Life, One Load at a Time
October 13, 2008
I saw a cartoon in the paper the other day featuring a mother reading her daughter the story of the princess who went off to work with the blessing of her husband …”and they lived happily ever after.” Of course, I clipped and posted it on the refrigerator as a daily reminder: the daily juggle is only calmed when there is mutual respect and admiration between working spouses and parents.
Respect for my husband went to a new level this past summer and if my husband were writing the blog this week it would be titled, “Pleasing Your Wife, One Load at a Time.” Literally, we have found our peace after months of chaotic transitions with my business and the “I’m busier than you” comparisons. It began when my husband exiled himself to the makeshift play/family/craft room …which conveniently houses the laundry machine and television. (cue “ding” and the light bulb going on).It began with just a load at the end of spring. Sure the TV was on and basketball season was well underway …but so was the laundry. I think my husband was nervous when I poked my head in to ask what he was doing while I was putting the kids off to bed – again – when I should have been finishing a presentation.
“Laundry,” he said nervously. “Hmmmm,” I thought.
It wasn’t until morning when I pulled out a perfectly folded and crisp white shirt that I started to see the light. I didn’t say anything …as I knew it would end with the season but then baseball season started. And the laundry continued. Nothing discolored, nothing shrunk, and everything folded neatly. During the Olympics, even our dog’s towels looked like fine linens.
I’ve actually never been very good at laundry and hate doing it so this was an amazing turn of events; my husband pleases me daily and the added bonus is that our daughters love to do crafts at the table while he folds. Greg explains great plays, players, teams, and the history of every sport he finds while surfing hundreds of channels on his DirecTV sports package. So the juggle of work and parenting continues but the chaos has calmed even as the laundry spins.
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Jen Dyer | October 17, 2008 at 7:29 pm
” the daily juggle is only calmed when there is mutual respect and admiration between working spouses and parents.”
An incredibly wise statement — and *DEAD-ON* in its accuracy!!
Are you sure there isn’t a MFT / phD degree hidden somewhere in your impressive resume of work experience and credentials?! ( – ;
Actually, IMO, the wisdom you are imparting on this topic CANNOT be learned at even the most prestigious of educational institutions… This valuable, hard-earned knowledge can only be acquired after years of hands-on, rigorous training. There is an elite group of individuals (the few, the proud, the brave…) who have been able to successfully juggle MOTHERHOOD, CAREER, & MARRIAGE without eventually surrendering to one of the many perils that come with the territory — “Working Mom’s GUILT”, never-ending CHAOTIC lifestyle, and constant FAILURE to be a “Good Wife” (for definition go to http://iws.ccccd.edu/grooms/goodwife.htm )
Hats off to YOU for your success in all three domains! I LOVE the beautiful picture of you with your family on your the “About Us” page of your website! You GO GIRL! <-;
Not only did you find a way to get the laundry done while simultaneously indulging your husband’s “sports fix” , you have also found a way to channel your impressive career experience / talents into the creation of a company that supports family values. With IAGMedia you have skillfully created a scenario in which your CAREER is functioning directly in support of MOTHERHOOD & MARRIAGE. (Not to mention OUR PLANET — “Less packaging, More Fun!”)
As a working mother of three and a wife who doesn’t cook, I’d just like to applaud you! Ironically, over the years, my husband and I have arrived at the exact same “sports watching time = laundry folding time” agreement. Next up for me, I guess, is to work on a strategic merging of career with family. Cheers! Keep up the great work.