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 “You know, you always seem to have it all together”.

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I get this line all of the time, usually from people I network with through the day job. Oddly, this week I heard it from my neighbor as we were catching up on the morning bus ride into Manhattan. I let out a yelp and assured her that by no means was I a zipped together woman.

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As I made my routine sprint to catch the train downtown, this reply didn’t sit well with me and I wished I said something else (I often replay conversations when I’m on the run for some reason).

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I wished I had told her that I cut corners on practically everything in my life in order to “keep it all together”. So yes, by definition, I suppose the shoe fits, but not without a little pruning here and there.

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I live on a street with ten houses.
Those nine other homes are cleaner and neater than my own.
Those nine other families remember to place their recycling out all of the time.
Those nine other husbands are eating more home cooked meals than mine ever will.

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Those nine other garages are tidy enough to treat my car to a guest visit once in a while!

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Stepping inside my house when I return from work, I eye the clock on my stove and I mentally decide what tasks will make the cut as the countdown begins.

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I make the time to do what really matters. I catch up on my kids’ day. I squeeze in homework review. I ensure the tummies are full before pillow time. I squeeze in the much anticipated bedtime story. I play catch-up with my husband on whatever is lingering for me or rather what household tasks he has let linger!

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Tonight, I lay me down to sleep satisfied that another day has passed where I’ve held it together because I had the nimble will to do so.

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So (ahem), I suppose the shoe deservedly fits!

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If only we women could embrace those compliments more often when thrown our way….

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2 Comments »

1. I completely relate. My neighbors/coworkers/friends often give me that “you hold it together so well!” comment and I can’t help but thing that if one tiny little wrench gets thrown into any aspect of my home/career/social life, everything’s going to collapse into pieces. I tell people that I’m in the eye of the storm and if I don’t keep anticipating the shift in direction I’m going to be knocked on my backside by a wall of wind and that’ll be the end of my balance for good.

   Great blog- a coworker sent me the link and I will keep coming back. As a full-time working career gal and single mom to a 14-month old in New York City… well, let’s just say I “get it.” Thanks for writing!

   Comment by Jayne — October 19, 2009 @ 12:31 pm

2. Hi. I saw your post on the Writing from Home group… congrats and great site! I really needed to find this today because I am not holding it together so well. I am starting my own business (journal-writing workshops and tutoring) and so overwhelmed by all the networking and marketing it takes to do this that my home, children, and own writing are getting ignored. I am trying so hard to be my own person that I’m losing myself!

   I have subscribed to your blog and maybe I will even send you some of my own thoughts at some point…

   Thanks!

   Comment by joanna — October 20, 2009 @ 11:20 am

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