Unemployment? Freedom!

I was made redundant  this week, from a job I enjoyed and one I  think I was pretty good at. The redundancies are a result of government cutbacks  and were unavoidable  for  my company. When the cuts were announced it was a shock to me and my DOH but after some discussion we decided  that it wouldn't  be  the worst  thing in the world for  me to take some time out to focus on our family. So I volunteered.

I am very fortunate  that my DOH has a good job with a reasonable salary, and he is indulgent  of me and my projects. He may well hope  to come home from work from now on to a gleamingly clean home, dinner bubbling on  the stove, the children scrubbed and shiny and running to greet  their beloved papa.

I will of course have my hair coiffed, my nails painted and be in fishnet stockings and heels  as I tend  to my little darlings and the home baked pies. When my beloved comes in I will plant a fragrant kiss on his cheek and offer him a drink as I listen attentively  to the events of his day.... Not.

I will be doing the lion's share of  the housework ( which I hate) the cooking ( which I hate), the shopping ( which I hate  but love  to have control over) and  the childcare ( which I find exhausting, stressful, and boring a lot of  the time). This is the down side of  life at home.

 On  the upside I get  to have breakfast with my girls every morning and dinner with  the family every night. I get  to take  the little ones  to nursery and playgroup, and  pick them up. I get  to hear about  their day and  get  to know  the the other parents  and the teachers. I get to meet a friend for coffee when I can squeeze it in. if  I get one little one  to sleep in  the afternoon  when  the other is at nursery I get to watch "The Real Housewives of ....." wherever or do some craft/writing or ironing  for my little business Ironing Lady to the Stars, or just have  some peace.

For me it is  not an easy transition  from working woman  to full time mummy/housewife, but  it is something  I have chosen  to embrace. It is my job now. with  the help of The Flylady for cleaning routines  and tips, and Pinterest for recipe and home decor  and craft ideas I hope  to have  a home  that my family  love  coming  home  to . I hope  to not go insane  with frustration  and boredom and I hope  to not spend  the entire household budget  on  things I like or I might be in trouble !

Struggling with Self Expression

I like  to think of  myself as a creative  person. I like  to read and  to write  and I enjoy crafts. I have never been a follower of fashion, but have tried  to wear clothes that I liked , and  that I felt suited me. I am struggling right now though with my middle daughter's desire for self expression.

My youngest likes to wear wellies with almost anything , and sunglasses indoors even on dark days, but  that's  cute in a Boden Catalogue sort of way. It's colourful and expressive and most importantly, reflects well on me as a lovely liberal and cool mum.

Nancy however is a different kettle of  fish. At 4 she is very confident and sometimes downright willful She has expressed her opinions (loudly) since she started talking and likes to choose her own selection of  clothes in  the morning. This  can be problem free - or at least minimal if we chose a dress, what could  go wrong? The problems arise if we go for separates. One day last week she went  to nursery in a pink and purple ethnic printed skirt ( think Monsoon Kids) with a neon pink t-shirt with flamingos on it, and a pair of orange and pink spotty tights, top  this look off with sparkly light up baseball boots  and you will see what I am up against!

The hair is another battle, she has fine wispy hair  that only looks good  when freshly brushed or tied up. One  the pink explosion day in question she wanted to do her own hair and came up with a lovely side ponytail effort, but only using half of her hair  so it looked more like a comb-over  than a "do".

Nancy and her little sister Florence are embarking on their school careers  this month at playgroup and reception year, so I suppose I should be glad of  their self expression as the creativity will be knocked out of  them soon enough when  they get swallowed up by grey and navy school uniforms. I haven't  broken  the news to Nancy yet  that when she get's into "Rainbows" she will be wearing a red track suit, nice.