Today: Honey Did List

My husband is probably one of the most wonderful, supportive husbands who ever graced this planet.  He loves me, admires my work, is my biggest cheerleader and my best PR agent.  He also, on occasion, says things without thinking.  This does not lessen his love for me (nor mine for him), but it does put me in the position of feeling a bit defensive now and then.  Especially on the days where I didn’t accomplish as many things on my to-do list as I’d like, and am feeling particularly vulnerable.  I think sewing, like parenting, is a gig where you’re always DOING but not really often DONE with what you’re working on–life and craft are both a work in progress.

Months ago, I read an article about how we all ought to look at our days not as a TO-do list, but rather as a DID-do list.  Today was one of those days.  So on the off chance that my husband comes home and sees that this list isn’t even close to being accomplished:

• get bookkeeping up-to-date
• fold all laundry and put away
• tidy family room and put away all toys
• call my sister and see how her knee is feeling
• take out all garbage and recycling to the curb
• organize garage and carry out all empty boxes
• make bed
• pick up veggies from CSA
• send thank-you notes for baby gifts

at least I’ll have THIS list to compensate for it:

• prepared three meals for five people (including packing husband’s lunch)
• nursed four times
• changed 8 poopy diapers between two children, one of whom is suffering from intestinal distress
• began hand quilting the quilt I’ve had sitting around for M these past eightish months
• thought about layout ideas for the next pattern I’m working on (thinking totally counts)
• emailed out all the Overmost orders for today
• cleaned up three spilled drinks (all water, thank heaven)
• played three rounds of “Where did baby go?”
• colored chalk for 20 whole mintues
• snatched one mischievous toddler from the jaws of death (OK, from getting into the dishwasher, but still)
• loaded and unloaded the dishwasher (not with children–with dishes)
• conquered Day 2 of Operation Regular Sleep Schedule for the nearly-eight-week-old (woot!)
• wondered five times what I’d make for supper
• replied to dozens of emails for the shop, and corrected one mistake I made yesterday
• fed the dog
• taught O where his arm is–hey! new words! (after reviewing eye, ear, nose, hair and mouth)
• forced baby to have Tummy Time (which we both hated)
• brushed my hair (some days, this is not a high enough priority, so today, it makes the list)
• designed two new graphics for this very blog post (see?)

I’m feeling pretty good about myself, from looking at that “did” list.  The “do” list is making me think my house is embarrassingly filthy, but then I remind myself that I am raising human beings and creating art, and that those things have an intrinsic value that goes far, far beyond what can be gotten from a scrubbed toilet or a vacuumed welcome mat.  So, Sweet Husband, this is why the bed didn’t get made–I was super busy with ALL THIS STUFF.  Thank you for being so wonderful and understanding, and putting up with the piles of laundry, and for always recognizing that sometimes, the biggest contributions are the most invisible.

Good heavens, I’m exhausted!  Maybe we’ll get take out tonight.  Whaddya think?