can I do it?

While I'm out of a job, M is at work and I'm the lite version of a stay-at-home mom...to the dogs. I stay home during the day and make sure they're walked, watered, fed, and loved up. I vacuum up a Dyson canister full of dog hair...every day. I take care of the laundry (damn, M has a ridiculous amount of clothing), mail, bills, dishes, and attempt to make dinner some nights. I take out the trash, mop the kitchen, dust, etc etc etc. Me of 10 years ago would be thoroughly confused watching me of today. I was a dirty packrat back then, but as I've gotten older and older, I've found more of a need to be clean and become more willing to part with things I know I don't need anymore (like admitting I'm not going to fit into those size 2jeans again anytime soon). I don't mind doing this so much anymore in general, and especially given the situation. M works all day, and then often goes back to the old place to work on getting out of there. It seems fair for me to take care of things on the homefront while he's working and I'm not. Unfortunately, M is...shall we say, not neat? He can be two feet from the garbage can or hamper and fail the put the item he's holding that belongs in said receptacle into said receptacle. Oh well.

I understand the ups and downs of being a stay at home mother better now. I understand how it can be frustrating, always cleaning up after others and being trapped with the kids. At least now that the dogs have gotten used to the place I can leave for an hour or two and leave them behind (as long as it doesnt storm, but that's another post). A mother can't do that. And I am kind of isolated, I don't know anyone who lives nearby. When we first moved here and the dogs were too confused and thus destructive to leave alone, I was totally dependent upon M for interaction, meals, etc. Thank God I'm not now.

At the same time, I see how it will be difficult to hold down a full time job and still get everything done around the house that needs to be done. Work tends to wear me out; we're both pretty low energy people. I like being home with the "kids", even though they get really annoying when they want something (just like a baby...can't ignore them) or when they think they see another animal outside. How on earth do working women spend enough time with their spouse, their kids, have some time to themselves, and still take care of everything at home?