Thanks for writing my response for me. That is EXACTLY (!) what I would say. I stayed at home for 11 years. When I called Tufts University Graduate School for my references, the records secretary literally said: "What on earth have you been doing for eleven years!" I still think parenting is the most important job in the world. In spite of staying home for those eleven years, I moved easily back into the work force to jobs that accomodated my children pretty well. I have had a varied, enjoyable and challenging career yet many days, I would love to have you and your sister under foot again. I definitely had screaming days, days of looking through the employment ads, days when I was sure I had lost every cell of my brain, but that time with young, developing children is a time that never comes again. The repetition is reassuring to young children. They don't have much life experience and they need to hear things over and over again to acquire vocabulary, to learn how to handle situations. Curious George's friend always rescues him when he gets into trouble and young children love that! The world is safe and O.K. Enough said. I guess you didn't take away all my thunder!

Love, Nana
Anonymous | 11.05.06 - 9:58 am | #

I just thought the same thing to myself the other day. That the cycle of chores is never ending, and when the heck will it stop?

I wish you the best in gettng over your blahs, sista.
Gina | Homepage | 11.05.06 - 11:33 am | #

I feel this way sometimes too. Then some drama comes along throwing me for a loop and I look forward to the same old same old again...
boogiemum | Homepage | 11.05.06 - 12:51 pm | #

Amen, sister!

The hardest part is when you try to do something new & it turns out to be so incredibly difficult, so painful, so full of whines that you think, it's not worth the effort! And go back to Curious George.

You need to do something for yourself. My mother-in-law and mother both said that's how they survived the young years: they'd have one thing to look forward to all week, one hour or one evening when they were free of the kids.

Hold on!!! Turn on all the lights, that always makes me feel better ; )
Jennifer | Homepage | 11.05.06 - 1:54 pm | #

I feel your pain. I signed J up for skating and preschool once a week, just to change things up for me! And I got us passes to the museums so we can go there once a week too. I just couldn't fathom another winter not doing enough stuff.

As for the chores, this week I finally got fed up of laundry. I have never hated laundry until this week. Somehow Hubby's laundry has doubled over the last four weeks and I feel like it is a never ending pile of clothes either to be washed, to be folded or to be put away. It is driving me crazy!! Not crazy enough to let Hubby do it, but crazy all the same .
BeachMama | Homepage | 11.05.06 - 2:51 pm | #

I wish I was able to be an at-home-parent.
Adam | Homepage | 11.05.06 - 3:28 pm | #

I find that being a stay-at-home mom is EXTREMELY boring. Not that I'm ungrateful. But the bare truth is that being handservants to small children is decidedly less than interesting, although constantly challenging. I wouldn't trade it for a full-time career, but a person certainly needs some brain-sharpening every once in a while. I was working from home part-time for a couple of years, and I loved it. It was just the stimulation I needed! Now that my oldest is in school, it really has been a shot in the arm. It broadened my social circle, and being a Girl Scout volunteer has been giving me that variety I needed.

But those preschool years can be a killer! I feel your pain! I, too, am waiting for my two youngest to just grow up and go to school, already!
Amy | Homepage | 11.05.06 - 8:46 pm | #

I have days like this, everyone does. Then eventually things get better and suddenly things are not so hard any more.
Awesome Mom | Homepage | 11.05.06 - 9:46 pm | #

You have read my mind. I was just thinking, as I unloaded the dishwasher AGAIN, how tired I was of unloading the dishwasher. And I haven't even been staying at home full time as long as you have...

I hope that you can carve out some time this winter for you, to break up the monotony somehow and to help you maintain your sanity.
Suzanne | Homepage | 11.06.06 - 8:17 pm | #

I get those same fall/winter blues. This week I've been attending the WAH Expo. It's great to hear (real audio) from others what they're doing and how they manage kids and more. There are a lot of virtual seminars out there if you're interested.

Enjoy your time!
Sandy
Sandra Renshaw | Homepage | 11.10.06 - 8:48 am | #