In effort to put to rest any questions about the bliss of working and raising children, I am here to share my typical day. Weekends, weekdays time does not seem to matter much. I have an ongoing list of to do's that I am constantly multitasking just so I can use my BIG sharpie: declaring vistory on completing something. I am sorry to also say that for the majority of families out there men have an advantage of career advancing that women do not. I am not debating; it is a fact unless you can afford a full time nanny or are blessed with a grandparent/auntie/family member who would never accept money. Few professional women use their weekends or non-office days for personal work or time. So, on my Saturday, after early morning hours in the yard with the family, I rushed to get some work time in before the afternoon when I would be the primary parent again. My personal time is spent working on photography. I have the occasional mom friend's lunch; I take my son to play dates and places of interest. As I drink my 4th coffee of the day, I am off to the trenches of Photoshop-ing versus "Mom what should we do now?"
I love both my jobs, don't get me wrong. I just wish as women we had more of a chance to be a full time mother and a professional. In a recent article in Outside Magazine, many Olympic athletes had a blurb about being regular folk describing a a typical schedule. Each of the men stated they worked out extensively over the weekend. The only woman and only athlete that rose at 4am everyday to get her workouts in. For this alone, I think she should earn some sort of medal. She designed her day around the children and work.
As a working woman artist and mother, I too attest to the early morning opportunity to reclaim the person I am when I am not too busy being mom. All you Zen Masters will argue we are who we are all the time; maybe so, but in the misty morning watching the sunrise over the wetlands that were once Florida, I am truly myself. Ahhhh, feeling so free.
