An off day or a day off?

My last couple posts have come from personal growth and experiences. But, something funny about them is that I didn't intend to start a theme.  My blog is generally a happy place - my writings are not vague or mysterious... for the most part.  I like to just write for whatever the random muse inspires me to.

I guess that since I'm knee deep into a book that I'm writing, my reflections have been somber. My book is certainly somber.

Anyway, I'm beginning to pick up on something, as I look back through the past few weeks. I love blogging because it's a personal journal with the opportunity to receive feedback.  And, one thing I'd tell myself (if I was reading from the flip side) is that I need a day off!

Back in December, I decided that it would be good for me to take one day off every so often (maybe one per season?) as a way for me to recenter and re-appreciate the blessings that are built in with my business.  Of course, I will plan these days off in a way that is most convenient for the families that I care for... I wouldn't want to throw an axe in the kiddos' routines or be a burden to the parents that employ me.  So, I am carefully planning a day around holidays and weekends, planning my "sanity days" at the same time as I brainstorm craft/developmental ideas that will help the children connect to holidays and seasons.   

And, when I say that I plan for a day off, you must be aware that there never is truly a day OFF of anything work related. Toys must always be sanitized (especially since I have little ones of my own at home) and plans must always be thought of ahead of time...  my weekends always include at least one or two hours of planning and/or cleaning - as do any holidays or days off that I anticipate.  But, "a day off" to me is just a chance to care more about myself without the responsibility of also caring for four other bodies in the house simultaneously.  Does that make sense?
   
So, in early January I looked ahead at the calendar and saw that Valentine's Day was going to be on a Saturday. I decided to take the Friday before off, with the plan to schedule some appointments and get other chore-like things done on this day off also, so that Valentine's day with my family could be celebrated with no other obligations or to-do lists looming over the weekend.  I made an appointment for my (ahem) yearly physical, and I had planned to go with husby to the bank so we could take care of old business that needs to be taken care of (how does one do banking type business when one works during all banking hours?).  Rich took Friday the 13th off his work as well, so that we could do all chore-like things together (and so he could watch the girls while I attended my appointment, oh joy). 

Then, after that day off was already scheduled and approved of by my employing families, I found out that the ACS CAN! summit was going to be the following Monday, the 16th.  I just became an active advocating member of the ACS CAN! team (see more about that here ...it's all very exciting and I hope to blog more about it very soon!!!) so attending the summit became a priority.  So, here I was with a Friday in Feb. off, learning that I needed also the next Monday off.  So, Rich so kindly volunteered to take the following Monday off so that he could be the care provider for the daycare while I attended the summit.  (Really, do you think he minded scheduling a four day weekend from his job to spend a couple days at mine? Yah, I don't think he minded so much...) 

Well, February showed up and that's when my doctor's office called to say that (for whatever reason?) they'd need to reschedule my appointment. Of course, my doctor isn't in on Mondays - so it's not like I could just move it to the 16th and take care of the summit and this responsibility all at the same time.  So, I asked my parents if they'd be able to switch - giving me Monday off instead of Friday, since I'd no longer need Friday off because the appointment had been canceled and I felt bad for needing Monday off as well (even tho Rich was scheduled and excited to fill in).  Monday was President's Day, and generally, if you work on President's Day, it's hard to get that day off - so I understood when a family apologized for not being able to grant me the day off.

Well then, a week or so later, I learned that the ACS CAN! summit was rescheduled to Saturday because (duh??) people couldn't come due to work obligations. This cracks me up.  So anyway, I had already told my parents that I will work on the Friday since my doctor's appointment was canceled, but that I'd need Monday off (but Rich will substitute) because of the ACS summit... and now, I'm telling them that never mind, I can work on Monday (and therefore Rich will NOT be subbing) because the summit was moved to the weekend. 

What a riot.

Rich still has a four day weekend scheduled with his work at this point, which makes for heavy irony since I intended all this to happen because *I* wanted a day off.  So, being the sweet husby that he is, Rich graciously invited me to get out of the house (and away from the business) on Friday. I spent an hour at the gym while he played with the kids and I was able to come home with helium filled balloons to give to the kiddos as a Valentine's present. It worked out great, despite the fact that I did work the rest of the day and felt a great deal of obligation to the kids upon my return (I felt guilty for leaving them for my own personal pleasure.)

It just happens that yesterday was the Monday we're talking about here, President's Day... and Rebecca woke up with a pretty high fever. All day long yesterday, she was running a ridiculous fever. She couldn't sleep, wouldn't eat and was cranky and miserable all day long. Rich was at work, and I had a full house (even Julia was here, there was no school on President's Day!) .... wow, talk about stressful. And I had a wee little internal struggle because I was "supposed" to have the day off in the first place!

Well, last night, Rich and I agreed that he'd better stay home today since Rebecca is so clearly sick. She'd need to go to the doctor if her fever hadn't subsided, and it wasn't fair to have her contaminating the toys that the other kiddos were to play with.  So, Rich made arrangements with his employer to be absent today so that he can care for our sick baby.

Of course? She woke up happy. Fever free. She slept all night long.  And, thank God, let me add - it's GREAT that she's better!  But, seriously? How confusing. I had a day off, then I had two, then I switched the one for the other, then I had neither off, then husby had one off, but now he doesn't. And it turns out that we're both working non-stop despite the extra effort taken to have a day off!

Who has the day off, when?  Are we having days off or off days? Geesh.

I'm gonna plan something in April. Easter is in April.  I will have a day off in April!!

Indeed, blogging is cheaper (and easier hah) than therapy. I feel better already, thanks for listening.