Working Mom Can NOT Do It All

November 1, 2007.

I was hoping to post some creative "Thanksgiving, fall like artwork" on the site today......but I am still trying to get the orange paint and glitter off my finger nails and wake up.  I was trying super hard to be that "everything to everybody" and do "everything"........and guess what I can't .  I had to do all sorts of Halloween stuff with my kids.  I did get up at 5:30 a.m. yesterday to try and finish everything for the  "Halloween Carnival Parade Party 2nd Parade 6 Children Play date Another Party Tricker Treating" Day.  Not only did I NOT create fall-like art, I did not make it into the office.

Not working when I chose not to work is a small perk.  I think I only checked my blackberry 27 times yesterday - a personal best for me.  This was one of those days when the company really could do without me - amazing, but true.

It was fun (and exhausting) to be at school all day for the Halloween, I got to be .....just like the other Mom's.  Sometimes I feel it is good to be "that" mom, to be super involved with my children's school - once or twice a year I will pull out all the stops (um, that would be play date and if you take a gander at all the activities I painted) since I have that guilt thing the rest of the year.

Whether I volunteer every day in their class, or once a month, I hope they will remember that I was there all day on Halloween.  The day is about them, and I loved being involved!  As a working Mom we all have to figure out what is important and what means a lot to our children.  My son really likes that I volunteer in the class once a week to do computer lab, it means a lot to him.  So leaving work early for one day a week to be there for him for one hour - not a big sacrifice for me, and to him it means the world.

My husband is also super excited because we donated all of our old party games to my children's school.  I am not the 'buy some party decoration's type of girl - I have to paint something.  Pin the Tail on the Donkey - uh, NOT.  I know, I know I have some real control issues.

And it would not be Halloween if I did not dress up like a total ass.  Yes, that is me - I am in costume, dressed like my friend the "Stay at Home PTA Mom" (not that there is anything wrong with that)....official badge, and school jacket to boot.  I am sure she will get me back next year, or make the next year a living hell for me, I deserve it.

So, with November  officially upon us, I can saw that the Holiday Shopping Season has begun.  Any day now I am sure I will see someone wearing one of those damn Santa hats.  Personally,  I will be holding my breath for the next two months - it is a mad dash for us to the end of the year.  We do 30% to sometimes 40% of our business this time of the year, and we are on target to beat our projections (gee for a second there I sounded all like a real CEO and all).  No matter what the industry says about a a possible Recession, gas prices or the Iraq war we are damn busy. 

My poor kids probably won't see me at an event until Christmas Eve - hence the spending all day with them yesterday, and don't forget the photos to prove it at a later date, "See Mommy was at your school, I did help out, I am involved."

Comments

[London]

Soooo funny, I'm loving the spandex pants. Where can I get a pair? I'm jealous that you got to spend the day at school with the kids. I typically don't volunteer for parties or teacher help until after Christmas. I've learned in the past that it only makes me cranky because I'm so swamped with work, when I should really be enjoying it. So I commit in the spring when things are a little less hectic. But I miss my favorite school parties that way. The kids look awesome and I'm loving the spider dog!!

[liz]

I also volunteer at my daughter's school once a week for the very same reason, so she doesn't think that all mommy does is sew. Control issues, also familiar. Shall I recount the birthday party where the kids followed a life-size candyland board through the house? My husband's comment: "Cant we just have a NORMAL birthday party?"
Enjoying your blog! :)

[Jamie Lentzner]

London - I am NOT wearing spandex, baggy comfy capri's - and you can not see the super fab white keds, got my friends out fit down to a T. I ussually do the same thing and NEVER help in the Fall...but we have talked about how I have employees who help me out.... :). I worked all last weekend so I could attend. Thanks for the nice comment.

[Jamie Lentzner]

Robin - thanks for the comment! Great blog, I just popped over and saw all your work, I need to keep reading. BTW my husband says that to me all the time....I swear I can not do it any other way, the best (or worst) part is my kids now get involved with crazy ideas!

[Lea]

LOOOOVE it Jamie! You're costume ROCKS! Your friend is gunna soooo get you later!! I volunteered on Halloween too and it was sooo nice to just clock out and be 100% there. Instead of thinking of the "Product Inquiry" emails that were stacking up in my inbox... :-P

[Amber M.]

I have plans to write about being blind-sided by Halloween too. I came to the conclusion (as I was not making it into the office much either) that as business owner MOMS, we have to consider the FACT that holidays will not be work days.

That way, if we make it into the office, we'll feel GOOD instead of BAD for what we didn't do, when we're doing much more important stuff for our kids anyways.

Love the costume!

[Jamie Lentzner]

Amber - hey there thanks for the comment and you are a step ahead of me - it took me, what 5 years till I realized this was just the way it would be. I have been on all the field trips so far - Super Mom if you will. I have warned everyone not to expect to see me for anything except Thanksgiving and Christmas Parties - too busy!

[Jamie Lentzner]

Hi - sorry for the delay in responding to you. It is a hard decision to make, and it is very expensive. I do not know enough about your financial situation or your product line. You may consider sharing a booth with another, or trying a show closer to home first. Good luck to you - and please let me know what you decide to do!