Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Like the Corners of My Closet

I was sorting through my closet the other day and landed in a strange and unexpected world of travel, career, and high heel shoes.

Also known as The Land Before Children.

Full story in today's Chicago Parent.

No.  My closet doesn't look like this.  Think wire hangers and fuzzies everywhere.

9 comments:

  1. When I was a child I was asked what I wanted to be when I grew up, I said a mother & a wife. The teacher asked what I wanted for my job, I again told her I want to be a mother & a wife. She pushed.. "what if you don't get married" "what if you can't have kids"... to which I responded, "When I grow up, I am going to be a mother & a wife"... she was not impressed with me being stubborn & not playing her game!

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  2. There does seem to be this war at the moment, between working mums and those that choose to stay at home.

    Both sets of women are unique in their own way and each has a different set of life skills, to bring to the table.

    It's a pointless war, because at the end of it all, we are all mums.

    Excellent as always Marianne. :)

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  3. I did both - full-time mom and full-time work. I did, however, have the privilege of staying home with my children in the early years, which I am so happy about. But we all do what we have to do . . .! Being a mother - stay at home or working outside the home - - rocks!!

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  4. great essay! (as always.........)

    xxo
    MOV

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  5. ah yes..."boogar-removal". I'm sure we all can tell stories of finding this, these...it, on the walls of bedrooms, kitchens, bathrooms. You'll be cleaning, putting away clothes, going for another beer (my favorite scenario) and Bamm!, you see it. Just laying droopy like on the wall, all dried up and usually all alone. Then if you're like me you mutter something intelligent like,"WTF" as you squint your eyes and curl one side of your lip. Now my wife's reaction is completely different. She just screams. What's funny is when we only had the one child and he denied doing it, yeah, right, as if.

    Wait til you find matches, a lighter, a cigar or a pack of cigarettes in their rooms. Like a common drunk driver who when stopped always, without exception, will say, "I only had a couple". In this instance the common response is, "I was holding them for a friend."

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  6. You Lie........er, fib. That lQQks like my missing beige sweator hanging in the picture of YOUR closet.
    SF

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  7. Kristi - Ha! Honestly, I was/am the same way. This is always what I wanted.

    Lily - Thank you! It took me a long time to stop judging other women and their decisions (it came from my own insecurities). Now I'm like, "if it works for you, then AMEN." Of course my newfound love of Merlot helps as well.

    Judy - You said it! I find that younger women are harder on each other, but by the time we start approaching 40, we're more supportive and welcoming of each other's difference. Who knew that getting older had perks?

    MOV - Thanks, MOV!

    Maplewood - I always appreciate your glimpse into my future. Do you know any good military schools around here?

    SF - Two words: plausible deniability.

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  8. Oh boy, can I empathize with that wardrobe thing! I did both the full-time work and mum thing in the early years - talk about split personality.. I was a late starter on the mum front, was a career gal until 30 - but once I started, I um, kept on going (sheepish grin). Two boys and two girls down the line, I now look back and wonder what ever happened to that smart, suited and organised woman I once knew.

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  9. I LOVED this! I have to say since I stopped working and took on the job of mother as a full time occupation I have acquired some unusual skills that go beyond booger removal. I have learned to install a toilet, build a chicken coop, fix a swamp cooler, and install vinyl flooring. It's all what you make it, right? I still have my work clothes hanging in the closet and my old day planners tucked away in a box under the bed. I guess the fact that I have actual day planners on paper will really show my age someday!

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