School Library

I'm a librarian, sort of!
My daughters elementary has just set up their first in-house library.  It's not really comparable to school libraries in The States though.  It's literally in the middle of the foyer with a total of maybe 10 racks that aren't even full yet, but it's a start!

Of course, a friend (another SAHM) & I jumped at the chance to volunteer.  Unfortunately we missed the demo and have very little understanding of how the library works, but we did our best this week to help out.  As of yet it's simple, return the books from the drop-off bin to the shelves & dust.  Since the order of the books isn't exactly clear, we did our best to find a suitable shelf (another mom said she spent an hour trying to figure it out).  Hopefully with time they'll get a better system (guess they never heard of properly labeling the books & shelves, or even the Dewey Decimal System, but whatever).  Needless to say, we put our SAHM cleaning skills to work, and dusted like crazy, ha-ha!

Never realized I was interested in being a librarian until the semi-opportunity arose.  But it makes sense, I love books, writing, sorting, & organizing. 

Who knows maybe the library will grow or maybe the one at her next school will be bigger... I can see it now, me pushing the trolley full of books around and finding their homes on the proper shelves.  Or possibly introducing a child to the book that changes their life.  I remember almost all of the libraries I ever visited, the best having to be the Trinity College Library in Dublin.  But the old public library where I grew up had a great view of a lake, also a nice aspect. 

Any of ever worked at a library?

Bye! Dag! Adios! Namaste!

:) Danica

SAHM I AM

SAHM = Stay-At-Home-Mom

I am a Stay-At-Home-Mom and it completely suits me and my family.  But I also understand being a SAHM isn't for everyone.  I hear a lot of working moms say I'd go crazy being at home all of the time or I go to work to get a break.  Luckily, I don't feel this way, it's important to be happy in your job and take pride in it.  See...

...I was a homebody before we ever decided for me to be a SAHM.  Don't get me wrong though I am not always home, there's always something to do out of the house (required or not) besides my tots schedule keeps me busy enough!

...I do get breaks, naptime and bedtime.  Sure a lot of naps are spent cleaning or exercising but I get my time in, how else would I maintain this blog?  And basically the daily duties end once my tot goes to bed for the evening, this time is for me & my husband or for whatever else floats my boat.

...I wear pajamas often.  But this isn't a new tradition since becoming a SAHM, for as long as I can remember the moment I step foot in the house the normal clothes go and I slip on my pj's.  I'm like superman stepping into a phone booth, it happens that fast.  Being a pj-wearer worked out to my benefit, because I don't feel bad about staining them with cleaning products, kids paint, or food.

...I find that being a SAHM plays right into me being frugal.  Sure we could have sent my kid to daycare while I worked part-time but at the end of the month I'd have barely any money to show for it.  Daycare is outrageously expensive!  And now I have the time to cruise for sales, saving even more money at the end of the day.

...I've also heard that becoming a SAHM means losing your social life.  This isn't true, well, it could be if you let it but that also applies to someone who goes to an office/job.  Sure I liked some of my old co-workers over the 15yrs I did go to "work" but I didn't go there to socialize, I went there to make money.  And I have plenty of adult conversations (another myth I hear).  Plus, I'm a parent whether I have a career or am a SAHM, there's no need for me to go out every week.  And to be honest, there are enough people in the family to watch my tot if I do get the urge to paint the town red.

So again, I feel very lucky to be a SAHM.  And I truly appreciate all of the hours my husband puts in at his work to make this happen.  And just so you know, I do respect women that Work-Outside-of-The-Home (there's usually a big misunderstanding between SAHM's & WOTM's).  I can't imagine doing it all, keeping the husband & kid happy, food on the table, house clean, shuffling to & from the family activities, and managing a 40hr a week job, props to you!

Here are a couple fun articles I found about being a SAHM:

5 Myths About Being a SAHM
10 SAHM Myths Debunked

I definitely feel this subject is worth coming back to, so keep your eye out for a follow-up!