Let's Get Started

Well, I finally feel ready to start writing on this thing. I guess the first thing I should explain is why I call this blog Sheila Bedelia. I felt like I had to use my name in the blog since somehow I associate my name with my personality. I do think it is just the right name for me and my parents were spot on with their choice. My dad frequently will say that something is so "Sheila" and he is true. There are certainly some idiosyncracies to my personality that give him cause to call me on them. My mom used to read Amelia Bedelia the books to me. They were my absolute favorite. See, this woman Amelia could never quite get things right when told what to do...for instance she would be asked to "change the towells" - and rather than switching them out, she would literally change them...cutting them up into different designs. or she would be asked to "dust the living room" and she would get out powder and sprinkle it all over the room. It was such a great book to read and be silly about. and thinking of my mom reading that book to me is really comforting.

Tonight, I am having the rare experience of going to bed and actually feeling proud of my parenting skills. That doesn't happen nearly as often as I would like. The past 8 years of parenthood has been a journey. I have experimented with several variations of parenting scenarios: full-time working-mom to stay-at-home mom to part-time working-mom, and back to full-time working-mom. Thank heavens I now have a job with some flexibility and management that values my work and contribution enough to provide that flexibiltiy.
I work from home on Fridays and if I hammer down during the week that usually means it is a pretty light day at home that I can spend doing some real mom things with the kids. Kurt is in 3rd grade now, Nora Jane in 1st and Thomas in 3 year-old busybee class.
On sane days, I feel like I can do it all. I can have a rewarding career, contribute to our family's financial stability, parent three funny, adorable and loving children, be a gourmet cook, have a tidy house with a well-manicured lawn, stay in shape, ski, bike, run, be a good friend/daughter/sister, have an active social life and maintain a loving relationship with my husband.
On "other" days...I feel like I might fall apart.
Today it feels like the sane days outnumber the "other". I don't know if that is always true.
This blog is going to take you to the places I go - literally and figuratively. I think I have a classic story to tell. I hope I can tell it in an interesting way.