It's the start of my favorite week out of the year. The week before Christmas. This year, for the first time in a few years, I'm actually looking forward to it. Our Bodacious Holiday Biscuits have been picked up, shipped, and delivered. I'm almost done painting and putting the final touches on the DIY Doggy Gates. I've dedicated Thursday to baking Christmas Cookies and teaching a special young lady how to make gourmet hand-dipped pretzels. Friday will be spent wrapping and bagging Christmas presents and putting together our Christmas baskets. Saturday I'll spend most of the day prepping for our Christmas Eve feast. This year, I'm looking forward to all of this.
However...
Despite being able to fully enjoy my favorite week out of the year, there's always the single annual reminder that gets me a little down in the holiday dumps. This year is no exception.
First and foremost, let me reiterate what I've said at least a hundred times before. I love being a Work at Home Dog Mom. I have no regrets. This is the life Lisa and I have created and I wouldn't change a thing. Our kids are our world. We've been able to extend our family over the years because I'm a Work at Home Dog Mom. I am proud of what I do. I'm proud of our life, our kids, our home, etc.
During the Christmas season, and this happens every year, it gets a little lonely and I feel left out. As a Work at Home Dog Mom, there are no company parties, work-related holiday festivities, catered lunches, gifts of gratitude from the boss or clients, holiday bonuses, etc.
And, of course, this is the time of year when people post photos of their company holiday party outings, desks lined with gift bottles of wine, boxes of chocolate, and fruit baskets, in-office holiday parties, the break tables filled with cookie platters and other Christmas confections, and other holiday perks like gift cards and monetary bonuses.
I. Get. None. Of. That.
Nothing.
Zilch.
Zero.
Nada.
This year, I think it hit a little harder because recently, as in the past few days, I accomplished a rather big goal for a client. When I discovered that I reached this goal, I literally jumped up from my desk chair, screamed and clapped.
I emailed and sent a text to my client. Then to Lisa.
It took a while for either to respond back. Understandably so. They were both at work. Busy. I never expect immediate replies from anyone.
This goal was important to me. It was a personal challenge. At one point during this 6-week project, I didn't think I was going to reach it.
But, I did.
Reaching this goal required a lot of extra work. Behind the scenes. Strategic planning. A lot of hours. Research. Presentation. Everything.
Right around the same time, someone sent me a photo of the wine gifts they had received that day. On their work desk.
I'm not writing this for a pity trip. I'm not playing my violin.
I made a promise a long time ago that in addition to the good stuff, I'd share the messy stuff too.
This is the messy stuff.
The moments when being a Work at Home Dog Mom can be lonely and I feel left out.
The moments when I pour a glass of wine, sit on the sofa with the kids, put on some music, and try to get past that feeling. When I raise my wine glass and cheer my great big accomplishment. Then, I'll give the kids extra treats to celebrate.
And, where it's the first day of my favorite week of the year, I raised my glass and made a promise to myself.
I will not scroll through my newsfeeds or other social media streams.
In fact, I'll probably take a partial break from all of that during this week.
No comments:
Post a Comment