this quarter.  Have I mentioned I only have five classes and student teaching left after winter quarter? Well I do! Can you here the elation in my typing?

My one complaint is that the Comparative politics class has a group project.  I realize I am not the norm attending an Athens class, but seriously, when I am going to find time to work with these kids who live down there.  Jeez....

I am also starting Weight Watchers, again, tomorrow.  I am sticking with it.  My workout on M/W will be walking my chunky rear end from whatever remote parking spot I find to the classroom on College Green.  T/TH I am going to make myself use the free gym at OUL, and and F/S/S I am going to try the couch to 5k program.  I need to loose this weight.  It is not about skinny, it's about healthy.  I may even post some pictures tomorrow and disclose my real weight to force myself to stick with it. 

I am going to enjoy my last full calorie sodas today.  Wish me luck!