Antsy In My Pantsy

By the time February rolls around,  that cabin fever feeling really begins to set in.  I find myself wistfully staring at the window, wishing  it was warm outside so I could throw on a pair of shorts and a tank top and go outside to garden.  Or just take Hunter for a walk in the stroller.  Or go to the playground. Or anything, really.  As long as it's warm-I'm in 7th heaven.  When it comes to the cold weather, though, I am a complete wimp-o.  And it seems as if the older I get, the more difficult it is to get me outside.  I want to want to do it.  Really.  I do!  I love to skii, go sledding, skating-all the fun winter activities.  But it just takes some major motivation.

So, like I was saying-cabin fever has really set in.  And I find myself, after staying home with Hunter for a year and a half, that I want to work.  I find I base my days around my tv shows (the Dr.'s at 9am, Sesame Street at 10, and Dr. Phil at 3, of course!).  Hunter has been scaling back to one nap a day pretty much since he hit the 16 month mark.  He's been doing much better, and goes down at night much easier as well.  His naptime is typically around noon.  Then around 5, I start dinner, wait until Babe comes home,  eat dinner, evening playtime bath, then bedtime.  That's a normal routine for us, give or take.

I've found I just can't do it.  Strictly being a SAHM, that is.  Or should I say exclusively a SAHM.  Let me just make myself clear: I love spending quality time with my little guy-but man, oh man, I miss working.  I miss setting my alarm clock, waking up, getting dressed and going about business, then coming home to take care of the rest of my family affairs.  That sounds so crazy, doesn't it?  I've been battling with this for a few months (I'm sure the whole being-stuck-inside-most-of-the-day thing hasn't helped either), and every time the thought has crept into my head I would instantly dismiss it because I felt like those thoughts meant I was a bad mother.  I look at it in a different light now. Every mommy is different, and it doesn't mean I love my son any less or love being with him any less.  It just means I need my own "me" grown up time away from changing diapers, dancing to Yo Gabba Gabba, and terrible two temper tantrums.

Where was I going with this...Oh yes.  I need to get out of the house.  And I just might have found my chance. I went job searching last week and found a part time job opening for a children's gymnastics instructor.  Next week I have an interview, and I'm not going to lie-I'm pretty damn excited!  It will only be about 10-15 hours per week, but I think it's something that is much needed, for both Hunter and I.  Hunter will be able to play with his little buddies and socialize, while mommy can get out of the house and make a little extra money. 

I think that's a win win.


How many of you have felt or feel the working "itch"?  Or maybe you haven't and you're totally content with being a SAHM ( I look up to you moms, especially those like the Duggers-I am so fascinated by them.  How do they do it!?)  In any event, what do you do when you feel like you're going crazy staying at home?