Despite The World Of Differences, There Is Common Ground

I love being a Work at Home Dog Mom. Sure, it's not easy working at home while taking care of 4 furry kids. I'm in a constant state of sleep deprivation because I get between 2-3 hours of sleep a day. Housework is never ending. I'm interrupted at least 142 times an hour while I'm trying to get work done. My schedule revolves around everything and everyone else. I work on the overnight because it's quiet and I can focus. Being a Work at Home Dog Mom isn't glamours. I've published a few columns over the past couple of years trying to explain all of this.

Just in case you've missed those previous posts, here are the links...

8 Useless Bits Of Advice For A Work At Home Dog Mom

10 Reasons Why Working At Home Isn't Glamorous

The Realities Of Work At Home Life

With each year comes new changes and challenges. It's all about evolution. Since publishing those blog columns, our life has changed considerably. Our family has gotten bigger. The newest addition to our family, Willa, is a mischevious, entertaining handful. Lisa got a promotion in late Spring and that has altered my schedule a bit. My focus has changed in a few areas. My list of goals has gotten longer. I've taken on another client or two. I'm working on 2 books instead of just a single book. Etc...

For some reason, in the past 6 months, I've become hypersensitive to my work at home Dog Mom life being misunderstood. Irrelevant. Taken lightly. Judged.

To better explain this, during early Summer, I've had multiple conversations with friends. Throughout these particular conversations, they talked at great length about their work. The stresses. Coworkers. Upcoming changes. The details of their jobs. How they've handled various situations at work. Etc.

Like always, I listen. I ask questions. And listen. I comment. And listen.

Then, when the time is right, I join in with how my week has been on the work front. The kids. Work. Trying to get DIY Dog Mom Projects finished so I can put them up for sale. Keeping up with the blogs and the changes and updates I want to make. How frustrating it is to not have solid work time during the day. The myriad of interruptions. The exhaustion. My goals. And, all of the challenges I face on a daily basis.

After a few sentences, I'm met with blank expressions. No one asks me questions. No one comments. At that point, I end what I'm saying. Someone changes the subject. More talk about their jobs and challenges.

Sometimes, I think people silently minimize my work. For me, those blank stares translate to, "You write blog columns, play with your dogs, and do arts and crafts at the table all day. How stressful can that possibly be?"

To this day, I'm sure there are some people who still don't know what my work at home Dog Mom life entails or what I do for work. 

I'm completely aware that my work at home Dog Mom life differs from someone who works outside of the home. Lisa works outside of the home. It's 2 very different worlds. I don't have to deal with coworkers, bosses in my face, daily customer service, employee conflicts, etc. On the flip side, people who work outside of the home don't have to deal with the challenges I face as a work at home Dog Mom.

Despite the world of differences, there is common ground. I have bad days just like everyone else. I have stressful days. I have days when I feel as if I get nothing done because of all the interruptions. I also balance work and kids and housework and meal prep. I'm in a continuous state of exhaustion. Most of the time, I'm throwing up my hands and ranting, "There are not enough hours in the day!" My To-Do list is growing.

I don't expect people to get it.

What would be a welcomed gesture is if people took what I do seriously. Asked questions. Showed interest. Listened like I listen to them. Not look at me as if I had 3 heads when I say I've had a stressful day. Not assume that my days are all cotten candy and rainbows.

Seriously.