Last month I received a message from an acquaintance of mine. Short. Sweet. Simple. They asked why I haven't been posting a lot of "food porn" photos as of late. I used to. At least a dozen a week. Now, some weeks go by without a photo of something I've cooked or my sweet confections. I replied back. In the weeks to follow, I made an effort to post more "food porn" photos.
I'll be honest. I completely dodged the question of why I took a lengthy "food porn" photo hiatus that began shortly after our Big Bodacious Painting Project last year.
Right around that time, people started making comments and sending me messages about my photos. The messages weren't negative nor was anyone criticizing me.
Intentionally.
A bulk of the comments and messages included nonchalant digs like...
If I didn't have a real job, I could cook like that every day.
If I had a lot of time on my hands like you do, I'd be able to ditch the take out and store bought baked goods.
I wish I had your amount of spare time so I could spend more time in the kitchen.
Etc...
I know the people who left comments and sent messages were being genuine. They could have chosen their words a bit more carefully, but I can't blame them for my sensitivity.
That sensitivity revolves around the misconceptions about me being a Work at Home Dog Mom. People tend to have misguided perceptions of that.
They tend to forget that what I do from the time I wake up until the time I go to bed is...work.
I go to bed around 9:00 - 10:00 p.m.
I get up between 3:30 - 4:00 a.m.
After my brief morning routine, I prepare a hot breakfast for Lisa. I make her a hearty work lunch. I prepare our morning coffee and her travel mug of coffee.
By this time, Lisa is up. She takes our kids out. Prepares their breakfast.
Then, she eats breakfast.
The kids get their morning snack.
Lisa gets ready for work after that and is out the door by 5:30 a.m.
I pour my second cup of coffee and dive into work stuff.
There are a few interruptions between that point and 7:30 a.m. But, after that, it's usually quiet until late morning. During that time, I work on blog columns and anything that requires minimal noise.
Our kids nap during that time. I get up a couple of times an hour to make sure our kids are covered up and all set.
I take the kids out as needed.
By 11:30 a.m., the kids get their vitamins and the first of their afternoon snacks.
At that point, I tackle housework and begin meal prep for the kids and Lisa and myself.
If we're running low on our homemade dog treats, I make more. If Lisa is running low on work snacks, I make more.
Amid all of that, I continue to pound out work stuff.
I finish up the day's housework and meal prep.
By the time Lisa gets home, everything is done.
She takes the kids out for afternoon playtime.
I put the final touches on meal prep and bag up any treats that I've baked throughout the day.
By 5:00 - 5:30 p.m., we are sitting at the kitchen table eating dinner.
The kids are fed after we eat dinner.
We clean the kitchen and then head into the living room for family snuggle time and a bit o' Netflix.
After an hour or so, Lisa takes the kids out again.
I tuck Lisa and the kids into bed between 8:00 - 8:30 p.m.
I stay up to wrap up my work day and prep for the morning.
Then...
Repeat the following morning.
What I do from the time I get up in the morning and go to bed at night is real work.
At no point during my Work at Home Dog Mom Day do I have an abundance of free time. That includes weekends too.
Most days, the only time I sit and relax is when we're enjoying family snuggle time on the sofa.
Everything I do from the time I wake up until the time I fall asleep is work. That includes prepping and cooking meals and baking snacks for the kids and Lisa.
I take a great deal of pride in the meals I prep and cook and the treats I bake for everyone. They're made from real food. Homemade.
Nothing fancy.
Meal prep and cooking and baking is a big part of my work day.
When I started reading some of the comments and receiving those messages, I got tired of explaining all of this to everyone.
It just seemed easier to stop posting photos of what I made in the kitchen.
That's when the hiatus began.
But, I'm slowly putting an end to that.
One of the big lessons I learned back in 2018 and prior is that it doesn't matter what people think about my work day.
If people want to assume I spend a lot of time in the kitchen because I have endless amounts of spare time, fine. I personally do not have the time to explain otherwise to everyone who comes forth with comments and messages.
I also do not need to explain myself to anyone.
I do not need validation.
That. Is. All.
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