Being Humbled

So, yes, I don't have the chance to be humbled very often.  "How in the world?", you say?  Well, I do get humbled by my dear children.  The things they often do or say that can make a mama proud that they just may be listening and paying attention.  Yes, those are humbling moments.  Even when they come up with something anecdotal for me to listen to.  ;-))

This humbling that I am having is that of complete care provider for this household.  I have taken on so much and not given enough responsibility to the other inhabitants, that now that I am down with some serious illness, I am completely at a loss.  I'm one of those that prefers to just do everything so I don't have to go behind someone else and re-do what they have done half-way.  If the silverware is not placed in the correct slots, I will take the time to re-place every piece into its rightful home.  Anal?  Yes, but it is my space.  This is my work area, and I prefer that it stay as I want it.

I have a friend who has learned to let go when others help out.  For me, that would take some serious work.  To have the floor vacuumed correctly, mopped thoroughly, counters wiped off without utilizing a spray cleaner (imagining spray cleaner all over the butter, wooden spoons, anything exposed, eww...), I can't sit by and watch.

So here I am, down with some sinus infection, migraine or cluster headache, completely disabled.  I honestly can't stand the thought of the sun shining.  I pray for cloudy days, power outages, and darkness.  Rest for thine weary eyes!  I did go to a doc in the box -best visit ever to a doc, period- and got on a game plan.  The nurse practitioner came up with a wonderful treatment plan that should knock out everything I have going on, and I am so grateful for her sincere concern and time that she spent with me...even after giving me a shot in each backside.

I shall get better soon.  I will have my house in order.

My children went to a friend's house for the day yesterday, giving me much needed rest (hence the time to post a blog entry yesterday AND today!).  My head is feeling so much better.  And my face is no longer feeling like it's in a vice (ouch!).  I will get homeschooling back on track, laundry finished up, floors all shiny.  And it's not all in vain.  I opened my silverware drawer this morning in search of a spoon to stir my coffee, and lo' and behold, ALL of the silverware was in order, neatly put away in his own rightful place.  My dear, dear boy of 6 years, so thoughtfully took the time to do it right!  Yes, he will get an extra brownie with caramel and nuts for thinking of me in such a way. ;-)

So humbling it is to let go and let someone do something for me.  This is my workplace, my office, however, it is also my family's home.  We can all work together.  We all know where the silverware drawer is, no matter what order it is in.  We know where the bath towels are, no matter which shelf the kids' towels and grown-ups' towels are.  My children smile so brightly when I see they have helped.  They delight in making me more comfortable, especially when I so graciously let them have an extra brownie, go outside for a good portion of the day, or just simply cuddle instead of run around chasing dust devils.

How is it that the most can be learned from the smallest?

~~Blessings~~
MatronMurphy

Widgets

Okay, so I can choose all of these widgets to promote Web sites and products, in hopes, that maybe I can make a few bucks off the clicks I send to them.  Of course, with that is the responsibility to post interesting, intelligent articles, and to post often.  Ugh.  I honestly don't have the time to report every loony event that takes place under our blessed roof.  However, I can explain, to the few that bother to visit, what I have going on here.

First of all, I have the privilege to choose from a plethora of widgets through the blog site.  Most of these have the opportunity to make money, some are simply for kicks and giggles.  Enjoy, click away, or don't.

I have signed on with Amazon Associates with the hopes that I may end up with a huge following , and tons of folks click on the Amazon link to shop.  I am a dedicated Amazon shopper.  Simply because I don't have to breathe other people's germie air, I don't get knocked over or trapped in an aisle by crazies and their carts, and I don't have to tail my children along, since they seem to have a lot of "needs".  Shop away!

Another awesome widget I have just added today, is the LibraryThing site.  A wonderful, distant friend of mine has turned me onto this site.  You can scan/log all of the books you own, have borrowed from the library or a friend, and you can keep track of what you've been, or already have, read.  Whew, that was a mouthful!  It's another social media site, of course, so you can link up and become "friends" with all sorts of other book-lovers in the world.  I like to keep up, as I can "like" certain authors, and when I am in the mood, I can go to their page and try a new book by them.  I really love this new site.  It's takes a little time to get it all going, initially, with entering in all the books you want to showcase (only the ones that make you look good ;-)). However, once you're up and running, it's all fun and games and checking out what others are reading, as well...not just hitting the "best sellers" list.

One more widget is the awesome Swag bucks link.  Oh, take a look at that if you tend to do a lot of searches.  This service has tons of ways you earn "Swag bucks" that you can trade in on all sorts of stuff.  My personal favorite?  Amazon Gift cards, baby!!!  Oh, yeah, I tend to do a lot of searching online near Christmas time.  I have used so many cards, and just the other day, earn $10 in gift cards.  They have other things you can do- view commercials, take mini-polls, promote the site, etc. -where you can earn more bucks.  Again, I don't have time to really work it, so the searching has kept me good so far.  Check it out...through my referral link. 

Surely, I have other widgets on there.  Links to other blogs, lists, or product sites.  Hit them up, too.  I link to them for one reason or another.  I will only link to sites that I would pretty much approve my little ones to visit (hmm, time to re-visit everyone just to be sure???).  Click away!

~~Blessings~~
MatronMurphy

Here's a new ad-venture for ya!

Okay, so I'm looking at all these bills that repeatedly make a grand entrance every month. I'm also looking at my wish list of things I'd like to complete around the house (wood floors, finish the basement, build bookshelves, etc.). And then there's the big, fat wish list of books I'd like to acquire for our home school library. Who couldn't use more books?! For some reason, all of this seems to out-weigh the amount that is being brought in by the lonesome breadwinner of our family. So, I have possibly found an opportunity where I can make that little extra dough to make my projected ends meet: Tupperware.

Yes, I said Tupperware. This is such a nice idea for me on so many levels. I will just have to list those many points, just so I can come back at a later date and refresh my craziness.

1. I love kitchen gadgets. I can use more *FREE* kitchen gadgets any day.
2. I need to get used to public speaking, especially since I am now a La Leche League Leader.
3. I need to meet more people in my community. I had a nice big family when I was employed, before children, but that is 28 miles away. Being a SAHM puts you into a whole different category of friends.
4. Tupperware sells itself.
5. Did I mention that I love kitchen gadgets?
6. I need more money, and the compensation program this company offers is more than ideal. Not to mention the ongoing bonuses and benefits.
7. This gives me something to do, alone, outside of the home, at least once a week.
   
8. It's money that I am earning, and I feel better about spending it.

Okay, so that's a start of why this is such an appropriate thing for me to do. I've been forwarded job listings for blogging, of which I am most inconsistent. I've been forwarded all sorts of WAHM opportunities, and by far, this is the best one that fits me. Really, I have been waiting for a Tupperware party to hit around here for such a long time. I've had stuff I wanted to buy, and now I can make money, get free stuff, and then some. I just hope it all works.

So, how am I to find the time to do this? I figure that if I can devote just an hour online, or on the phone, a day, and try to shoot for one party a week, I should do pretty well. That's just the beginning. Surely, I would hope that things would pick up from there. I will definitely not be one of those high pressure sales people, talking some poor saps into buying junk they don't need. There are some gadgets that I would not recommend unless someone were going to be making money using the product. However, there are more products put out by this company that would and can make people's lives so much easier, more efficient, and save money. Yay!

Okay, so I am now off to find places to put my name and website. If you, dear reader, find that you are in need of some Tupperware products, may be slightly interested in selling some yourself, or would possibly like to host a Tupperware party (assuming you live within a reasonable distance from me), PLEASE take a look at my website and contact me. Please have patience, as I am learning all about the different products and offers through the company. Like, I didn't know this one: they have a lifetime warranty on just about every product. Lifetime! That's awesome. So, yes, take a look around, and give me a nudge if you see something you like.

www.my2.tupperware.com/captola

What is my job title again?

Stay-at-home mom.

Sounds pretty simple, right? One would assume, as I did when I was still working but pregnant, that a SAHM is simply one of those frilly homemakers with some silly apron, who tends to their family with a smile. I'm not even sure how I came up with that picture, as my own mom, once a SAHM, was not that way at all.

I am currently looking at a possible internet job that focuses on the scope of being a SAHM. Since looking at that job posting, I've been scrambling my brain about what in the world would be my focus.

Just for kicks, I'll give a run-down of my "job description", and this is not to be compared to working mothers, housewives with no children, working women with no children, etc. I'm just exploring my world.

Matron Murphy's job description:

• wife - caretaker of Mr. Murphy,


• mother - caretaker of 2 children,


• cook - prepare meals for anyone present in the house to eat, keep up grocery stock


• maid - clean entire house, top to bottom, take out trash, make sure cans go out on trash night,


• launderer - keep all clothing clean and presentable, mend as needed,


• CFO - maintain all finances, pay bills, balance checkbook, budget expenses,


• landscaper - maintain lawn, maintain gardens, keep driveway clean


• house doctor - try to keep all family healthy, and treat as necessary when sick, keep up stock of medicine cabinet,


• appliance repair tech. - maintain all appliances in household and repair as necessary,


• teacher - educate my children to the best of my ability, give them as many experiences as possible, keep up-to-date with the world so to make learning current.


• La Leche League Leader - lead and support our local group and mothers in breastfeeding and parenthood,


• Girl Scout Leader - plan and lead my daughter's Daisy troop

Okay, I think I've said enough. Not trying to toot my own horn that I have some big job, or that I'm trying to justify that I really do stay busy. I do have days when I sit down and wonder what the heck I actually did all day. What did I complete or accomplish? Should I, could I, have done more in one area? Did I even give the children enough attention? Scales, scales, scales!!! It's difficult not to weigh accomplishments, needs, wants and priorities. Now, where is an application for that? I would be afraid to see a pie chart designed to show how much time is placed in certain areas and where it may be needed in others. That's not in my area of expertise, for sure!

It's times like this when I start to get all stressed out. You know, dear husband comes home, worn out and tired, and reminds me that, one day, I will have to be the bread-maker of the family, and HE will get to retire. Have I really retired? Am I on some big vacation? I thought a vacation was when you stay somewhere that you don't have to clean your own sheets, or even change them. Well, in retirement you still have to do those things. But retirement is getting R&R, going outside to tend the garden because there is nothing else to do. Retirement is also when there are no children to take care of because they've all flown the coop! Ha, I'm not retired. But then again, it scares the daylights out of me to think of any other way. I certainly don't want to give this up to go work somewhere out of the home. I really miss the adult interaction, conversation, and even eye-level, but not enough to get back out there. Whew!

So, here I sit, hoping that I have what it takes to be considered an authority on being a SAHM. I fret over having sufficient experience and stories to share. Then again, I simply look at my two little angels and fret no more. They've plenty of stories to create for me, every single moment of the day. I can just sit back, spectate, and report. Thank God I love words! Maybe some day soon, I will add "Published Writer" to my list of titles above. But for now, I'll hop, skip and jump from title to title, as necessary, and love the life I'm living and the family I'm living it with.
My little SAHM-in-training