The current question...

Since it is such a gorgeously warm day outside, so much so that school was cancelled out of concern for having the students turn into icicles, I have a bit of "extra" time as the kiddos are occupying themselves and I don't have to think about transporting the kids.  Well, I guess little man would have been out of school anyway today, but still.  They are nicely playing so I will write.

I keep hearing this question.  And I don't have an answer.  Which bugs me a bit, but I don't think I want an answer for the moment.  What's the question you ask?  Since little man is off to school in the Fall, what are you going to do? Hmmm... I have no clue.  I don't want to go back to work.  At least not now.  I want to be that stay-at-home mom that gets to participate in things.  I only got to do one school activity with big girl last year.  And this year I've been able to help out in little man's class, but haven't been in big girl's class once.  And the stupid part of that.  I'm a homeroom picture mom.  And I haven't taken one picture of her class.  I only have three weeks to get pictures for the yearbook.  I have failed that role. Miserably. 

I want to help with the kids.  I want to attend bible study at church.  Maybe I'll actually use the treadmill sitting in the basement.  I want to be able to help out friends in a pinch if they need help.  Maybe help out at MOPS with MOPPETS.  Or try to find a MOPSnext group. But will that be enough?  Or will I spend my days playing Angry Birds Transformers and not realize that an hour has just passed.

I have been told that selling anything isn't really a choice.  I don't host parties of selling things well, no way that selling anything will be of any help to anyone.  I have a closet full of craft supplies.  But I do a bunch of things okay, nothing well enough to try to sell at the little shop in town or on Etsy.  I bake.  But honestly, there's only so much pumpkin bread to be had.  And I'd have to bake while on the treadmill if I went that direction.

The family will attest that I don't clean well and my cooking could use help.  So maybe just keeping the house up to par would take my entire day.  But without little man around to build entire cities out of Legos, Lincoln logs, the Batcave, and whatever other random objects lying around for his Rescue Bots and superheros to save, there may not be messes to clean up.

So what's out there?  What do my fellow stay-at-home moms of school-aged kiddos do during the day to occupy yourselves while still feeling like you are contributing to the family?  Besides homeschool.  I know there are a bunch of you out there, but that's not happening.  You should see me and big girl just trying to get through one reading assignment.  Medication would be needed.  But maybe I could come help your kiddos with art class.  Maybe. 

So... what am I going to do?