When calculating your daily points allowance in Weight Watchers you answer a questionnaire that tailors the program to your gender, age, height, etc. One of the questions asks what you do for a living. I am a graphic designer, so I spend my day in front of the computer. That naturally earns me a big fat zero extra points per day. The next step up in daily activity adds an extra 2 points. In that group are jobs like salesperson, teacher and stay-at-home parent. I can see why.
Martin went to see Avatar this morning with a friend. I had the rare opportunity to have the boys to myself. Generally we’re together as a family all weekend. He does so much around the house while I’m at work that I wanted to return the favor. From the moment he left I was feeding the boys, feeding myself, doing the dishes, getting the Christmas tree up (yes I know we’re terribly late but it’s up now), cleaning up the living room, taking out the trash and recycling, playing with the boys and getting them going on a few activities, starting laundry, looking online for a few last-minute gifts, starting lunch, feeding the boys and myself, doing the dishes, swapping out loads of laundry, cleaning up the living room, getting the boys ready for their afternoon nap, reading stories, kisses and hugs, lights out, then… time to sit down for a moment. Luckily they both went to sleep. Yesterday they didn’t, so there was no break for Martin while I was at work enjoying my leisurely holiday luncheon (see earlier post).
I’ve never doubted how hard he works as a stay-at-home dad. Today just reinforced it. On the weekends I am responsible for more than the weekdays because during the week after work it’s so important for me to spend as much time as I can with the boys. Being away from them all day is incredibly tough. I love my job and I love that Martin is home with the boys. We have the ideal situation for us. We both work hard to stay afloat on a single income. I recently spoke with a friend at work who likened it to a duck swimming on a lake. On the surface they’re graceful and calm, but if you look underwater you’ll see those little legs kickin’ and a flappin’… but I wouldn’t change a thing.
Just keep moving, no matter what it is. Your body gets used to it so you can push a little more. You don’t have to run a marathon right out of the gate. The dangling carrot that keeps me going is health. I want my body to catch up to where I see myself a year from now. I know I’ll need help along the way. I look to others for inspiration. Yesterday, I ran into a coworker I hadn’t seen for a while. She has lost 43 pounds and looks amazing. It helps so much connecting with others who are going through the same thing. I hope that I can connect with people here. If anyone is reading this and has a story to share I’d love to hear it. Weight loss is a very personal issue for a lot of people, but by writing here I’m trying to change that. Even if I only change it for me that’s something.
“stay at home dads rock”
Just curious, but do you also think stay at home moms rock?
Oh my gosh, hell yes. I don’t know how you (SAHMs) do it. Anyone who can devote the time, patience, calm, organization, and on and on into infinity to raising children earns so much more than they get credit for. I hope I don’t sound like I’m blowing smoke because I’m being completely honest. I truly admire stay-at-home parents. In our family it worked out for my husband to stay home because he hated the job (not the profession) he had before we started trying to have kids. If it had been the other way around I’d be the one at home. We knew we were going to try to have one of us at home. All stay-at-home parents rock. You truly do. No one but a stay-at-home parent knows what it’s really like to be there 24/7. Thank you for your comment. It usually doesn’t occur to me that we’re in the minority. =]