Quite often, ok most days I feel really guilty. The bumblebee's are off at school full time now, Mr.Q is at work...and where am I??? At home. I am super lucky to have had this for the last 9 years, to be able to be a "homemaker"...what does that mean exactly? Does it mean I make jams, clean the house, do the washing, prepare meals, be at the kiddies every beck and call? Because I have done all those things, and still do....and I do love it. ........which surprises a lot of people, and frankly most of them women.....working women......"what do you do all day?"......is a good one. Have bitten my lip more times than I care to remember.......
I'm not having a go at working mothers by any means, that is sooo not the case. BUT don't have a go at me for trying to do the best for my family......The other week I lost it ever so slightly with a friend ( lets call her Jane ).....Jane is a high flyer, works non stop, and loves it....good for her. " But what is it that you do ALL day?" she said......well........it was that time of the month, the blinkin dogs just looking at me wanting to go for a walk made me shout.
" I make, I paint, every room in our cottage I have redecorated, de -wood wormed, painted wood, walls, wallpapered, I have pulled up carpets on my own ( and fell down the stairs trying to carry one....resulting in me being covered in about 40yrs worth of dust and s**t...urghhh ) I have made curtains, cushions, made a vege garden, I cook I clean, I help with the bumblebee's school, please don't insinuate I sit on my backside all day watching neighbours. There are perks of being able to catch up with friends for coffee and stuff, but actually it's quite hard. It's hard to maintain sanity some days, when the only person you talk to is a 5 year old ...it's all about the gruffalo game, and sylvanians, and if they managed to wipe their bottom at school on their own or not. ( Yup, us mum's we have to look in the knickers...hummm that's why you are sore )...and then try and keep up with an adult conversation with husband when he gets home from work, with out looking uninterested or a complete moron.....I'm usually both..".
I may have over stepped the mark on my rant, but hey I felt attacked!...." perhaps you could do with a few weeks off work Jane to tackle your house ?"............( P.S the woman has a cleaner, I don't know what the cleaner does, but it ain't cleaning. She lives in what could be an amazing old farmhouse, which is falling apart.......seriously swirly 70's poo carpets everywhere, peeling wallpaper and woodchip....the kitchen doors are falling off too....not to mention the cheap crappy lino floor all peeling up....and kids toys, literally from when they were babies right up to now 9 years worth of crap...EVERYWHERE!! )...
So please leave me to it?
leave me to my mundane existence of looking after my family, and making everything pretty and homely.....cos I'll take it anyday of the year. I am the last person my kids see when dropped off at school, and the first person when they come out. Yeah money is tight, but you know.............you get by.
So..........there ( sticks tongue out ).........Now have you tried Alys Fowlers courgette cake recipe? You will find it in her Edible Garden book and I love it. It's not a pretty cake, but it's a satisfying one......the Q loves it and the bumblebee's too have gone to school with a slice in their lunchboxes ( it's Friday ).....
Yesterday was a guilt free day. These are rare indeed. I was tired, and had a sore tummy......so shock horror....I snuggled down with tea and cake and watched Water For Elephants........IN THE DAYTIME!!!!!!! What WOULD Jane say about that then????!!!!
Happy weekend xxx
