Full-Time Homemaker

First of all, let me say that I had a job interview on Monday.  It is an 80% position, which would be really good for me.   I have a second interview on Monday, Sept. 19.  And I am collecting unemployment and spending quite a bit of time looking for a job.  I have training on Sept. 20 with DCSD for Substitute Training and hope to work a few days a week as a sub once I’m approved.  Unless, I get a job before then.

So, being a Full-Time Homemaker is a temporary position.  I’ve tried to make my time as Homemaker as productive as possible.  As I am writing this blog, I have 2 loads of laundry to fold, the dishwasher to empty and some garbage to go out.  My desk is still unorganized and needs to be done.  But that is it.  Everything else is clean (well, the boys’ room needs to be picked up a bit, but that isn’t my job, it is theirs).  I cleaned 2 bathrooms, the carpet, vacuumed, gathered the garbage, started the dishwasher and the laundry.  In addition to that, today I went to vehicle emissions testing, bought produce at Sprouts, picked Chris up from the car repair shop, visited with a neighbor, did pick-up carpool for Michael and his friend.  I will need to make dinner and fold laundry tonight.  But that is it.  The amazing thing to me, is that it didn’t take all day.

My mom was a mostly stay-at-home mom when I was growing up.  I love my mom.  She is my best friend and I can’t imagine not talking with her every couple of days.  She is my biggest cheerleader and my most vocal critic.  But she is a lousy housekeeper.  When I was growing up, the laundry was never completely finished, the house was dusty (it was never really dirty) and cluttered.  She cleaned for several days in a frantic frenzy before my grandmother would come to visit, but beyond that, she didn’t clean regularly.

My mom is an alright cook.  She had a couple of dishes she made very well,  but she didn’t cook a variety of foods.  Mostly we ate meat and potatoes (or pasta) when my dad was in town and honestly, I can’t remember what we ate when he was out of town.

When my brother and I were younger, Mom volunteered at our school and I know that took a lot of her time.  But my brother and I were never sure what Mom did all day.  We knew she didn’t clean, so what did she do?  Mom watched a lot of PBS and Jeopardy.  But it wasn’t like it is today – she had to watch her shows when they were on and they were usually only on once a day.  She also read a lot.  But I really can’t imagine how she spent her days.

I’m getting to the point where our place is clean and it doesn’t take me very long to pick up.  I do a bit of heavier cleaning every couple of days, but again, it doesn’t take very long because things never get very dirty.  The laundry and dishes are never ending, so I don’t ever expect to be done with them.  But I try not to let a day go by where I haven’t done a load of laundry and the dishes.

So, housework takes me no more than 1 hour every day.  Some days a little more and some days a little less.  Writing my blog takes maybe another hour a day.  My taxi service takes about 15-45 minutes depending on the day and what is going on.  Cooking probably takes another 45 minutes.  Shopping, probably 2 1/2 hours (produce from Sprouts and the grocery shopping and almost every week there is a trip to the pharmacy) a week (not an every day chore).  So, what do I do to fill the rest of the hours of the day?

If I was not a temporary homemaker, I would volunteer at the school.  But I don’t really want to commit to volunteering when I know that at the very least I’ll be subbing in the next couple of weeks.  So, that is out.

I’ve organized all my scrapbooking stuff and the pantry.  The linen closet is organized.  I’ve cleaned out all the cabinets in the kitchen and all of my drawers.  The boys’ room and closet have been purged of all things they don’t use anymore.  My desk is still waiting to be organized, and I’m procrastinating, but I will get to it.  That leaves the storage areas.  And, while I know that I can organize things a bit at a time, they are somewhat overwhelming.  They will get done if I am at home much longer.

Some days I surf the net.  Some days I spend hours reading.  And some days I scrapbook.  I’ve caught up on the little TV that I watch alone (many shows we watch as a family or Chris and I watch together).  And I’m not much of a TV watcher.  I suppose that I should watch the news, but I generally don’t do that.

Last week it was still in the 90’s here, so while I thought about walking Sugar, it was just too hot to do during the day (and that is when I have time).  Hopefully, I’ll be able to get into a routine with walking her.  I am very much into my routines.  I also know that as soon as I get into a very comfortable routine being at home, I will be adding subbing or I will find a job.  I guess that is ok.

But I am wondering, I know a number of people who don’t work and don’t have kids at home, what do you do all day?  If you have a little one at home, I know what you do because they can be all-consuming.  But what about when all your kids are school-aged?