Wednesday, February 27, 2008

They're Ba-ack... And Other Stuff

The kids have officially returned from their uber-vacation in Vermont. They were well spoiled, terribly indulged, over stimulated, and generally exhausted. G wept the entire ride home, wailing that he missed grandma, and his cousins, and begged to move back to Vermont. I'd be lying if I said it didn't make GH and I a little sad.

Fortunately, the kids seem to have slid seamlessly back into school. G has had a few mini-meltdowns, but so far, so good. They've both been on the over tired side, and have been back at their bickering, which my mother claimed they didn't do once in Vermont.

While the week away from the kids offered fun time and relaxation time, it also offered me a lot of personal reflection time. The conclusion was not good.

Like so many other moms I know, I've found my life sidetracked from one directed towards dreams and desires, to one focused on necessity. There are so many things I've wanted to do with my life and my career, but instead, I find myself working at I job that's difficult, pays little, and is outside my field of study. Every day I wonder why I spent 4 years putting myself through college, studying what I loved, just to end up working a job I'm not passionate about just to pay the bills.

In the past few months, I've been making efforts to go back to college to get my teaching certification, as I've blogged about. That's one dream I'm working on achieving, though I don't know if it will happen in the end.

Then, in the past week, another dream has resurfaced- one of opening my own store, selling my jewelry and other handmade items. I think I could do it, make it work. I have a good friend who's interested and would make a great partner. I went out and bought books on how to own a retail shop, write a business plan, etc. I know it's achievable. But will I ever take the leap? Probably not.

Unfortunately, the reality of bills and time constraints limit my possibilities. While I never resent being a mother, I know it's going to make a lot of things impossible, or at least put them on hold for a long time. And yet it eats at me, the thoughts that I should be doing something big, something I love, something I can be proud of. I should be more than an overweight mom, working 40 + hours a week at a job that is thankless and drains me to the core.

And so I keep on dreaming. Sometimes, it's all you can do.

4 comments:

Christine said...

Believe me, I know the feeling. Sometimes it seems dreams are all I have...other than my wonderful family, of course.

Hey, I gave you a shout-out at a forum I've been frequenting...I really LOVE your lip balm!!!

Angela DeRossett said...

Awww... this has been one of the big things on my mind too. How does one 'do it all'?

painted maypole said...

it has to start with a dream. you can't change your life unless you know you want to.

and you can do it. maybe the dream will alter and change with reality, but getting out of a demanding draining job? that might be the first step. or selling your jewelry at craft sales? or at a local store who is willing to show your stuff. reflecting and coming up short isn't bad. it lights a fire. you might just have to do a controlled burn and not a raging forest fire. it's still worth it.

Defiantmuse said...

did you know that I own one of your jewelry creations? when Lawyer Mama came out to visit she brought it with as a gift. I love it! I haven't worn it yet though, saving it for a time when Monkey isn't around because she's broken 4 of my favorites necklaces. Yes, she's in *that* stage. :)