During a conversation with a friend last week, the topic of unannounced visitors came up. We jokingly compared notes a bit. She talked about her life as a Stay at Home Mom from the time her son was born until he was in first grade. I talked about my current life as a Work at Home Dog Mom. Although being a Mom to human kids and furry kids are completely different, there is a bit o' common ground. Unannounced visitors is one of them.
My friend told me story after story about people who would stop by to visit without a heads up...
"Most of the time, I'd be in the middle of cleaning the house while my son was napping. I hadn't showered. I wasn't even wearing a bra. No makeup. Then boom! The doorbell. On the other side of the door was a friend who was in the area. They wanted to stop by to say hi.
Of course, they looked amazing and fresh and put together. There I was in my baggy lounge pants, a t-shirt, hair in a ponytail, and visible bags under my eyes. I was always in the middle of doing housework. Tired. And on top of that, the doorbell woke my son up.
I hated that tension. On my end, it was my appearance and being interrupted while getting stuff done while my son was sleeping. Then, him crying after being wakened. On their end, it was the struggle of pretending to not notice my disheveled appearance or understanding my daily routine.
Eventually, I had to tell people to reach out first before they stopped over. It wasn't because I didn't want company, I just needed a little notice. As a Stay at Home Mom, I had a daily schedule. A lot of people don't understand that. They misunderstood my request.
As a Stay at Home Mom, it was lonely. My husband didn't get home from work until late. I loved having company. I just preferred to have notice beforehand."
I shared a few stories.
I realized that I was in the same boat.
As a Work at Home Dog Mom, it gets lonely at times. I love to have company, but I like to have a little heads up as well.
Why?
I'm always in the middle of something. Work stuff. Writing blog columns. Painting and varnishing pieces in the Bodacious DIY Dog Mom Workshop. Housework. Taking the kids out. Playtime with our kids. Giving our kids their vitamins and snacks. Meal prep for the kids, Lisa, and myself. Etc.
I don't wear a bra unless I go out or we have company.
My attire during the cold weather months are turtlenecks and my daytime lounge pants.
Get over it.
If there is a knock on one of our doors, our kids go batshit crazy. By that point, it's almost impossible to get them situated in other rooms so we can open the door. It takes at least 5 minutes.
I. Work. At. Home.
I would never drop by unexpectedly at your place of employment to have a social visit. I expect the same level of respect.
Our kids, along with myself, have a daily routine. When that routine is unexpectedly interrupted by surprise visitors, it throws off our entire day.
I'm sure this may sound harsh to a lot of people.
I get that.
But, if you take a few steps back and look at your own daily routine, think about what happens when it's interrupted.
Again, I love to have company during the week.
Just give me a heads up.
That's not too much to ask.
My friend told me story after story about people who would stop by to visit without a heads up...
"Most of the time, I'd be in the middle of cleaning the house while my son was napping. I hadn't showered. I wasn't even wearing a bra. No makeup. Then boom! The doorbell. On the other side of the door was a friend who was in the area. They wanted to stop by to say hi.
Of course, they looked amazing and fresh and put together. There I was in my baggy lounge pants, a t-shirt, hair in a ponytail, and visible bags under my eyes. I was always in the middle of doing housework. Tired. And on top of that, the doorbell woke my son up.
I hated that tension. On my end, it was my appearance and being interrupted while getting stuff done while my son was sleeping. Then, him crying after being wakened. On their end, it was the struggle of pretending to not notice my disheveled appearance or understanding my daily routine.
Eventually, I had to tell people to reach out first before they stopped over. It wasn't because I didn't want company, I just needed a little notice. As a Stay at Home Mom, I had a daily schedule. A lot of people don't understand that. They misunderstood my request.
As a Stay at Home Mom, it was lonely. My husband didn't get home from work until late. I loved having company. I just preferred to have notice beforehand."
I shared a few stories.
I realized that I was in the same boat.
As a Work at Home Dog Mom, it gets lonely at times. I love to have company, but I like to have a little heads up as well.
Why?
I'm always in the middle of something. Work stuff. Writing blog columns. Painting and varnishing pieces in the Bodacious DIY Dog Mom Workshop. Housework. Taking the kids out. Playtime with our kids. Giving our kids their vitamins and snacks. Meal prep for the kids, Lisa, and myself. Etc.
I don't wear a bra unless I go out or we have company.
My attire during the cold weather months are turtlenecks and my daytime lounge pants.
Get over it.
If there is a knock on one of our doors, our kids go batshit crazy. By that point, it's almost impossible to get them situated in other rooms so we can open the door. It takes at least 5 minutes.
I. Work. At. Home.
I would never drop by unexpectedly at your place of employment to have a social visit. I expect the same level of respect.
Our kids, along with myself, have a daily routine. When that routine is unexpectedly interrupted by surprise visitors, it throws off our entire day.
I'm sure this may sound harsh to a lot of people.
I get that.
But, if you take a few steps back and look at your own daily routine, think about what happens when it's interrupted.
Again, I love to have company during the week.
Just give me a heads up.
That's not too much to ask.
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