1. A clean house...
Hire a maid to come every other week to keep things semi-sanitary.
2. Cooking fancy meals...
Learn how to make a mean grill cheese sandwich and serve them up hot or simply thank God for a husband that cooks and cooks well.
3. Laundry...
When the kids turn 12 have them start doing their own. If this isn't an option yet, save the laundry for Saturday or Sunday while you are correcting papers.
4. Lunches...
To quote my 14 year old son, " Lunch is just to get me to the next meal." It doesn't have to be fancy or all that well balanced. In fact, often my own lunch is just a collection of snacks I can eat throughout the day when the blood sugar starts to dip during reading group or a math lesson. I always pack my snacks-lunch the night before and encourage my two kids to do the same. When they were smaller, my husband was the lunch maker man.
5. Hair...
There is no time for fancy hair or make- up. Ponytails are just fine and can be highly fashionable with the right earrings. Don't totally skip the make-up though, you don't want to scare the poor children with the dark circles under your eyes on the mornings you get up at 4:30 AM.
6. Clothes...
Trying to figure out what you are going to wear in the morning simply takes time that you will not have. I find it best to have six or so "uniforms" that I rotate through during different seasons. The nice thing about where I live is that the seasons are all just about the same, so most uniforms can be worn year round. Also, never take the time to iron. The wrinkles will shake out by lunchtime.
7. Commuting...
Do not live more than two miles from the school you teach at or the school your child goes to. If at all possible, have your children attend the school you or your spouse work at. This will save you a lot of time. If they must go off to junior high, they can ride their bikes to school. On rainy days, you will just have to be a little bit late so you can drive your darling the two miles to his or her school and then the two miles to your own.
8. Getting to work early...
Don't put this stress on yourself. You will hardly ever be the first one to get to work in the morning to get the one of the good parking spots. Most likely you will be one of the last to get there and the last to leave. It all balances out, so no need for feeling guilty. On Tuesday track and Thursday long run mornings, you will most likely be about five minutes later getting to work then on other days. This really shouldn't be a problem if you are sure that you are totally ready and have everything in place for the day before you leave work every night.
9. Fear of running in the dark...
If you are a full time teacher-mother, you will have to run in the dark of morning. This is the only time you will be guilt free. It will also help you to focus on other things because you will have already taken care of yourself. The problem is that most gyms with treadmills aren't open early enough for those longer run mornings. I am lucky and have a treadmill in the garage for really early dark, cold solo mornings when I don't even want to run with my dog along for protection. However, what really works best is to skip the treadmill all together. Buy a good headlamp and find a group of like minded runners to run in the dark with you at least a few times a week. Misery loves company. Just be sure to be home in the shower before your 12 year old daughter gets up at 7:15 AM or you will be late to work for sure.
10. Weekends...
Let them go. Relaxing weekends will only be nice surprises during the school year. You will get up early to run on Saturdays and most likely correct papers or go into work at least once over the weekend to make it possible to go to bed at 9 PM most school nights.
11. Social Life...
It will be gone unless you do all your socializing with like minded runners who totally get that you just can't really function after a 20 mile Saturday. And, as for having people over to your house for a BBQ.... That is just not going to happen unless your husband does all the inviting and cooking. You will need to make sure you have friends that know to go home by 8 PM on a Friday or Saturday night, so like I said... It is best to just let the social life go.
12. Reading for fun...
You will just be too tired. Save that special book for vacations.
13. PR's...
You will just have to give up chasing the time. There is too much on a teacher - mother's plate to worry about improving by 2 minutes on this or that race. When it all is said and done, you really are the only one who cares about your time on a race anyway. So, give it up and just run. Run strong. Run for fun. Every once and awhile you might even PR.
14. Sleep...
You just won't get much. Sorry. This is the hardest one for me to let go during the school year. I LOVE my pillow.
15. Romance...
Wait! No! Don't give that up! This is something you will have to fight for as a busy, tired runner woman. Young children can't be left alone, but older ones never seem to go to bed. The challenges to this part of the puzzle are many. A gifted writer could probably make a lot of money writing a book on this one topic, but I am not gifted nor am I that writer. If you are that person, I am happy to share ideas with you and will be very happy to hear of yours.
No comments:
Post a Comment