Being domestic

Well, Bobby went and did it. He threw in the SAHD towel. He started a new job last week. A supposed day job. However, he has been getting home between 8:30 and 9 pm everyday. I'm not sure I'm liking this new job, and I wonder how long it will take him to get burnt out on the long hours. He's gone 14 hours a day.

In the meantime, I am here at home, picking up his slack. Now, I have to preface this by saying that I pushed him to look for a job. For a couple reasons, one, because he encouraged me to switch from my PT weekend shifts, to FT, which resulted in a slightly smaller paycheck. And two, because he was seriously starting to suck at the whole housewife gig. I felt like I was working 48+ hours each week only to spend my days off cleaning up the house. Now, he'll disagree, but it's all about perception, and that was my perception. So, I guess I shouldn't complain since it was my idea to get him off the couch and out of the house. (In his defense, the house wasn't a wreck. It just wasn't clean ALL the time, which is how I perceive it should be if someone is in it ALL the time). I'm sure that last statement will come back to bite me in the butt, especially since the clothes I gathered up for a children's sale 2 weeks ago, are still sitting in their totes in the dining room. : p

Now I am not what you'd call a SAHM, since I do work 12 hr shifts at least 3 nights/week. But on the days I am off, it sure feels like I am. With getting the boys off to school, taking care of the little ones during the day, laundry, cleaning, bill paying, grocery shopping....... well, you get the idea. In the battle of SAHM versus working Moms, I must say, working moms have it soooooo much easier, IMO. Well, if you have somebody to help with the home front.

So anyway, I am easing back into domesticity. Which I'm sure will cause a chuckle to those who know me IRL. Beyond basic cooking and cleaning, I am far from domestic. I have been tackling the housework the last few days, trying to figure out a system. Has anyone tried Motivated Moms Chore Planner ? I've read about it on other blogs and it seems pretty interesting. I need some motivation and organization when it comes to cleaning. I'd much rather check my email or read a book, than clean.

And cooking? Well, I used to do it. Back in the pre kid days. But with the amount of effort it takes and the lack of satisfaction I get, what with 4 little picky eaters, home cooked takes on a whole new meaning. Not like homemade, more like home thawed, then fried or baked. However, I am making an attempt. So today, I tried something I have never done. I am making homemade bread. Eek! I have made the bread machine mixes before which have turned out well, but have you ever tried to make a sandwich with those huge square slices? This is actually homemade bread. And it's a little scary. You're supposed to add enough flour to make a "workable dough". Um, what's that? The only dough I have "worked" with comes out of a can. This dough was a whole lot stickier. And when the recipe says use a very large bowl, it means it. I split the recipe in half to make two loaves, and the dough still rose up over the top of my Pampered Chef batter bowl. I had to transfer it to my Tupperware humongo, giganta bowl when I got to the "punch down" stage. After 2 risings, and a third in the loaf pans, it is in the oven. It is still pretty sticky. I used the dough mixer attachment on my Oster Kitchen Center (first time in 13 years). I can't imagine kneading this stuff by hand. I'm sure I didn't put enough flour in it or something.

Anyway, I will let you know how it goes, in about an hour. Or when "the crust is brown and it sounds hollow when it's thumped". Seriously.