DH and I are not gifted in the time-management department, despite our best efforts. We are humbly aware of it, and live a simple life because anything else would make us insane:

- One social commitment per weekend
- one playdate a week per child
- one class a week per child (besides school)
- soon to add one sport per parent on the WE.

Often there is more, and when extra activities are scheduled with people we love, it makes us happy - but frazzled.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP basically you have made nothing of yourself in life and as a result, have lots of free time on your hands. Congratulations.

I think you are typical of exactly the kind of problem OP was talking about. She's structured her life in a way that makes sense to her such that she doesn't have to run around fruitlessly. She is indeed owed congratulations!

The irony of someone who doesn't have a paid job saying she's not crazy busy. Of course not. Duh. Try adding a 50 hour a week work and commute commitment and add even one volunteer commitment on top of raising kids and maintaining a marriage, and get back to me.

Not the OP, but I work full time, have two kids, been married for 14 years, I volunteer. Does that count? I also take naps (at least an hour, two if I can swing it) every Saturday and Sunday, so it is possible. It's a choice I make because I also hate being "crazy busy". Sure, it does happen on occasion, but I go out of my way to schedule activities, volunteer and social commitments in such a way that I still maintain some downtime every weekend (and most evenings). I am an introvert and anything else would be torture to me. To each their own.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP basically you have made nothing of yourself in life and as a result, have lots of free time on your hands. Congratulations.

I think you are typical of exactly the kind of problem OP was talking about. She's structured her life in a way that makes sense to her such that she doesn't have to run around fruitlessly. She is indeed owed congratulations!

The irony of someone who doesn't have a paid job saying she's not crazy busy. Of course not. Duh. Try adding a 50 hour a week work and commute commitment and add even one volunteer commitment on top of raising kids and maintaining a marriage, and get back to me.

Those are your choices. There are no awards for being the most stressed out.

I am not crazy busy. I spent 3 hours on the couch this afternoon. I believe that everyone should volunteer, in one way or another. We feel much more secure with two incomes instead of one.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was born with an inability to relax, especially during the day. For me, it isn't a lack of time management skills. If I have the "time" I will create projects- making pasta from scratch, homemade granola bars, ironing everything in our closets.

I dont judge others that do "less". I'm just wired in a different way.

How about channeling that energy into relationships?

I do. I meet friends for coffee/yoga/power walks all the time. I host dinners a few times a month. I have a very close set of friends and family I'm constantly in touch with.

The joke in my family is that I asked for homework in kindergarten. I worked 2 jobs in college. I'm not bragging, it literally is just part of my DNA.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP basically you have made nothing of yourself in life and as a result, have lots of free time on your hands. Congratulations.

I think you are typical of exactly the kind of problem OP was talking about. She's structured her life in a way that makes sense to her such that she doesn't have to run around fruitlessly. She is indeed owed congratulations!

The irony of someone who doesn't have a paid job saying she's not crazy busy. Of course not. Duh. Try adding a 50 hour a week work and commute commitment and add even one volunteer commitment on top of raising kids and maintaining a marriage, and get back to me.

Those are your choices. There are no awards for being the most stressed out.

Anonymous wrote:I was born with an inability to relax, especially during the day. For me, it isn't a lack of time management skills. If I have the "time" I will create projects- making pasta from scratch, homemade granola bars, ironing everything in our closets.

I dont judge others that do "less". I'm just wired in a different way.

You should video yourself and put it on youtube. Maybe you will have a following and make $$$ from it.

Anonymous wrote:I was born with an inability to relax, especially during the day. For me, it isn't a lack of time management skills. If I have the "time" I will create projects- making pasta from scratch, homemade granola bars, ironing everything in our closets.

I dont judge others that do "less". I'm just wired in a different way.

How about channeling that energy into relationships?

I was born with an inability to relax, especially during the day. For me, it isn't a lack of time management skills. If I have the "time" I will create projects- making pasta from scratch, homemade granola bars, ironing everything in our closets.

I dont judge others that do "less". I'm just wired in a different way.

Anonymous wrote:I always roll my eyes at people who say they work late every night and wear that like a badge of honor. What's that old quote about how if a person can't get their work done in 8 hours at the office, they ought to be paying rent?

Two years ago I had one full time colleague and one who worked 28 hours a week. They were both laid off. I had to pick up their work. Sorry that I can't get it all done in 8 hours a day.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP basically you have made nothing of yourself in life and as a result, have lots of free time on your hands. Congratulations.

I think you are typical of exactly the kind of problem OP was talking about. She's structured her life in a way that makes sense to her such that she doesn't have to run around fruitlessly. She is indeed owed congratulations!

The irony of someone who doesn't have a paid job saying she's not crazy busy. Of course not. Duh. Try adding a 50 hour a week work and commute commitment and add even one volunteer commitment on top of raising kids and maintaining a marriage, and get back to me.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I miss Europe. Where a 2-3 hour dinner was the norm and it's ok to let your kids run around while you eat.

Here I feel like my check comes while I'm still chewing.

Don't some countries also close up for a couple hours for afternoon Siesta? That would all be nice if we did it here.

an article about my people - http://www.npr.org/2012/01/07/144822637/italian-shopkeepers-say-no-grazie-to-more-hours?sc=17&f=1001

LOL! got to love the Italians!

Saw an article saying that Brazil? now has a law that allows employees to charge employers for time spent reading and answering email outside of work hours. That would be great if we had that!

Anonymous wrote:Still don't get why OP is patting herself on the back for being unemployed and having free time (and most likely overweight with very little savings). I just don't get it.

Ah, America, where the worst insult is that you are a poor, fat woman.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I miss Europe. Where a 2-3 hour dinner was the norm and it's ok to let your kids run around while you eat.

Here I feel like my check comes while I'm still chewing.

Don't some countries also close up for a couple hours for afternoon Siesta? That would all be nice if we did it here.

an article about my people - http://www.npr.org/2012/01/07/144822637/italian-shopkeepers-say-no-grazie-to-more-hours?sc=17&f=1001

LOL! got to love the Italians!

Still don't get why OP is patting herself on the back for being unemployed and having free time (and most likely overweight with very little savings). I just don't get it.

I always roll my eyes at people who say they work late every night and wear that like a badge of honor. What's that old quote about how if a person can't get their work done in 8 hours at the office, they ought to be paying rent?