special feature
Then I helped set up their candle STEM project. I did pull up my computer
to do some work, but since this was their allotted time, I didn’t mind
when they interrupted me to show me their progress or ask me questions.
Having the expectation that this was their time, also helped me to be more
patient with them. I also chose to focus on a task that didn’t require my
full attention.
Next up, was mommy’s time to work on taxes. The understanding here
is that unless it’s an emergency, they need to leave me alone and do things
for themselves as best they could, like get their own water. Whatever
questions and needs they may have had, needed to wait until my hour was
over. A spontaneous fight did break out but having this understanding has
kept the incessant demand for mommy in check.
Dinner was followed by a quick Zoom chat, which was followed by an
even shorter cleaning session with the help of my kids, which I write more
about next.
As you can see, my day didn’t go according to my aspirational hopes. Not
even close. My jog wasn’t peaceful. I was interrupted while working on
my taxes to play referee. And only half the living room got cleaned with
most of the clutter still strewn about. But we made small progress. The
kids did their candle project and they got to chat with some friends. We all
got exercise. And I made a slight dent in my taxes. Everyone got a piece of
the pie. Nobody was left out. Not least of all mommy.
27