SavvySpoons

I used to swear my children would only watch thirty minutes of educational television a day.

I promised myself they would have endless supplies of paint, modeling clay, and paper.

I swore my children would spend at least an hour outside in the sun, engaging in active play.

I promised to feed them whole meals comprised of fruits, veggies, dairy, and protein, and to only provide them with wholesome snacks.

I swore I would only drink fresh brewed coffee and eat organic foods so I would be energetic and healthy enough to keep up with my children.

Then I started a business.

Now I sit before you with the same cup of yesterday’s coffee that I have had to reheat three times already because I turned the television off after an hour and a half of brain-numbing crap cartoons and made the children play.

Since turning off the television they have gotten into twelve arguments over toys, all of them have come crying to me about being pushed or falling down at least twice, and the floors are sticky because they amused themselves by dripping juice from the “spill proof” sippy cups I gave them. Right now they are coloring in the living room, but eventually they will start fighting over the crayons.

Soon I will make macaroni and cheese for their lunch and turn back on the television so they will eat in peace. Then I will reheat yesterday’s coffee for a fourth time, consume a quickly cooked hot dog, and reflect on how peaceful the house is when I embrace my fallen standards.

The biggest challenge to working from home is tuning out the distractions and actually working. My work day is often sucked away by Motherhood because I often can’t leave the Mom work for later so I can focus on my office. The biggest creator of that work is my youngest associate, Otter. He presents me with new challenges every time I try to set him up with something to do so I can work a little.

This morning this engineering genius turned yogurt into fingerpaint and liberally bestowed his art around the living room. He covered the coffee table, reupholstered the couch, and painted the floors in sticky yogurt paint. Then he presented himself, as above, and encouraged me to visit his masterpieces.

I visited them with a mop and a sigh, leaving my virtual office behind me.