Try This on for Size

Well, it is taking me a little bit of time to adjust to this whole SAHM thing. There are a lot of crazy factors involved that are keeping me from fully slipping into the role.

1. The kids' last day of school and Jared's Junior High graduation came less than 2 weeks after my 'official' last day of work. 'School's Out for the Summer' causes an immediate mental/emotional/physical change in the kids and I. Whether I'm working or not, there is a sigh of relief followed by late dinners, later bedtimes and just general giddiness in all of us for the first couple of weeks.

That's my boy!

2. We had a HUGE family (three day event) wedding to attend. It was fantastic and yet another example of why I made the decision to quit. This wonderful wedding included 3 separate events: the rehearsal dinner Friday night, the wedding Saturday, then the Sunday get together to help clean up (which I can take zero credit in) and the consumption of left overs (which I fully and happily take credit in!). Due to the drawn out nature of this event, if I had been working, I would have barely made it to only the actual ceremony. However, my lazy unemployed ass was able to enjoy that fabulous family for the three days!

Before the ceremony

3. This one is a biggie. We are MOVING!!! Obviously, this will jack up ANY kind of routine, existing or attempting at one. With me quitting, we need to move closer to Jimmy's work (and a more affordable city). We've been packing all week and Jimmy has been hauling out loads every day. I almost choked up a bit when he loaded up one of my couches that I purchased when I was a 22 year old single mother. I soooo remember buying that set and how damn proud I was to finally own some brand new furniture. Sure, it was clearance, but it was clean and AWESOME! Now it's going to a new home. We won't have room for it anymore. We won't have room for a lot of stuff anymore. But that is OK and actually that is exactly what I need. Rid my life, my mind, my body of the extra 'stuff'. That is going to take some growing (shrinking?) pains, but it is absolutely necessary. This current house and environment is totally preventing me from embracing the SAHM lifestyle. I have actually even told my family and friends that very thing when they ask if it has sunk in yet that I am no longer working. I say 'You know, where we live now and the lifestyle we are living is leftover from 'Working Stephanie'. The new (older) home will be where I only live as a SAHM. I don't think it will 'sink in' until we are settled into the SAHM home.' With that realization, I am not stressing too much about how well (sooooo NOT well) I am slipping into my new role. Ask me again in a month....um...on second thought, ask me again in August and I have no doubt I will be doing a LOT better. Right now it just feels like vacation. And the kids are LOVING it! But, it didn't stop me from buying an apron, just to see how I LOOK as a SAHM. I think it fits me. What do you think?