I've only been home with my boys for a few days (tomorrow it will officially be a week, but who's counting, right!?) and I have to admit I'm glad that I work outside our home.
Don't get me wrong. I love my kids. I love the time off with hours to complete the countless chores I usually squeeze into two hours each evening. But I really miss adult contact/conversation and I'm getting stressed. Not a good sign with a week to go in our winter holidays.
I've already warned Aaron on Boxing Day I'm heading to our local scrapbook shop (please, please, please let it be open) to scrapbook in peace away from little demands and petty squabbles.
The moments the boys get along everything is great and I could happily curl up and remain at home forever. But when sibling rivalry rears its head, when the boys get physical with each other or they argue, I can't help but feel the stress build inside me. I know it's like this for every parent. Aaron tells me that is the way boys are and to leave them be. I do, until I hear them getting physical with each other. Then I have to step in, right?
I find working on my layouts are the one way I can deal with this stress. It's odd but focusing on those photos - silly, happy, sometimes sad - allows me to enjoy those moments I want to preserve a little longer. It gives me the sense of accomplishing something and I'm able to let the boys be boys while I'm cropping and pasting.
Some day I hope to discover the balance between safeguarding my children while allowing them to determine how to put up with each other. Until then, I will just have to do my best and learn as I go.
