I absolutely love being a Work at Home Dog Mom for a world of reasons. We have 4 incredible rescue pups. I am home with them day and night. A good portion of my schedule is spent in our Bodacious Kitchen making homemade meals and snacks for us and our kids. I can tackle projects like painting and DIY decor instead of having to hire someone or buy pieces from a store. The list goes on and on and on.
However.
A few times a year, I need a break.
When I say "break," I'm not referring to needing a day off from our home, Lisa, or the kids.
I simply need a break from cooking, baking, and housework.
I woke up this morning and I just knew.
Lisa prepared breakfast for our kids.
I made breakfast for Lisa and myself.
An hour later, we made homemade 5 batches of our kid's favorite treats.
They freeze exceptionally well.
After I made the dough, Lisa shaped the biscuits and meatballs and baked them while I curled up with all of the kids on our bed.
I dozed off for an hour.
Lisa made me a cup of strong tea when I woke up.
I spent the rest of the day working on blog columns and doing mischievous things around the house. Our new Christmas tree was delivered. Lisa set it up.
For dinner, I planned on making my homemade eggrolls, pan-fried dumplings, and wontons. I made the filling for the eggrolls. I ground the farm to table pork that I had cooked in the crockpot and froze last week.
This is a meal we love.
A meal that's a bit time consuming, but I enjoy making.
But.
Not tonight.
The first wonton wrapper split.
I wanted to cry.
Lisa sensed my frustration and she knew hours beforehand that I needed a break from the kitchen and housework. She had offered to "make dinner" hours earlier.
"Making dinner" translates to takeout.
We haven't eaten at a restaurant since February.
I don't remember the last time we ordered takeout.
At first, I was stubborn and said declined her offer.
Lisa knew better than I did. She got out plastic containers to put the fillings in for the eggrolls, dumplings, and wontons. She put the wrappers in plastic storage bags.
I exhaled.
Lisa ordered our favorites from a local place down the road.
I exhaled again.
I felt guilty for a few minutes, but that fizzled down.
Lisa gets it.
As a Work at Home Dog Mom, I don't get vacations or days off.
In the past, many times, Lisa has offered to book me a night or 2 in a luxury hotel with an allowance for a massage, shopping, room service, etc. My answer has always been, "NO."
I'm grateful for the offer, but it's not me. I don't need time away from our home, Lisa, or our kids. Not at all. It's something that has never crossed my mind.
At one point, I told her to stop making the offer. I would never take her up on it. Ever. That was about 4 years ago and she hasn't offered since.
Instead, she has gained a better understanding of these days that happen 2-3 times a year. I always give her a bit of notice because these days need to happen on a day that she has off from work.
Lisa takes care of the daily housework, prepares meals for our kids, and I get to pick where she orders takeout from. Throughout the day, I can putz around and do what I want, when I want.
If that means curling up in bed with the kids and reading books, so be it.
If that means working on blog columns all day, so be it.
If that means watching a few chick flicks, so be it.
If that means playing board games with Lisa for a few hours, so be it.
Today was that day.
I already feel rejuvenated and ready to dive into my usual Sunday in the kitchen.
It's amazing what a single day of taking a break from a few things will do for the body, mind, and soul.
But more so, having a wife who gets it.
No comments:
Post a Comment