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Yea new car! A shiny silver Honda Pilot is sitting in our driveway- I am so excited! I love it! I will post some pics tomorrow (dark outside) as long as it's not snowing. (I know I just posted about Spring Fever, but that weather is over!) More details tomorrow too- I'm exhausted and going to bed!
Mike and I have been test driving cars. We're thinking it's time for a new car (for me!) and are thinking we would like something a little bigger. (because my lands, babies have so much stuff!) It's been pretty fun- some of the salesmen just crack me up! One told us about a time that he was car-jacked by the person taking a test drive. Isn't that crazy? We think we have narrowed our choice down to 2 cars, but it is such a big decision. Any body have any recommendations we should consider? (and in case you're wondering still no luxury car!)
I know it's a little early for spring fever, but it was just so beautiful today! We wrapped up our weekend playing with Hannah, catching up on errands, and enjoying the too good to be true weather. I think tomorrow is supposed to be equally gorgeous, so we may have to pencil in the zoo. But, you know how things go with a baby- it's just so hard to plan!
Why is it that society does not value mothers who stay home with their children? Why are stay at home moms constantly defending their position? Why does society think that it is a waste of time to look after one's own children, but find it a perfectly suitable profession to look after other's children? Why is it acceptable to teach children other than your own? Why is raising the next generation looked down upon? Is being a stay at home devalued because there is no paycheck involved? Quite honestly, that seems to be a problem. Teaching, child care, tutors, nannies, are all respectable fields to go into, but that is what stay at home moms do and they are rarely respected. It is sickening to me that is the place where we have come- value is determined by a paycheck. It is not a good thing, and this is what we are demonstrating to our children.
As any stay at home mother will tell you, it is incredibly hard work. It is also sacrificial, it is hard work that gets no pay and little respect. It is unfortunate, because mothers have such a unique opportunity to influence, teach, and model behavior for their little ones, but many don't because society has taught them that it is selling themselves short, wasting their talent and education, and simply not a valuable way to spend your time. I am not saying that everyone should be a stay at home mother, I think we are all called to do different things. What I am saying is I think those who choose to stay home with their children should be respected for the work that they do.
I have talked briefly on other posts about stereotypes that women who are married to physicians face, and my personal experiences facing these stereotypes and being critiqued about having a positive attitude towards my husband's career. One of the phrases that people google that leads to this blog is "life as a doctor's wife". I am always intrigued about who is googling this phrase, is it a medical student's wife looking for light at the end of the tunnel? Is it a woman in a serious relationship with a physician wondering what could be down the line? Or is it someone who is just curious about a life other than their own?
While I have no other experience as to what it is like to be married to someone other than a physician (Mike was in undergrad when we got married, so I guess a student is different, but medical school was the goal) I imagine that being married to a doctor is very similar to being married to anyone else. There are challenges that are unique to the profession, but I would also imagine that every career has its unique challenges. I think that is the nature of marriage, as a couple you face challenges and compromise and balance work and family. As I have mentioned before, Mike and I got married while we were both in undergrad and I knew that Mike wanted to go to medical school. It has been a major factor in our lives, but we try really hard not to let it be the biggest thing going on in our lives. This has not always been easy, we have based other major life events/ changes around Mike's school, schedule, etc. and we have invested a lot of time and money into his career. However, it is just a part of our lives. It is Mike's career, not my identity and not his.
So my life as a doctor's wife, isn't so much about Mike being a doctor. I am grateful that Mike has found a career that he is truly passionate about. And while we face challenges due to Mike's career, we try not to put our focus on them. My life is usually not what people expect, and I am often labeled and stereotyped. So anyone who wants to know what life is like as a doctor's wife, keep reading.
It has been a crazy few days around here. We have had a lot going on in just about every aspect of our lives. I have been stressed and I think it has been affecting my sleep. And being tired can make everything seem worse, and I am trying to remember that. I know that everything is going to work out, but it is making life crazy in the mean time. While I am not going to delve into everything going on in our lives, I will say that one of the things going on is my Grandma. She has alzheimers. Her mental state is getting much worse, she is getting to where she doesn't know who I am. She doesn't remember Hannah or Michael, and is even to the point that she has had days where she doesn't recognize my Dad. That is such a hard thing to deal with, I have been coping by reminding myself that the person she is right now, is not my Grandma. She is not the person I have memories of. But it is still hard to see her in this state of mind, the Grandma that I know grows fainter and fainter. Yesterday she threatened to kill herself. She is now under suicide watch, and this breaks my heart. It is so disturbing that someone you love feels this way. I know in my head that this is the disease, but it still breaks my heart.
I'm going to have to stop reading new blogs, nap time is only so long, you know! If you've ever gone through my blog-roll before you have probably noticed that there is a variety, some are similar, but some are very different. I think that they appeal to different sides of my personality, and some of them have lifestyles that are so different from my own and I find that so interesting, some make me laugh, and others I just enjoy their writing style. So adding to my links (I always know it's time to add when my book mark bar gets ridiculously full!) for your reading pleasure:
Like Merchant Ships- Meredith is the thriftiest woman I have ever encountered!
Oh The Joys- Jess has a very eloquent style, mixed in with a good dose of humor.
Just Enjoy The Journey- Lindsey has a great writing style and her posts have a thoughtfulness about them that I appreciate.
Biblical Womanhood- Crystal is a great example of living out your faith.
Hannah hasn't gained enough weight. I know that she is a petite baby, but at her nine month appointment instead of being at the bottom of the growth chart, she was no longer on it. I am stressed out over something that is more than likely normal for her, but at the same time I know that there is a possibility that there is a medical condition that could be causing her lack of weight gain. We go back next month for a weight check. In the mean time I am trying to give her the most calorie rich food possible. I hope she likes avocado.
I found this link via Lindsey at Just Enjoy The Journey and I must say that the more I learn about Ben Stein- the more I like him. Go check this out, if you believe in free speech you will appreciate it. If you believe in intelligent design, you will appreciate it even more.
It is my favorite part of American Idol- the auditions!! Over all I don't really watch the show, but the auditions crack me up! So many of the singers are like me, they can't sing!!! And honestly I don't know why they think they can- and does no one around them care that they are going to get their feelings crushed on national television? If I was ever possessed and decided to audition, I hope that Mike or my parents or Hannah would have the good sense to whack me on the head and lock me up. And possibly give me some medication, because I would clearly need it, as I would have LOST MY MIND! It is scary that there are so many people who are so lacking in self awareness, and possibly mentally ill walking around. Did you see the glitter girl? Or the stalker singer? Seriously in need of some medication. Mike and I decided that they need to have a psych team waiting outside of the audition room ready to admit people. Because there are seriously some CRAZY people out there. CRAZY! And now I must go and entertain myself with their craziness.
