Well, today, I was just getting started at the shop when I got a call from little one’s school.
She kind of threw up all over herself and her desk.
Of course, work halted and mama came running to the rescue.
As I should.
Speaking of roles and responsibilities, I’ve gotten a lot of questions about our schedules and how we’ll adjust to running a physical location.
I’m also getting questions about homeschooling & how that fits in–how we are and will do it all.
As I’ve said before, there’s no way to do it all.
We are so the neighbors whose yard is full of little weeds. Grayson is pretty excited about the new “flowers” out our front windows.
Poor, beautiful kid.
So, when I say “this is how we’ll do it all,” don’t be intimidated or feel like we’re super-human. We’ll just choose what’s important for us, work on those things, and leave the rest to the wind.
I’ll confess. It is a lot.
Our days are CRAZY right now, working ridiculous 12 hour days & eating way too much takeout. I’ve not been properly dressed in 23 days.
Paint splattered yoga pants for me.
This current schedule wouldn’t work long-term. I’m barely moving each morning I’m so tired, we’re not eating so healthy, yada, yada.
And you know the thing about homeschooling a kindergartener? It’s not as intimidating as I thought it would be. Sure, we’ve had our days and weeks of fun fall crafts and lots of formal math and reading lessons. But the beauty of these last few weeks? Gray has been right by my side as we’ve swept every pile of dust, and painted shelf after shelf after shelf. We’ve read boxes and invoices and talked about business and profit. He is the best helper I could have imagined–and it is pure joy to share this with him.
There will be many, many more days of sit-down reading lessons. I know, though, that I will look fondly back on these days of watching Grayson on his blanket in the middle of the shop, building lego spaceships and sounding out words out loud.
It makes me tear up just thinking about it. He told me today that I was his absolute best friend–because we get to spend every day together.
Lord, have mercy.
As far as what our days will look like once the studio opens, I’m sure it’ll be a breeze compared to these days of getting the space ready.
As always, Gray and I will start our days with school. After a couple of hours, we’ll head in to the shop. Here’s where I digress: I would have never, ever opened unless our business could financially support an employee. Natalie will be at the shop full time, running it day to day. I’ll be there most days, too, but I knew I could never be a wife, mom, homeschool Gray, run the blog, write a new book, etc. and run a shop all by myself.
When I began thinking we might head in the retail direction, I watched for several months–and we could afford to hire someone. It’s so much more doable this way, and while I know I’ll be there most days and will handle all the major decisions, etc., Natalie will be there to help me manage all those daily responsibilities.
We’ll then be at the shop the rest of the day, on and off. It was important to me to still be flexible for field trips, doctor appointments, and family time. I’m working on a desk/blogging area for me in the shop that will also serve as a great schoolwork spot for Gray.
I’m already thinking ahead on how we’ll deal with things like dinner and grocery shopping and my workouts. We’ll fit them in, but it’s high time to implement some consistent systems to keep us more organized. I’ll let you know what works for us in the coming months.
For now, it’s working for us, though tired we are.
While it will still be busy in another month, it won’t be quite this exhausting, as we’ll be done scaling rafters and painting 60 foot walls. As I get older, I’m (slowly) learning to enjoy the busy seasons and recognize them as that–just seasons. We won’t be eating burgers and fries forever, and my yoga pants are soon going to be traded in for a slouchy sweater and pretty jeans.
Can I get a resounding YAY from all the yoga-pant wearing mamas out there?
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this post was written in a 31 day series to open our shop. Click here to read all the posts in the series!
YAAAAAAAYYY!! 🙂 I say this as I sit in my chair in none other than YOGA PANTS!! You are doing a great job Momma! Keep up the good work. Thank you for reminding us all that even during a stressful season such as yours, we can still see the many blessings God has graciously given us!
Right on Shaunna! I homeschooled when my kids were young and I understand the multi tasking. Kids are so resilient and learn from absorbing everything around them. Good job! Be encouraged, your doing alright. I’m so excited for your new adventures and hope to come visit you and the shop.
Another YAY from here 🙂 You’re doing a fantastic job juggling everything. And not only do you juggle YOUR life, you also have a very healthy influence on mine and I’m sure many others. Just to see that it’s doable, that it doesn’t all have to be perfect, that it can be fun even though it’s stressful – helps me feel a bit more at ease when it comes to the things I’m toying with in my mind. Seems you’re not just homeschooling your little helper… 🙂
That is the thing about the blogging world you find that you have to justify or explain why or what and how when really all that matters is that it’s ok with Shaunna and Matt.
I can only imagine how tired you all must be, but a good tired, how exciting!!!!!!
YAY for you Shaunna!
Another YAY for homeschooling in the mist of “life”–I don’t shop much so I am not sure about these yoga-pants of which you speak. Are they the new hip sweat pants? Could you tell Natalie that her mama needs a pair?
Thank you for this post! I needed this today! As I try to juggle a 25 hour a week job, a blog, a booth space, be a coordinator for the Preeclampsia Promise Walk, a wife, a mom and all the other things that go along with owning a home, it’s nice to hear that others have things that fall thru the cracks. It’s easy to sit back and read some of the larger blogs that are out there and think that the face behind the blog IS super human because it’s not always mentioned that not everything gets done. I appreciate your honesty and I am grateful for you sharing this. It somehow makes me feel OK, with my house not being perfectly clean and that I can have a gazillion thistles in my once iris flower bed. I sometime feel guilty for taking an weekend and putting everything on hold, just to spend it with my family. But in the end, to me, that is what really matters. Thanks! you made me smile! 🙂
I love my uniform – YOGA pants & workout gear. I love when I invite my friends for a last minute dinner with their family and the moms agree on YOGA pants!!!
I have a friend who is homeschooling both of her children who are in 3rd &7th grade, while she works a spot in a cool home decor space and also runs a Horse Farm….it works! And while she sometimes recognizes the chaos, it works and she WOULD not trade it for the world! BUT She DRINKS lots of Coffee – 🙂 Her kids are either helping with the horses or at the shop by her side. IT works. and Your amazing dream coming to life will inspire your children to DREAM. Who said Life was a cookie mold of what it should be. You have calling. Be proud for NOT following the path of others and living in fear of the what ifs…what if my house is a mess, what if I eat burgers & fries everyday, what if we only get to reading a few times a week. ISN’t Life itself THE best lesson. Gray will be fine and think of how you will inspire your daughter to be true to herself and generous to share her gifts!!!
hang in there. I applaud your perseverance and strength to keep going to see you dreams come to life! I
PS- I am partial to yoga and sweat pants!! 🙂
Wow! All I can say is I want to be like you some day! You are sooo inspiring! How you can be so positive and in control is awesome!
I wish you the best of luck! And your children are some very lucky kids!!!
Yay!! I homeschool and teach piano lessons in my home, so I do both in my yoga pants–sometimes paint splattered, too!
I can’t thank you enough for the 31 days updates. I am so invested in your success and excitement over the store and your family and your love of our Lord. Each day I look so forward to saying good morning to you and and find a lot to respect and admire! . Rock on girl!
Jane in Oregon
As a mother of six I completely get it. I too, very often try to remember, when times seem overwhelming, this too shall pass. I trust in God’s plan and his Grace and know if I hold on during the storm the calm will come. Praying for you that all works out well and for his Glory!
Years and years ago, as a newlywed, an elderly relative gave my sister-in-law a pottery placque that said this: T T T These things three Things Take Time
You’ll get to a place where life settles down. In the meantime, you and your child have an incredible gift – your time together. My twins helped me run my craft business when they were pre-school aged and it stands out as one of the most lovely times of my life – the three of us, taking on the world! Enjoy it!
Love following your posts. I see the AL Abacus! I homeschool my 8 yo and 5 yo and we use right start as well! Best wishes and we are prayin for a smooth opening day. I will be there!
Cool post Shaunna! Fun reading about you and your day. Hopefully things are getting into a routine for you now. Enjoy 🙂