And You Shall Take the Day Off and The Day Off Shall Set You Free

I have had a steady, paying job of some sort for 27 years. I've been (among other things) a babysitter, lawn mower, dance teacher, lifeguard, mail room clerk, waitress, swim instructor, private tutor, college lecturer, Clinique consultant, and lab assistant.

I've been working full-time for 22 years - over half my life.

I've been a working wife and mom for almost 8 years. I've had every insult, judgement and wrath hurled at me about how I'm ruining my kids' lives, I'm the bane of society for putting my kids in daycare and public school and how selfish I am to leave them with others while I ride off into the sunset on a white horse to {**gasp**} CLIMB THE CORPORATE LADDER.

I love to work - I really do. I grew up with a full-time working mom, who stands yet today as my most cherished role model.

I've met life-long friends at various jobs I've had over the years. Let's not kid anyone. I had the uncanny ability to zero in on people who had candy jars on their desks and big coffee mugs. Nothing says GIRLFRIEND like a huge + steamy cup of coffee and a couple bite-sized Snicker bars first thing in the morning.

The fashionista in me loves having a reason to wear skirts, heels, pretty accessories and jackets every day. (The pantyhose I could do without - thankyouverymuch.)

As my family has grown, so has my career. As my responsibilities as a new wife and mom expanded at home, so too did my roles and responsibilities at work.

Just when I think I can't possibly juggle one more ball, someone lobs one to me from left field and I somehow manage to still stay in the game. In fact, most of the time, the more I'm lobbed at, the better I become. I thrive on the spirit of competition - the next goal - the next project - the next Big Thing.

But I'm running out of steam. I'm tired.

Not pull-the-covers over my head-and-let-me-sleep-for-three-weeks tired (though sleeping past 6am would be nice). I'm tired of the two-hour commute, the constant phone calls, the complaining customers, the insurance rates that always go up.

I'm tired of laying people off, cutting hours, cutting costs. I'm downsized to death.

I'm tired of rushing and racing against the clock. I'm tired of counting down minutes and miles.

I'm tired of being "on" from 7am until 9pm, wherein the only time I get to myself is in the shower and in the car.

So I took yesterday off.

And I didn't try to cram as much into the day as humanly possible. I didn't schedule a dental appointment, or a haircut. I didn't go to Target or get my car serviced. I didn't answer my phone or check email.

I stayed home. I slept past 7am. I lingered over my cup of coffee, and then lingered over another. I pinned my bangs up with a clippy and skipped the makeup. I did laundry and remembered to put fabric softener in every single load. Then I folded it and put it away, one load at a time.

I rearranged my bookcases and I vacuumed. I read a magazine. I finished decorating my house for fall. (I've been at it for a month for heaven's sake.) I fluffed pillows, hung wreaths and filed recipes.

I watched a Netflix show without having to hit pause even once. I wrote a real-live-drop-in-the-mail letter to a friend.

I organized the linen closet.

It was what I needed. Not enough of what I needed, but good enough for now. It was enough to give my battery a little charge.

I've never really believed the grass is greener on the other side. It all has to be mowed and it all has weeds.

But a little part of me wants to be like the people who have the stay-at-home grass. The people who get to shuffle around a little in the morning in their fuzzy slippers and sweats. I want to be like those who don't have to hit the ground running, unless it's the kind of running that works up a sweat and burns lots of calories.

Just for awhile I'd love to have the freedom to take a 10am pilates class or meet a friend for coffee at the last minute, and for no reason at all.

Just for awhile I'd love to throw caution to the wind and get more into a homemaking routine and less into financial statements and sales margin.

I'll always be a working girl. It's part of who I have been for so long I can't imagine it any other way. But when the going gets tough....

...the tough girl takes a day off.

Pass the coffee and the candy jar.