First week as a SAHM

I am not sure what to call my current state- a SAHM, retirement, a working break, semi retirement. Not sure how to define it. I am also not sure of what the future will bring, if I go back to work or in what capacity. Getting over that fear of not having a clear path in life was a huge part of me finally quitting my job. But I am so glad I did and now I get to share my first week as a SAHM (SAHM seems to fit the best at this very moment, so I will use that title for now).

As someone who is always on the go, work gave me an outlet for that energy. But now I get to focus that energy on other things I want to. I had a job that measured my day in .1 (6 minute) intervals and now I do not want to measure my days by filling up every minute or trying to see how much I can cram into the day. I want to enjoy each day and the things I have time to slow down and finally do. Check out my post about quitting my job here.

December 1 was first day as retired(ish). I have now had 1 complete week at home. And, I admit, I really, really enjoyed it. While working I survived because I had a pretty strict routine, for myself and the kids. While I kept the kids nap/quiet time schedules and bed time routines, I did not put any pressure on myself to make a routine. I had things I needed to do, but I did what I was able to. I did not worry about waking up before the kids to get ready and pack lunches, because for the first time, I didn’t have to. If I got ready with a baby hanging on me, then I did. If my toddler put on makeup while I was trying to put on some makeup, well then he wore some makeup that day. It was nice not to rush.

Not feeling like I had to get to the next task (a work task, a phone call, a work bill to review, laundry to change out, starting dinner or order groceries), was really, really nice. I was able to just enjoy the day.

I did not measure my days or rush any activities, I just lived. I am reflecting now on the week- and I am realizing I actually did a lot of things that I wanted to do. While the list below may seem mundane, I am feeling like myself again, which I have not felt in a long time.

So what did my first week as a SAHM?

1. Regularly brushed my teeth and took care of my skin. Seriously, there were so many days I started work (when I worked at home) that I never got around to brushing my teeth. I made sure to take care of myself.
2. I made myself some delicious lunches. I had a baby holding onto my legs as I cooked, but I did it. I also ate lunch at a table and not working (which I have not done in years).
3. I went to the library. I live within walking distance of a library, but I have not been in a year. I took my one year old to story time and brought my four year old back the next day to pick out some books.
4. Went to the mall to just walk around. My holiday shopping is almost done, so I went to get coffee and just walk around with my daughter. Window shopping without feeling like I needed to rush to get the items I needed and get home to get to the next chore was very relaxing.
5. Downloaded and worked every day on Doulingo. I have wanted to learn Spanish for years. I have started before, but now I committed.
6. Spent some time working on graphics for the blog and learning more about blogging. I would like to listen to some podcast and read up even more about growing my blog.
7. Spent some time working on some projects on my Cricut that I planned for the holidays.
8. Worked out a few times. I did a Yoga class, a bare class, two core classes and two 1/2 hour cycle classes on my Peloton. Considering I worked out a total of 4 times in November, I am already beating last month’s record. I missed working out and it was fun to try new classes.
9. I have watched more Disney+ than I will admit. I am catching up on movies I missed over the last few years- Frozen, Frozen II and Encanto have become my kids favorite movies of the week. I was so surprised at Encanto- I loved it. I would watch it even if I did not have kids. I can’t remember the last movie I watched, but I have now seen 3 in the last week.
10. Did some simply crafts with my kids. We decorated foam snowflakes I picked up at the dollar store and hung up the snowflakes up with holiday cards.
11. Worked on cleaning up the garden. This was a task that was far overdue, but I took some time to pull dead plants and ready the garden a little for the spring. Still have some more to do, but I did more in an hour than I had been able to do since September in the garden.
12. Read books to my children in the middle of the day, because we could.
13. Obsessed over Instagram accounts about sourdough bread.
14. Started a sourdough starter. And threw it out. And started again.

So I said earlier I wouldn’t measure my days in .1 intervals and I won’t. The point of this list was not to see how much I accomplished but rather, to see all the things I did this week that I have not been able to do in a long time. I wanted to relish in all the things I did just because I could. I can’t wait to see what else I can do now.

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