Remind me again…”What is an 8-hour [Work] Day?”

My good friend sent me a text today.  It read:  “I really need to NOT wanna take a nap at this time everyday!” (It was 2:25 PM).  I replied: “embrace it and let ur mind and body rest.  It’s ur body talking to you“.

My friend works hard to make a good life for herself and her daughter.  She is a single parent, a full time student, she is head of her household.  In my opinion, for this ‘calling’ to occur daily, around the same time, says that her body is acknowledging a time to exhale.  It’s okay to rest,if only for a little while, to allow the body and spirit to regenerate.

I think as mothers, we often encounter a sense of guilt when there exists a WANT/NEED to rest.  Perhaps the guilt derives from us not realizing just how much we do in a day.  What we do is so second nature, that in the moment, it may not feel enough like work to warrant a break.

Today, I am breaking my day down so that everyone can have a glimpse into my life and possibly see themselves through an unfamiliar lens:

• 6:00 AM – My alarm goes off.  I’m up – no snooze.  I make up my bed.  As I am making my bed, I turn on the news so that I can see the weather report to make sure my son is dressed comfortably.
• 6:30 AM – Begin preparing the beans I’d soaked the night before.  For clarity, let me say that this ‘prepping’ includes the following:  cutting up the garlic, onions, meat, and seasoning.  Just needed to add that tidbit so that it didn’t seem like I simply placed the beans in water and put the top on
• 6:45 AM – I get breakfast going for my son
• 7:00 AM – I get in the shower
• 7:20 AM – I’m out the shower and prepping myself for the day. I wake my son up so that he can eat breakfast and get dressed for school
• 8:00 AM – We are out the door headed to his school.
• 8:40 AM – We arrive at his school
• 9:00 AM – I’m back at home, cleaning house and washing several loads of clothes
• 11:30 AM – I meet my sister at the doctor’s office to offer support for the panic attacks she is experiencing.
• 1:30 PM – I run home to place the clothes in the dryer and begin the last load of clothes
• 1:45 PM – I’m out the door to pick my son up from school (Early day)
• 2:15 PM – My son is in the car and we are making the drive back home
• 2:30 PM – (much lighter traffic in the afternoon)…we arrive back at home. In the car we discuss what new things he learned that day, what the homework is for the day
• 2:45 PM – I’m back in the kitchen to prepare the rest of the meal.  My son is also in the kitchen at the kitchen table so that I can assist with his homework as the food cooks.
• 4:00 PM – The meal is complete.
• 4:15 PM – We sit down to eat together and discuss his day/my day
• 4:45 PM – Dinner is done.  I’m washing dishes while my son completes the portion of the homework he doesn’t need assistance with.
• 5:15 PM – The kitchen is clean, my son is on his way outside to play with his friends for a bit. While he is outside, I check his homework in case there are missed problems we need to go over before he turns it in.  When I am done checking his work, I log onto my online Web Design class to complete today’s lesson – that is due tonight.
• 7:30 PM – My son comes in for the evening.  I am still working on my homework
• 8:30 PM – I finish my assignment. I check some email, and Facebook activity.
• 8:50 PM – My son gets in the shower
• 9:15 PM – He is out the shower and allowed 30 minutes of computer time before bed
• 9:45 PM – He is in bed.
• 9:45 PM – I’m back on the computer working on the site for my magazine
• 1:00 AM – I’m in the bed

• 6:00 AM – My 19-hour day begins again…

I know this was a lot of detail; but it’s because it’s a LOT of work – done without effort (even when I worked in Corporate America).  All these things are reasons enough for me to have told my friend that when she feels the need for a nap, to indulge herself.  You deserve it.  You are Chef.  You are Confidante.  You are Teacher.  You are Nutritionist.  You are Student.  You are Project Manager.  You are Career Multi-Tasker.  You are Chief Executive Officer.  You are Dedicated.  You are Focused.  Your Love is Limitless.  Your Job is Never-ending.  Your Roles are MANY.  You are MAMA!

Take your nap — without guilt, without a 2nd thought!

Peace & Love,
Traci