The Artist-Mom

I've been thinking a lot about how best to juggle pottery and motherhood. At last week's Clay Club meeting, I was talking with fellow Potter-Moms, Erin Campbell and Jennifer Goff about trying to find enough time to be a good mom to our kids (we each have two), keep up with all the household chores, and make pottery. Sounds like the same dilemma all working Moms face. I want to blog about this without the whole working inside vs working outside the home business.

Do Potter-Dads have it this tough? Do they feel the guilt of needing to fire on Monday, but can't because that's the day I volunteer at school? Or the shame of missing their kid's awards ceremony because that hair appointment was made weeks ago, and who knew that report cards would be delayed by weeks due to snow days. BTW the haircut was SO worth it.

From 8 am until 2 pm, I have time for pottery, laundry, grocery shopping, and house cleaning. I'm sure there are other things I have to do, like bill paying or exercising. And since Jay not only works an 8 hour day, he commutes for 2+ hours a day just so we could live in this lovely house with a lovely studio, I have to cook dinner every night. And people wonder why he's so skinny...

While there are times when I could spend 6 or 7 hours in the studio, my work generally is done in stages, and needs time to dry a bit before I can go on to the next stage. Frankly 6 or 7 hours would probably cripple me for a day or two, so I don't do it. But I still don't seem to have time to get it all done. There was one day of unexpected errand-running last week, so I am finishing last week's work today. I might even have to work after dinner. And I hate to work after dinner.

I'm not grouching about my life. I am eternally grateful that Jay has a good job which allows me to be a potter. I'm just wondering if there is a Time Management Fairy out there who could show me the way.