Today is baking, cooking & cleaning catch-up day #1. . yup all in one shot! Of course I couldn't pull this off without the help of my husband (who took Mitri to school this am & will pick him up after school) and my mom (who picked Mitri up for lunch and will be returning him back to school for his afternoon session). Sounds like an easy thing to coordinate, but it's not in our crazy family!
Husband's in real estate. When a customer calls & wants to list, buy, or sell, you drop everything & go! Monies at stake! Mom, is well, Mom! She too is in real estate, except she's owns it & manages it. She's also in the travel business, she's owns that too. She's also on various boards, committees and writes for the local newspaper (travel articles). Needless to say, she's harder to book for Mitri-coverage than the President.
Now I know as ASD moms & dads we all have a shit load of things to do & usually multitask like no body's business. But when my darling husband ask me this morning "what are you doing today?", I thought he was going to choke on his morning vitamins as I rattled off the list without thought. I usually don't do this and just say "oh, stuff & such", but today I guess I thought it was important to bring to light the fact that I work my ass off everyday, 24/7, even when Mitri isn't home! Now, in defense of my dh his question was perfectly normal. . .my reaction wasn't. Seems I had already had my back up when my mom, a few days ago, ask the same question when I asked her if she could pitch in this week, so I might catch up on some things since I lost a few weeks or so with being sick myself, then Mitri was sick, then I sprained my wrist, then, then, then. . .
I guess I've always been "sensitive" to the fact that I'm a SAHM by choice. I've been down the career road, been in the Board room, wore the high heals, stockings and designer suits. I've had ("had" being the operative word here) perfectly coiffed hair, meticulously manicured nails, and traveled the world. When our son came along, it was the choice I made to stay home & take care of my boys. It was the right choice then & still is the right choice for us. The only caveat I will add is this: IT ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY FROSTS MY FANNY WHEN PEOPLE THINK, BECAUSE I'M A SAHM, THAT I DO NOTHING ALL DAY BUT SIT ON MY ASS, EAT BON-BONS AND WATCH SOAP OPERAS. . . .MY LIFE IS A SOAP OPERA (super G rated of course). . .I'M A MOM OF AN AUTISTIC KID!
Moral of the Story:
NEVER, NEVER, NEVER ASK AN ASD PARENT WHEN THEY ASK YOU FOR HELP WITH THEIR KIDS "WHY, WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO DO TODAY?" JUST DO IT! IT MIGHT JUST BE THE ONLY SPEC OF TIME THEY GET TO THEMSELVES TO CATCH UP ON THEIR ASD LIFE.
As for this ASD mom. . .who now wears the same chlorine stained sweat pants 3/4 days in a row, tank tops, no stockings only barefeet & Birkis, no manicured nails, no coiffed hair, and occassionally a little make-up. . .today is done: the GF raisin bread is made, as is the GF bluberry bread, the master bath shines like a new penny, laundry is done (for today anyway), phone calls are done, check book mostly caught up & bills are paid. Tomorrow. . .new To-Do-List. . .same chlorine stained sweat pants!
