Tuesday, February 10, 2009

"Knock. Knock."

I am kinda of alone.

The husband is at work, Jay at school, Lola at an afternoon play date, the baby is asleep, and there are two men upstairs in my master bathroom ripping out the wall, ceiling, and tile surrounding the two person jacuzzi tub. I can hear the hum of the massive humidifier in what's left of my computer room. I can also hear the one working downstairs which is standing on bare concrete since the same men late last night pulled the carpet away. And I can hear the hammering away of my chair molding on the walls of my beloved master bathroom retreat. The place where I took this picture.

But that isn't the point of this post.

The point is that I am kinda of alone. This is my time. It is the equivalent of a working person's lunch break where for one hour they can eat, relax, and catch up on personal emails. I could be doing a multiple of things during my alone time. Catching up on Oprah, running on my treadmill, actually sitting down to enjoy lunch, or cleaning. I could be cleaning. I should be packing for our vacation being that we are leaving for Mexico in 60 hours or so.

However, when I do find myself alone, I usually end up at the computer. It's happened before. It is during *this* time that I sit down to pop out a sloppy rough draft of a blog post. I write until I hear the most magical words echoing through the baby monitor, that without fail make me smile everyday.

"Knock. Knock." aka "Come knock-knock on my door, I 'm awake."

I know that the baby is awake and my time is over. I save my draft and go back to it after all three kids have been bathed and kissed good-night. My best friend emailed me sometime ago and asked me, "How do you do it? How do you find the time to write a blog?" I don't know if I have ever answered that question. I usually giggle and say "Oh, I find the time."

I have never written a post with children present. For starters, it's just too chaotic and I can not think. Moreso, I rather not have the computer on when I could be with them. However. Today. My girlfriend came over and said something that made me think twice. In so many words she explained that it's a good thing for our children to see us writing. It is our hobby. Writing is a good thing. "Studies show that children who see their parents read. Read." She explained. "It's a hobby and a great one at that."

Growing up I remember my half dressed mother on the kitchen floor scrubbing and cleaning. All. The. Time. It must have been her hobby because that's the first thing I imagine when I close my eyes and think of her. We lived in a pretty clean house.

"Knock. Knock."

My time is over for now. But the next time I get an urge to jot down some ideas I might hold my children in my lap, read them some of my words, and show them my hobby. I am not a writer but writing on this blog chronicling our lives is my hobby. And I'm proud of it. I want them to remember me as having respectable hobbies that I enjoyed which in return made me a happy person.

"Knock. Knock. Mama."

"KNOCK. KNOCK. Maaaama!"

Check out my little "knock knock" baby here where you can have a chance at winning her adorable outfit!

38classy comments:

Val said...

Yeah, but then like my kids they will say, that's all you ever do is read.
But I guess I'd rather have them see me reading then cleaning. Since reading is more important.

Barking Mad! said...

I think you're absolutely right about this.

One of my greatest joys is seeing my little ones read...and then seeing my teens read and now WRITE and loving it!

But I do so enjoy writing when it's just me and the hum of the fridge, the buzz of the dishwasher and the thump of my overloaded washing machine trying to escape the confines of the laundry room. *lol*

Lovely post.

Auds at Barking Mad

Unknown said...

Ahhh yes that me time is sacred. Thank hank TOF sleeps for at least 2 hours, I'm a free woman til 3 pm. Sometimes I nap, I'm a well rested Mema with a dirty house LOL

Laski said...

I think the key is making them part of it . . . show them what you do, talk to them about it. You may pique their interest in self expression.

Maybe they'll start a blog.

And talk about their mom.

Hmmm . . . may need to rethink.

:)

J won't let me near a computer yet. Or a phone. Or a box of tissue (I don't get that one either). Or a toilet *sigh*.

Caroline C. Bingham said...

I think that is one smart friend.

Kate Coveny Hood said...

I think I providing a little too much encouragement in this area and should put the laptop away more often than not. I do try...

Lisa said...

you are one smart chica.

it is warm here & I am loving it - and afraid of it going away. think you could pack a big ole' fat prego woman in your suitcase to mexico???

Lisa said...

PS - check out "When Writers Read" by Jane Hanson. It's from one of my Masters courses, but a great book to read as a mom and one that helps to build wonderful writers...

3 Peanuts said...

Oh I am like you in that I almost only blog when the kids are sleeping or at school...once in a while though I will upload photos or sneak a peek at e-mails. My boys do not really see blogging as "writing" although it absolutely is. They see it as time I am not focusing on them and to be honest---they are right. They are at school all day. I only get them for a few hours. I should be glad that they want my attention and want to tell me all about their day. That will change soon enough. Now Kate---she is a different story---she get me ALL the time! UGH!

Kim

carrie said...

I think your friend is right!

While yes, I agree - spending time with your children is THE most important thing, letting them know that they have a happily balanced mommy with her own interests is important to! :)

Now, I have to go tend to my own version of "knock knock," in the form of a hungry 5 year old girl!

Grace said...

It's so important to show our kids that we have interests and passions-reading, blogging, cleaning, or whatever they maybe. It's the best way to encourage them to pursue their own.

To this day, my mom is always after us about not "reading enough", but yet I've never once seen her read a book herself. NEVER. "Too busy," she always says.

I love to read, but is it any wonder that my sisters are always "too busy", too.

Indy said...

I totally agree. My kids love looking at your blog and seeing pics of their friends. They know that I write stories and sometimes have pics of them up too.

I have to say, you are nicer about your baby waking up. I usually scream out something crude b/c my break is over. You are so nice about it.

Unknown said...

My kids are a bit older...so finding time to write isn't so hard...alhtough I find myself lost in checking out other peoples blogs and NOT writting for my own. I also get up really early to excercise, I have two days off...so sometimes I write a few then...or one...or not.

Skiplovey said...

Yeah I can have the laptop out and all while my kid is playing but as far as concentrating on writing, little tougher. Naptime is the best writing time for me, by the end of the day I'm usually too tired and brain dumped to come up with anything meaningful.

Krystyn @ Really, Are You Serious? said...

That is so true. Show them what you want them to learn, right?

My daughter loves to sit on my lap and look at the "people" and "words and letters" on the screen.

Stephanie said...

No, see you missed the point of that post. Is that Fifi can't sleep with all the noise going on! ;oD

This is coming from a mother of a daughter who wakes up if you WALK ON CARPET IN HER ROOM! ;oD

Have a great vacation!

Hey it's Amy Benson said...

I agree! Reading is important with children, they should see you enjoying something you love.

Tami said...

I think this is so true! I am a big reader and thankful that my daughter loves it also. Neither of the boys looooove to read. I actually read with my oldest all the way through senior year, it was a motivator to finish the book :) Have fun in Mexico, I am wishing I was back there!!

PS: Not that the flooding is a good thing, but thank God it didn't happen while you were gone on vacation!!!

Jenera said...

I quite frequently am on the computer with the kids watching. Well, the baby can't help it. But my toddler knows I'm 'working'. Many times I'll let him sit on my lap and he'll do his 'work' or he'll play with his toys.

The only time I do not do anything no the computer is when the hubby is home off the road. I may look up stuff or check emails quickly but I give myself a limit of like 10 minutes.

Kari said...

I couldn't agree with you more. I like showing my kids their pictures on my blog. They especially like my design. It has a lot of pink in it, so how could they not...

Smores for Breakfast said...

really cute blog!

I think when mama enjoys something (especially as something as awesome and fulfilling as reading) it will encourage them to read too. It's learning by example. I think that's the best kind of mommy-ing out there.

You're adorable!

MIT Mommy said...

I have to agree with MomBabe on this one.

tiarastantrums said...

Love the Knock Knock - my kids will just call for me Momma!!!!!!!!!!
Baby girl is always (ALWAYS) on my lap or behind me in my shirt while I blog!!!

GypsiAdventure said...

a bit of 'our' time is ok, but having them see the hobby or 'our labor of love' is good to. Then again, maybe one day they'll look back and think...how did she do it AND keep everything so CLASSY!?

Have a good time on your trip!
~K

Anonymous said...

I do the exact same thing. I don't want to miss time with my kids for computer time.

But they do see plenty of me taking pictures and I love that my oldest is really taking an interest in the equipment and even some of my photography books.

Karen MEG said...

I've always wondered when you find the time to blog too!!
Funny that you should write this...hubs was reading one of my posts today and asked the boy if he wanted to read it, he thought it was a really good post and that he would like it.
And he did. Amazing what a feeling that gave me!

Half Gaelic, Half Garlic! said...

I am with you on this one....I do most of my blog reading and writing at night, but I do at times let my kids see me...in fact, Nick enjoys reading some of the family type blogs with me.....it is a great way for me to get him to read more:)

Good luck with all the construction!

Lisa

Jill said...

Alone time? What's alone time? Even when my kidlets are in school, I'm never alone... the dog, maintenance people, driver, maid... someone is always here to step on my zen.

I leave the computer on all day - with the hope that I'll get a chance to sit down for a minute or two in the afternoon when the kiddies are occupied.

They, like many others above me, love looking at the blog, at their photos, and even photos of people in my google reader.

Blogging though - can never take place when they're around. :)

Clare said...

keep it up classy mommy:) I love reading your blog, and your daughter is adorable!

katydidnot said...

my little people love it when i read them my blog posts. ahem...the ones that are appropriate.

knock, knock.

Unknown said...

You my dear ARE a writer. Call it a hobby if you must but you are a helluva writer. Claim it!

Blessings From Above said...

You are not a writer??? Honey, you are an AMAZING writer!

Knock-knock. So cute how Fifi makes her presence known after nap time. :)

CC said...

I've given up on trying to write when the kids are absent. I just write in front of them. Phooey to them. ;)

Kat said...

I hear ya! It is so hard to concentrate on writing when the kids are around. That is why I haven't been writing much. I am so exhausted to do anything but take a nap when they are napping. Hopefully I'll start getting some energy back. ;)

the mama bird diaries said...

I stay off the computer too when my kids are around. By keeping the computer off, it allows me to be more present for them. But I do tell my daughter about my blog and show her pictures on it sometimes.

Sweet post.

Cordelia said...

I blog with the kids making mayhem in the background all the time. Back in the years BC (Before Children) I used to need quiet to read or write, but over the years I've learned to shut out background noise pretty well. If I hadn't I couldn't possibly blog.

BTW, I'm not Cordelia. She's my 5-yr-old my daughter. I don't have a Google ID (what does a 5-yr-old need with one, you're probably wondering) and can't figure out OpenID to save my life. I'm Brigette, blogging at

http://moraliablog.com

Jaina said...

Knock knock Mama. Too adorable.

Deb said...

Oh, but you ARE a writer, and I love this idea. I do the same thing you do, and maybe I need to rethink that as The Ambassador gets a little older and understands more about what I'm doing.

 

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