Treading Water
January 28, 2009
When people ask me how I am this has been my standard response. “I am treading water.”
It is an improvement on a couple weeks ago when my honest answer would have been, “I am drowning.”
At least treading water implies that you are actively fighting.
My Christmas tree is still up.
There are still random decorations around the house. Though I have been carrying them to the dining room as I think of it and piling them on the dining room table. My dining room sort of looks like Christmas vomited in it. And that is putting it nicely.
In a fit of anger, one of my son’s punched a hole in the wall. A wall with wallpaper.
I took the lazy way out and “repaired” it by cutting out a piece of wallpaper, matching up the pattern, and gluing it to the wall. You can’t even tell it is there. I am equal parts amazed by my mad wallpapering skillz and horrified that I even considered it as a legitimate repair. Maybe this is how it began with the previous owners of our house. Next thing you know I will be using duct tape instead of nails to hold things together.
I hate winter. I know, I know, everyone says it. But I don’t think they mean it as much as I do.
So what turned me around from drowning to treading water? It is never the big things. It is the small ones that make all of the difference.
I went to Staples where I indulged in my unhealthy love of office supplies.
I had a conversation with a friend that I thought was mad at me, though for the life of me could not figure out why. Turns out she just has a Miles who “helps” with their voice mail and routinely erases their messages. I love her enough to buy her story. Because I know I am always full of good intentions and not so full on the follow through. If I were the New Year resolution type that would be one thing I would want to change about myself.
Heh. After I just typed that I sat back and thought for a moment. Do I mean I would resolve to quit having the good intentions? Or resolve to follow through? And just the fact that I had to sit and consider that a moment proves to me that I am not ready to change.
I cut my own hair and it LOOKS GOOD. As opposed to when I tried to do my own eyebrows, the result of which was NOT GOOD.
Another friend invited us to her house, on a beach, next month. Where it is warm and NOT snowing. Instead of thinking of all the reasons we couldn’t do it, I immediately said yes.
I may just get around to taking that Christmas tree down… next month.
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Beach sounds good! I love being in the east coast winter for a few weeks and then I start to get depressed with the gray and the short days. Spring will be here before you know it!… and you can decorate the tree with Easter decorations!
January 28th, 2009 at 10:07 amYou are not the only one. I’ve been drowning since before Christmas… January was a bad month for me… but, I think we’ve turned the corner… here’s hoping February is better.
January 28th, 2009 at 10:26 amMy tree is down and the ornaments are in their boxes, sitting at the bottom of the stairs, not in the attic where they go.
January 28th, 2009 at 10:28 amI have no children so I feel a little sheepish identifying with your feelings of being overwhelmed, but boy am I right now. So true that the little things make such a difference. I was just ruminating that fact this morning as I drove in to work (my car is where, every morning, I give myself an attitude adjustment). Getting organized in some small way. Performing some act of grooming that I realize I’ve been neglecting. These things have the power to propel me in a different direction…especially me who thrives on routine and structure (even if I currently have none).
January 28th, 2009 at 10:30 amHey, my tree is still up too! And I have no plans of taking it down anytime soon. Two years ago I left the tree up until after tax season. This year I’m thinking about just leaving it up and decorating it for the seasons - like hanging Easter eggs, American Flags, Pumpkins, etc on it and then just putting the Christmas decorations on it again. It does help that it’s an artificial tree. Hope your winter gets better soon!
January 28th, 2009 at 10:35 amWell, really, you got your Christmas stuff up so late that you’re just making up for lost time.
January 28th, 2009 at 10:37 amLeave the tree up and have the kids put Easter decorations on it - buys you even more time. Or, you could keep going with some American flags…..eventually some turkeys….and there you are. Look at you, ready for Christmas already!
January 28th, 2009 at 10:49 amThank god I’m not the only one who loves office supplies. Office supplies and school supplies. And I don’t even have anyone in school.
I love those clingy letters!
January 28th, 2009 at 11:09 amI also have a LOVE of office supplies. Folders. Pads of paper. I could spend an hour just walking up and down the aisles of Staples/Office Depot/Office Max!
January 28th, 2009 at 11:16 amI totally know how you feel…….January and February are the hardest times for me……….I hate winter too………I feel like a recluse most of the time and actually kind of am. And don’t even get me started on teenagers with rage and the attitude…….It is all I can do to not smother them, hahahahahah!
January 28th, 2009 at 11:36 amTreading water is okay. Winter is long (and what’s with all the snow. Ugh. You’d think we live on the East Coast or something…)
My Christmas decorations are mostly boxed, but still in my dining room. The only reason they are boxed is because my mother visited last week. Oh wait. Two weeks ago.
Hang in there. The beach sounds amazing.
January 28th, 2009 at 11:45 amJust keep treading!
It’s a hard time of year, I can’t stand the winter anymore…even *I* wonder why I still live in New England. And have FUN at the beach!
January 28th, 2009 at 11:47 amI know how you feel. Hang in there girlfriend!
January 28th, 2009 at 11:49 amI like that…”treading water”. I think I am going to steal it. That okay?
I just feel weary because I’ve been treading water for a while know and it’s damn hard to keep it up.
Thanks for the reminder that others out there are doing it too.
btw: loving the photo blogging.
January 28th, 2009 at 11:50 amDid you buy anthing good? i have a thing for office supplies too…
January 28th, 2009 at 12:06 pmGlad you are threading water if the alternative is drowning. January is a bit like that. A sun holiday sounds great. On the same basis we just booked 10 days in Spain over Easter Hols. I cannot wait to see the sun and get some heat on my bones. We had a pretty sh**ty summer so haven’t worn shorts and t shirts for 2 years now! Looking forward to a holiday cheers me up to so double the value. Enjoy
January 28th, 2009 at 12:20 pmI am sorry you are going thru a hard patch!! I took my tree down yesterday - thought I was the last one!! I think the wallpaper sounds brilliant!! keep smiling until you get to the beach…just think of the beach everyday for a month! maybe that will help?
January 28th, 2009 at 12:26 pmI’ve found that there is a fine line between drowning and standing on the bottom while supporting the offspring. Draining the pool a little helps me catch a breath.
January 28th, 2009 at 12:27 pmWhen I was young, in shape and in another life, I actually ENJOYED treading water.
My Christmas tree went from being a Christmas tree to a New Year’s tree to a MLK tree to an inaugral tree.
I hate cold with a passion. Really. We could be sisters from a different mother in that regards.
It will warm up. I promise. I woke to the sound of the ice melting.
The sound of birds singing in the trees will come soon. And the sound of the a/c blowing…
January 28th, 2009 at 12:29 pmOh, yes. I know all about treading water…just wish I had the beach to go with it!
January 28th, 2009 at 12:40 pmI hear you and you are not alone! My tree is still up, too. The only reason we don’t have any holes punched in fits of anger is that our walls are made of plaster over lathe - a fist would break before that wall even had a dent. But what’s unhealthy about a love of office supplies?
January 28th, 2009 at 12:45 pmsince you got such a late start on christmas due to your football adventures, i figure you get to dawdle on wrapping it up. it took me days and days to pull off the tree decorations (in the 2nd week of january), then it was just too much to wrap up the small fragile items. sigh. and packing all of it back into the crates, no way. thankfully, my partner took care of. i suppose i can blame my pregnancy.
January 28th, 2009 at 12:51 pmWinter = Bad; Beach = Good! I DO truly hate winter as much as you do. I am tired of being cold. I hate being trapped by snow and ice. I hate my kids getting cabin fever because it is too cold to send them outside. To be fair, we’ve gotten much less snow than you, so I will award you the title of Winter Hater LOL. Have fun on your trip!
Oh, and I loves me some office supplies too. My boys just don’t seem to get off on freshly sharpened brand new pencils like I do. What’s wrong with them?
January 28th, 2009 at 12:52 pmI just took my Christmas tree down a couple of days ago. I told everyone it was because my daughter, who was born on January 15th, likes to have it up until her birthday… It was true when she was little. Not so much now that she’s 14.
January 28th, 2009 at 12:55 pmI share an unhealthy love of office supplies with you. And I hate winter too (although I have way less to complain about than you in that dept). The only reason my tree is down is because it died and dropped needles everywhere. The other decorations are still out.
So basically, I’m trying to say, you’re not alone. (Except for being invited to a warm beach. I can’t say I can relate to that.
)
January 28th, 2009 at 1:12 pmDon’t be so hard on yourself. My tree is still up and I only have one child (who’s at college right now), work from home most days, and have a very helpful husband. I just haven’t felt like dealing with taking all the boxes out of the closet and putting it all away yet.
January 28th, 2009 at 1:22 pmYou and me are in that deep water together. I’m waiting for someone/something to throw me a line. Most likely it will be when the sun begins to shine and the warmth embraces. That is weeks away, unfortunately. I think the beach will work wonders for you! I know it would for me.
January 28th, 2009 at 1:23 pmLeave the tree up. Turn it into a seasonal tree and make it a homeschool art class. Your kids can put hearts on it this month, lions and shamrocks next month, Easter stuff in April, flowers and rain drops in May…
I almost did this with mine except it is so tall I couldn’t move it to another room. BUT had it fit in the dining room, we would totally be running with the seasonal tree idea…
January 28th, 2009 at 1:31 pmI thought it was getting better around here but then we had 10 inches of snow dumped on us overnight. The kids are home from school and completely screwing with any business work I was trying to do today. I’m ready to be washed up on a beach somewhere…
January 28th, 2009 at 1:39 pmAgree. Winter is a huge drag this year. Too much snow, too much cold. Just feeling sort of blahhhh. You have sun and beach to look forward to, so that is great!
January 28th, 2009 at 1:44 pmLay back and float for a little bit. You might find yourself farther out to sea, but at least you will get some rest and a tan.
January 28th, 2009 at 1:46 pmLast year, we kept our tree up until March. And I don’t even have 7 kids, so what’s my excuse?
January 28th, 2009 at 1:59 pmI hate winter too. For me, it was shoes. Maybe I should try office supplies next….
January 28th, 2009 at 2:03 pmthanks for the reminder that I am not the only one treading water. it has been a difficult few months. it’s sure to get better…
January 28th, 2009 at 2:26 pmJust the other day I GLUED…yes…as in glue gun and stick….those little metal things where curtain rails hang to the wall because for some reason I couldn’t get the drill bit to go it. Granted, they are very light curtains for a small laundry room window but hey…as long as it works right so if your patch work worked then consider it a success!LOL
Hang in there…anything that keeps us treading water (office supplies, shoes, chocolate!) is a good investment on keeping our sanity.
January 28th, 2009 at 2:34 pmMy Christmas tree is down and packed away, but I am drowning in piles of laundry (unfortunately, dirty laundry). It is impossible to catch up on everything. So if a Staples fix (what’s with people who don’t love office supplies–that’s not normal) will tide you over to the beach vacation, I say you are a very lucky woman indeed. And I am thinking of calling an old friend whose family has a beach house . . .
January 28th, 2009 at 2:42 pmI thought I was the only person with an unhealthy love of office supplies. I saw a pretty padfolio at Barnes and Noble the other day, and I shivered. We should start a support group.
January 28th, 2009 at 2:49 pmI love it when women are honest. So often we spend more time telling about all we do and not about what we don’t, or can’t, or just plain won’t. It makes me feel human and therefore normal.
January 28th, 2009 at 2:56 pmI wish I was treading water. I’ve given up lately….put on a lifejacket and just float my way through. When I get stressed I go to shut down mode and don’t do anything…its quite evident that has happened when my husband says “okay, I am completely out of clean underwear, and I am not just saying that because all of my favorite boxers are dirty”.
January 28th, 2009 at 3:05 pmBe thankful it was a wall with paper on it. Mine was newly painted and of course I made the color up myself by adding and taking out color. My husband took the cans to the hazerdous disposal site a few weeks ago to get rid of them. Seriously, what was he thinking???? I need paint to reapair the walls. I’ve tried three times to match the color. No luck. Unfortunately the hole was down low, otherwise i would just stick a picture over it and call it a day. Life with kids….never boring.
Hang in there and enjoy the beach!!!
January 28th, 2009 at 3:42 pmHang in there. And have fun with the office supplies!
January 28th, 2009 at 3:47 pmIt sounds like winter’s starting to get to you. Sorry. I switched all my lightbulbs to the compact flourescent daylight bulbs and they’re making a HUGE difference in my mood (and my electric bill!). I highly recommend them.
Oh yeah, don’t vacuum them up if you break one. They contain mercury, just like high fructose corn syrup….
January 28th, 2009 at 3:58 pmChris,
January 28th, 2009 at 4:11 pmHave you ever looked into getting a light box for the winter months? Many people here in the Pacific NW suffer from SAD, Seasonal Affective Disorder. My sister had it and finally bought a light box. She used it for about 30 minutes a day and it helped immensely. Just a thought.
I’m confident that I hate winter at least as much as you do.
January 28th, 2009 at 4:19 pmMy decorations are down inside, EVERYTHING is up outside. Even the little Welcome Santa sign. I am barely hanging on between part time work, nursing school, 3 kids and a husband with a full and part time job. I feel as though I am getting most things done but the laundry? Somehow it got away from me and I seriously think I have 20 loads. Could I really have that much? That stresses me out so much I almost called my mom way over in DC and asked her to fly out and help me with laundry. Why am I typing to you instead of working on it? Good question………
January 28th, 2009 at 4:33 pmJust think about all of the calories you’re burning while you’re treading water. I know. Not much help.
Hang in there, kiddo.
January 28th, 2009 at 5:32 pmHang in there, and maybe sneak a look around, a lot of us are treading.
January 28th, 2009 at 5:53 pmps I hate winter, too.
We just took the tree down Sunday. That and the stockings were our only decorations this year, but i just couldn’t muster up the energy to put everything away.
January 28th, 2009 at 6:32 pmEveryone once in a while i feel the need to delurk and comment on your amazing site… Will it make you feel any better if i tell you that i have no children and have been so insanely busy with traveling for work, sick for a week and just generally not in the mood, to take down the Christmas Tree? I even turn it on every night. I am planning for this weekend. Hang in there!
January 28th, 2009 at 8:19 pmWhat’s with the damn trees this year? Mine’s still up too. My kids asked if we could leave it up all year. They almost had me on board, but no, I don’t think so. (My son is allergic so our’s is artificial). I hope I take care of it soon.
January 28th, 2009 at 8:39 pmGood luck with yours, and enjoy your vacation!
Sorry, but I do love Autumn and Winter. A friend at work told me that I am only the second person he knows that likes those seasons.
My tree is down but all of the other stuff is in the diningroom too! I guess the solution here is to build houses without diningrooms - then we’d have to put the crap away!
January 28th, 2009 at 9:14 pmDude, all my Christmas stuff is still up, too. It’s not the worst thing that could happen in the world, just take it down when you feel like it.
January 28th, 2009 at 9:54 pmI was really hoping there was a link to the bad eyebrows. To a picture. Or at least a link to the new haircut?
January 28th, 2009 at 9:55 pmi switch place with you if you want. i’m in melbourne australia. todays temperature is 43 C with and expectant low of 29 c tonight. snow sounds so nice…
January 28th, 2009 at 11:42 pmCan you get any more drawn seductively to office supplies than to be a member of PenciloftheMonth.com? My new Staples staple - The Pilot FriXion, the erasable PEN. You’re writing that thank you note and mess up (!!!) taken care of with the the Frixion. As for the Xmas thing, I moved a HUGE obstacle out of the garage onto the driveway called My Car, and used the space to store all the crud. My Dining Room is perfect. My garage is in need of a little TLC but at least the house is “clean”
January 29th, 2009 at 12:51 amTreading water beats drowning…
January 29th, 2009 at 12:53 amTreading water is so … right on. I think that might be our number 1 job as moms - staying afloat! And it is the little things that make me happy too. Right now I am obsessed with little clearance sale items; things like fragrant votive candles and … um … Hello Kitty stuff! Especially little Hello Kitty notebooks! Too cute!
Hugs to you. And I hope you feel better soon.
January 29th, 2009 at 2:14 amWow, he punched a hole in the wall. Teen or tween angst?
1. I, too, have been cutting my own hair for over a year. Grab scissors. Look in the mirror. Cut. Voila! I’d rather spend the money on
2. writing instruments! Writing with a good pen or pencil is simply orgasmic. It doesn’t help that I have hypergraphia. I love to write. For hours. Keyboarding is lame in comparison- haha. I know most like pens/fountain pens but my obsession lies in mechanical pencils, especially the Dr. Grip Pilots. Oh. My. God.
3. I can’t pluck my eyebrows either. Well, I can certainly pluck them… into 2 tadpoles.
4. We still have our tree out. I like to think it’s at least still serving a purpose by ventilating O2. But I remember it’s faux.
Bits of me in that entry. I really smiled.
January 29th, 2009 at 6:35 am*If you drown, you’ll have 7 battling each other to give you CPR. Stay strong!
The end of January is always depressing. Hang in there. Spring is around the corner. And you have a beach house to enjoy before then! YAY!
January 29th, 2009 at 7:02 amMy Alter Ego! Seriously, from the Christmas decorations (now put away, thanks to yesterday’s school snow day—-but the tree is still standing there), to the office supplies fetish, to the follow through issues, to the occasional need for wall repairs. Only exception is that I don’t mind the season.
Also treading water here, and I don’t really remember it not being this way anymore. You have my empathy and as you can see from all of the comments—a lot of others’.
January 29th, 2009 at 7:04 amChris - you light up my days with your funny stories and beautiful pictures. It sounds like you need help. Get the help you need. I don’t know if you will even see this because there are so many other comments. I wish I had written yesterday when I saw your post. I know how you’re feeling, because I have been there. Blogging must be cathartic for you, and that’s great, but maybe you need a little more than that. My friend calls them “happy pills”. They are not what I want, but they are what I need. Take care of yourself! I know that’s hard when you have kids because they always come first, but you can’t take care of them if you’re not taking care of you.
January 29th, 2009 at 7:43 amHang in there spring is another day closer. That’s my motto and i am sticking to it.
January 29th, 2009 at 8:02 amGo to the beach!!!!
January 29th, 2009 at 8:49 amI’m so glad you repaired the wall paper like you did. I think I would have done the same. Now you have something to show his children what their father did one day. I’m sure he will be thrilled.
Obviously you do not post much, because treading water? Not from what I read. You have a wonderful life. Wasn’t someone treading water in that movie? Hmmm.
January 27. The longest my tree has ever been up in my life. Still almost completely decorated. Winter doldrums and holding onto the edge of the pool here. You are not alone.
January 29th, 2009 at 8:51 amOops, I guess that should read January 29. See, I’m so deep down I don’t even know what day it is. Damn snow day yesterday didn’t help.
January 29th, 2009 at 8:52 amI just finished taking down the last little bit this week also. Now it is all sitting in the basement, where it will stay until I have a reason to put it up. You know like a flood or company coming to stay with us
As much as my kids and I think we want to move somewhere where it really snows, I don’t know if we (me) would survive. I’m cold all the time and I’m only in Georgia!! Us Louisiana people are WHIMPS when it comes to cold weather!
January 29th, 2009 at 10:32 amI honestly don’t know how you do it. It’s amazing that you’re even treading water. I would have drowned long ago.
January 29th, 2009 at 12:01 pmOne day at a time, that’s my motto right now.
January 29th, 2009 at 12:33 pmMaybe you’re just suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder…I pretty sure I am! Sunshine will surely help.
January 29th, 2009 at 1:35 pmDo you know why your tree is still up? Because you cook and make crafts with your children. Oh - And you home school too!!! My tree came down before New Years, but my children aren’t having all of the fun that yours are having.
January 29th, 2009 at 2:11 pmI too love office supplies. Well, mostly gel pens. When I’m depressed I’ll spend $40 on pens and then feel even worse. Until I open them. Then I’m fine again and feel like 20 pens are totally worth $40!
January 29th, 2009 at 3:38 pmI have no kids, I work “full-time” (teaching college–so I am only on campus 25 hours a week and make up 10 hours at home or on campus), and I have a husband who is relatively self-sufficient. But I am still treading water too right now. I don’t remember days being this LONG and this SHORT. I swear there is never enough time to get everything done (like grading a gazillion papers) but I am so tired at the end of the day. I don’t know what I would do if there were 7 kids looking for me to organize their lives also. Good luck in finding the shallow end…and when you do, it will be much more fun.
January 29th, 2009 at 3:54 pmKeep on treading! I once had my Christmas tree up until March…
I hope your winter blues go away soon :o)
January 29th, 2009 at 4:11 pm16 days till “Pitchers & Catchers”! My husband just asked me “how many friggin post-its does a girl need?” And here I thought my obsession was ’special’…
January 29th, 2009 at 5:54 pmThere’s nothing like a Zebra F-301 pen to make my day a little brighter…its good to know others enjoy the secret joy of walking about in Staples!
January 29th, 2009 at 8:37 pmI’ve just returned from looking after 2 of our small grandsons with my husband for a few days.
I appreciate everything you young wonderful moms do for your little ones.
It’s funny..I don’t even know you and thought of you while there.
We had the honor of caring for our 3 yr old Lulu and 18 month old Max.
It took the 2 of us to make sure ..we knew their every little wish and whim and awake and sleeping moments were perfect while their mommy and daddy were away.
I thought ..How do YOU DO IT?
Bravo..you’re funny..sweet.. smart and are doing an amazing job!
Just like my girls.:)They just have less children..so far:)
Winter wears on everyone..It’s a lot harder with children in winter.. Snowsuits boots..little ones can’t even move:)
Spring will be here soon.
January 30th, 2009 at 11:04 amI buy kitchen stuff instead of office supplies.
why don’t you get that kids who wears the hoodies and holds up the wall to get his butt in gear and take the friggen tree down??/ lol j/k!!!!! (January has gotten a-holed of me-pun intended) don’t you have enough kids to get them to do some work!? forget homeschooling, more ordering them around!
January 30th, 2009 at 5:16 pmI cannot think of a single person who had a good January. In fact maybe January didn’t really happen. Maybe it was all a really bad dream and now that it’s February we’re awake. You think?
And if you go somewhere warm TAKE ME WITH YOU. I’m good with kids. I would make sure they didn’t kill each other or something.
February 2nd, 2009 at 10:05 am