My day usually starts at 5am. I wake up that early to do work that I don't want to do in the evenings. My daughter is 15 months old. My second daughter will be delivered this Monday (it's a scheduled c-section, that's why I know the exact date). I do work at 5am because I don't want to take any waking time away from my daughter or from my wife. So I work, drink coffee, get ready. I usually leave around 7-ish. I work on campus from then until about 4 or 4:30, depending on the day. So I'm home by 4:45 and I play with my daughter until we've fed her, bathed her, and put her to bed at 7:30. If I can keep my eyes open I hang out with my wife, play some wordswithfriends (she's been beating me so much lately!!), and drink a glass or two of wine. Then I fall asleep with The West Wing playing in the background.
So when do you people tweet and post blogs??? Where do you find the time? I just cannot take any more time from my family than I already do. I want to (tweet and post blogs, not take more time from my family) but I love them too freaking much! I have so much to contribute to this conversation, so many IDEAS to share, but for right now the only ears they fall on are my wife's. And a buddy every now and then.
From the moment I step on campus until the moment I leave I give all I've got. Rarely does a day pass where I get home and my feet aren't tired. I feel like I need the ice whirlpool more than I did after football practice in college. And when I walk in the door I give all I've got to my daughter, and will somehow find some more to give when daughter two gets here. And when that's done I've got no' mo'. I'm spent.
So forgive me for not contributing more right now. I will, somehow. I promise. I just don't know when.
I don't know how anybody with kids does anything. I figure once I have my first, that'll be the last anyone hears from me ever again.
ReplyDeleteGood to hear from you.
It gets easier as the kids get older. No one says that. They only say, Enjoy them while they're little; the time flies by. But seriously, the intensity of your present home life (which is only gonna get more intense in the near future, I gotta say) will lessen.
ReplyDeleteAnd in the process you'll learn which priorities matter and you'll be less apologetic about them.
My little ones are now 7 and 4. They're still a ton of work. And my days sound a lot like yours. But home life is less draining that it was 4 years ago. That equals more work energy.
And for now, your priorities are in the right place. Enjoy those little ones. They're a lot of fun.
I have a two and a four year old. It didn't happen immediately... but my cape has fallen off for sure. Don't feel bad. (not that I don't at times).
ReplyDeleteI still tweet, but that's because tweeting is easy.
ReplyDeleteI've barely been blogging lately. Two of my last three posts have been about being a dad and the other one was cross-posted from my classroom blog.
I have essentially the same schedule as you do, Alex, except I don't get up early. I basically get from when the final bell rings at 3 until 4:30 when I pick up my son to get work done. We play and play and play until 7 when he goes to bed then it's the same mad rush to be a husband as you mentioned.
Speaking of time, I need to get back to work. :)
Yep. Sounds about right...except my 9 year old is beating me at Words With Friends.
ReplyDeleteI don't have kids and I have no time to blog. I leave for school at 6am, get home at 5pm (on a good day) and have a couple of hours of work to do then. I feel like I'm neglecting my husband - I have no idea how people with kids do it.
ReplyDeleteRight now, your contributions to your students and to your family are immeasurably great. You've fed us in the past - it's our turn to feed you. My Aussie hubby calls it "Swings and Roundabouts".
ReplyDeleteI'll need to take a bit of time off to get crackin' on the dissertation. Sigh. Blogging and tweeting is more fun.
Janet | expateducator.com
So good to hear from all of you! Thanks for your words. Being new to blogging I kept forgetting that I needed to adjust my settings so that I'd receive notices when comments were posted. Settings adjusted and I'll (hopefully) be communicating better from here on out.
ReplyDeleteBTW Lucy Belle Eckert arrived 9/19/11, healthy and happy :)