Home Grown: Grace Under Pressure

June 02, 2006

Grace Under Pressure

Someone recently accused me of making everything I do look graceful. I need to dispell that myth.

Here is a secret: I don't have a lot of grace unless you consider my youngest daughter, Grace. That's a lot of Grace. Otherwise, very little grace.

Maybe because in my posts I don't complain (too often) I give the appearance of things being a little too perfect. Oh believe me, things are not perfect, unless you consider I am perfectly happy in this point of my life.

My days are just like yours. I cook. I clean. I do laundry. I change poopy diapers. I get tired. I dream of housekeepers and personal maids and a team of gardeners and handymen.

I do try to put a good meal on the table every evening. Sometimes it might take me ALL DAY to actually get the meal prepared. There are even times when supper isn't on the table when Steve comes home. I might even serve him breakfast for supper because it doesn't take long to whip up some eggs and biscuits and or maybe sausage and pancakes. Remember after we eat there are dishes to wash.

I might occassionally wash dishes as I cook, I also have a dishwasher but more importantly I have a daughter whose sole chore is to clean up the kitchen after meals. I have help. If I didn't have help these days the dishes might sit on the counter or in the sink for a quite a while before I get to them.

I clean a little everyday. House work is a never ending chore. But my house is not spotless every minute of the day.

Maybe because I have been doing it longer than most I make it look easier?

Right now I am sitting with a puddle of papers at my feet and a stack of bills to pay. I have a baby fussing and a teenager complaining. I have a dog begging to come in and a cat terrorizing the dog. It is hazy, hot and looks like storms coming.

It is early and I am tired already. It's hot and looking like rain. The pool temp is at 74+ ... maybe I'll have a pool day until the rains come.

Too bad it is too early for margaritas.

Posted by Angie at June 2, 2006 08:07 AM

Comments

Every once in a while, especially on a Friday, Happy Hour can start at noon!

Posted by: channah at June 2, 2006 09:31 AM

Who says it's too early for Margaritas? Are they not a fruit juice on ice? And isn't fruit juice a standard breakfast fare? Ole!

I like your post on normalcy here, but I still think you're a superwoman, regardless of the level of grace. :)

Posted by: sueeeus at June 2, 2006 10:14 AM

Hey..it's five o'clock somewhere ;)

Posted by: poopie at June 2, 2006 11:49 AM

Well, grace is not a word you can apply to me either. I'm a klutz.

When I think of you, Angie, strength and intelligence are the words that come to mind.

But it's good to know that you get tired, too.

Let's share a housekeeper for a day and drink Margaritas by your pool.

Posted by: Raehan at June 2, 2006 12:36 PM

What I find amazing is not all that you accomplish, but you appreciate what you have, and count your blessings everyday. You are living in a state of Grace.

Posted by: Hope at June 2, 2006 02:44 PM

You would actually get into a pool that is only 74*???? Mine has to be at 84* before I'll even hang my feet off the side....LOL

And you do have grace - as well as Grace.

Posted by: kenju at June 2, 2006 04:48 PM

There are other words, too.....exceptional, remarkable, funny, loyal, fierce, passionate, warm, hostess extraordinaire....

I could play this game a long time.

Posted by: Raehan at June 2, 2006 06:53 PM

Lots of dittos here. I'm impressed by how much you get done while caring for an infant!

Posted by: liz at June 2, 2006 08:45 PM

Well I still think you are amazing!

Have a margarita for me!

Posted by: kate at June 2, 2006 09:59 PM

It says alot about your character that you write a post like this. It shows what grace really is.

Thanks for being real.

~K!

Posted by: Kismet at June 3, 2006 04:04 AM

A yard boy would definitely be nice. A strapping young yard boy. Would you insist that he work with no shirt on?

Posted by: Miz S at June 3, 2006 07:32 AM

I was just thinking about you today and how you were unstoppable before your baby. I am mostly just at a standstill, almost fully stopped. I sat in the rocker comparing myself to my image of you and felt a wee bit sorry for myself. So funny to come here and read this. I appreciate your humility and honestly. And somehow I feel better. THanks and thanks.

Posted by: Meredith at June 4, 2006 03:15 AM

Whew. This post makes me feel a little better because I often wonder how you get everything done! It was my job growing up to clean up after meals and to empty the dishwasher. Oooh, I hated both- still do today!

Posted by: Lucinda at June 4, 2006 03:19 PM