Our whole lives we have looked forward to summertime. That is when the swimming happens, the bbq's and picnics, the amusement parks, possibly a family vacation, and of  course the whole NO SCHOOL thing too. 

As an adult, summertime has a bit of a different spin. A working adult really sees no difference in their daily grind. It's all the same ol' same ol'. Just hotter outside. Which really stinks usually. Hot car baking in the parking lot of work, fancy work clothes are all sticky and gross by the time you actually get to work, and of course the well loved summertime 'crazies' out on the road while you are trying to get to said job. All fun all the time, right? Maybe not?

Well, I am a stay at home mom now. Which by definition means I WANT to be home with my children. Which I do. Of course. Mostly. But let's just say for argument's sake that SOME moms might feel like it's ALOT to have two children at home 24/7. Not me of course... oh no... 

Alright, I'm coming clean.... I'm losing my MIND here people! My two children are lovely. Seriously. A boy and a girl. Best of both worlds and I am so lucky! Also, their ages are 12 and (about to be) 6. The age difference is rough. Really rough. Some days more than others. We can't necessarily do 12 year old boy stuff because the 6 year old girl either can't keep up, physically is not ALLOWED to do it (height restrictions), or it's just plain not appropriate for her age. SIGH. Trying to find activities that make them BOTH happy and more importantly INTERESTED is super difficult. The pool is about it. And I have already tanned to a color that is making me look like a different nationality! haha! 

But honestly all of that is normal SAHM stuff to deal with. We all do it, nothing special there. Plus I only have TWO kids... so many of you have SO many more... Seriously just thinking about more children kinda makes my eye start twitching. ha.

All of that is not the big problem, MY big problem is.... finding time to WORK. I am starting to go through knitting withdrawal. That's a real thing, by the way, and VERY dangerous. If you suspect someone you know is going through it - just open the door a crack, throw in a bag of yarn and needles and close the door. Back away slowly and silently! 

I wish someone would do that for me! I used to have a quiet, empty house all to myself from 7:45-2:45 EVERY MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. Bliss. I could actually have a multiple sentence thought without being interrupted. I could do math for my designs. I could COUNT STITCHES! Now? Not so much. I cannot leave the room without a shadow at my back. And not a quiet shadow. Oh no. "Where are you going? What are you doing? Mommy? Mommy? Can I have a snack? The guinea pig just peed on the carpet. I knocked over a glass trying to get to it. And gum fell out of my mouth onto the guinea pigs back. Mommy? Do you hear me?" 

OK maybe it's not THAT bad (usually) but that's a pretty accurate portrayal of the chain of thought of either of my children. It's constant. It's a little crazy. And it's a lot LOUD. 

So all of this is to say... I AM working. Just a whole lot slower than usual. Which makes me feel like a slacker. A total slacker. I want to be ramping up designs for the coming fall season and I feel like the most I can do right now is tread water! Bear with me guys! I promise I am not falling off the designer wagon... I am just clinging to the side and bouncing along! In August, I'll get pulled back into the wagon proper. :) 


NOW I understand those photos of the moms all jumping for joy in the background of the kid's first day of school photos. Ahhhhh.... yes... I understand you! Does that make us horrible moms? NO I don't think so. I think that makes us amazing women that have THINGS TO DO in this life. And our children learn from that. They see and they do. I want my children (and honestly especially my daughter) to SEE that mom had a life. A passion. A job. Something that she worked hard at to build and progress in. While staying at home with her children. And hopefully doing a pretty good job at that too. :) I want her to learn that she CAN have it all. You just have to be creative with how you go about doing it. 


I just have to be creative and figure out this new routine. Or lack thereof.

Yoga helps my body in so, so, so many ways! But one of the absolute best things for me... as a CONSTANT knitter... are these lovely little wrist stretches. Great for anybody and everybody - but especially great for those of us that use our hands in repetitive motions. So knitters, crocheters, seamstresses, artists, even those typing on the computer all day will all get so much from practicing these stretches daily. Or many times a day as I do! And the added bonus? You can do SOME of them anywhere you'd like and still not look like a crazy person! ;) 

OK... here we go:

1. With your arm held straight out in front of you and fingers pointed up (think 'talk to the hand') pull back on your fingers with your opposite hand. Hold for as long as you like... but usually a nice count of 10 works well for me. And of course switch and give your other hand some love too!

2. With your arm held straight out in front of you and fingers pointed down (think old school offering your hand for a kiss!) pull back on your fingers with your opposite hand. Like you are trying to touch your fingers to your arm. Again, hold for as long as you like... but a count of 10 is great. 

3. An oldie but goodie - and super effective: just rotate your wrists - rotate your right wrist toward the right for three turns, then to the left for three turns. Now your left wrist! Rotate right three turns then left three turns. The EASIEST of the exercises and we all know how to do it... but we just get lazy! So rotate those wrists!! Also try it with your fingers relaxed and now do it with your fingers really engaged and 'stretched' out as far as you can make them go. Can you tell the difference?? Doing it both ways will get you the most from these! 

4. We are going to get a little more involved on this one. And you need a flat surface (counter top, table, or the floor). Place your hands flat on the surface with fingers pointed away from you. Now lean into your hands and slightly forward so you are stretching those wrists. Hold for 10... or whatever. 

5. Staying in the same position - turn your hands around so your fingers are now pointed TOWARD you. This may be enough stretch as is. It's a deep stretch for your wrists and forearms! If you can handle more then lean backward - but keep your palms ALL the way down on the surface. If they are popping up as you lean then you need to back off until they can stay flat. Hold.

After going through all 5 motions listed above - I like to give a little rotation to each wrist again. By now they should feel MUCH looser than when you started! And hopefully helped alleviate any pain you may have been having. 

Share your experiences incorporating these into your day! Have they helped you get another few rows in? Or maybe kept you from reaching for medication? I'd love to hear your stories!