I know this is a sign that I don't have enough contact with grown-ups. When I was done editing yesterday, I closed the Avid and said to myself "All done!" in that toddler friendly tone usually reserved for the end of the applesauce or the end of the Baby Einstein movie. I need help.
It seems strange to say I get lonely working at home, when I spend all day editing with a toddler sitting on my lap. I don't spend much time alone at all. But when I am busy with work, it takes me a while to remember I have no co-workers, no interaction, no conversations with sentences containing more than 3 words. Then, all of the sudden, it hits me like a ton of bricks.
Thursday was one of those days. I suddenly felt like if I didn't see/talk to some full grown human beings soon, I was going to lose it! There were a few triggers...husband working a few evenings in a row, a sick kid home from school, as well as feeling the pressure of an editing deadline.
Soooooo...I sent emails to every friend I have, begging for lunches, dinners, coffee, anything really. And my beautiful friends came through! A couple of lunches/coffees set up for next week, a night out with friends in the works for next weekend, and the beginnings of a Mom and Kid's afternoon in the near future. And one particularly sweet friend initiated the Immediate Response Plan, and invited me over for coffee yesterday. I am already starting to feel human again. Crisis averted.
I used to work with my friends. I saw them every day, with no effort required on my part. Just show up for work, and hang out with your friends. Now, I work with my family around me, which is why I chose this life, and I LOVE that! But it forces me to remember to contact my friends, make an effort to meet with people and get out of the house once in a while. Effort is required on my part.
But thanks to my wonderful friends, the effort is minimal, and totally worth it.
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2 comments:
Immediate Response Plan - love it!
The part about you saying 'All done!' cracked me up. Warren & I always joke about that...Warren talking to his clients like they're infants...
"Hi! How ya doin'?! You doin' good? Ya, ya?! Pppprrrr, ppprrrr (lips razzing sound...)"
Loved the title too...Living La Vida Lonely. Very clever.
Friends are truly the only thing that make going to work bearable. If I ever have a job sans friends, don't think I'll last very long.
It's tough to go from working with your friends (and we had a unique situation) to working alone. The first year I stayed home was the worst!
I would suggest some regularly scheduled time to do something for yourself (where you meet other moms) Yoga class (with child care?) A week night out, maybe a regularly scheduled games night or movie night (again, with out other moms) Volunteering at school, the community center, your kid's sports teams (with other moms...there's a pattern here....)
Anyway, I guess the point here is for you to have something to look forward to every week. Time spent with friends. It doesn't even have to be more than and hour or two, just enough time to energize you.
Hmmm....this gives me some food for thought too ;-)
(I also love the title of this post)
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