Stitching

I am not sure if this is a woman thing or not but sometimes I feel like I spend my entire life making quilts. I am forever trying to stitch things that don’t match into a workable whole.

It is, I suppose, a function of a societal shift. My father’s psychosis notwithstanding, I had, at least on very basic level, a traditional family. Daddy worked. He brought in money. Mommy took care of house and home. They both worked nonstop and very hard at what they did. My father took one vacation in the entire 36 years I knew him.

My mother, on the other hand, did the mom thing. Food, school, doctors dentists – everything. Pops had not a clue what when on at home and likewise mom steered clear of the office and the money thing. All she knew was when she needed money it was there. He put the money in the bank. She paid the bills when they came in.

I work. I do the money thing. My husband works too. He is semi retired but working more all of the time. (I think he found retired was not a good look for him.)

Anyhow, he does the dad thing too. Baseball games stuff like that. And when I’m not home he does the meal thing etc. But it is clear that he is substituting. I am still in charge of all major scheduling, making sure things happen as they are supposed to. I make a schedule when I am gone. I tell him about it. I put it on the calendar. I remind him over the phone. Sometimes it happens, others – not so much.

I am always trying to stitch my professional lives and personal ones together. I am trying to make a whole out of four peoples lives and my career. I have to make sure everybody gets where they are going, gets what they need and still be creative and work.

Don’t get me wrong Big E has been a peach, of late. He is really stepping up. But he just doesn’t think about all of the pieces and what you have to do to make them fit together. I think it’s just a societal thing. The house and family continue to be my primary responsibility. And it is a lot of work trying to keep thing from falling through the cracks.

A few slipped through this week while I was gone. Still trying to dig them back out and put them where they belong. People always say men think in a line. They are more linear. Could be true but I think that’s a luxury we simply don’t have. I have to read contracts, negotiate deals, write scripts, write books, create shows, do all the household finances, make and keep doctors appointment, schedule household activities for everybody. School books, kids clothes, signing folk up, grocery shopping, getting the house together (more home improvements starting today – will this ever end?)
and clean toilets.

I got a husband. Love him. But I need a wife.

Okay, I am through with my morning moan.

Got work to do before the carpet guys come at 8.

You guys take it easy.