tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-456168418670274120.post2000927822856483378..comments2020-11-20T13:34:37.657-06:00Comments on Mayfaire's (not-so-daily) Maily: A Woman's Work is Never Donedelaynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10606786002615861044noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-456168418670274120.post-13633812218785410352013-03-05T00:20:20.361-06:002013-03-05T00:20:20.361-06:00Hi Delayne, Thanks for your great reply. I suppose...Hi Delayne, Thanks for your great reply. I suppose every line of work has its elements in it obstructing a person from focusing on producing as much as she could. For a person creating something out of nothing all I know is it sure ain't easy! The "I should be doing this" thoughts we have in our head come from a place that really get in the way. We are doing our work while thinking we should be doing other work. Turning on favorite music or reading supportive blogs such as yours really help. Those who love to tend a home as a top priority need to concentrate in that area and those working from home at other work as a top priority could use some healthy validation elsewhere from time to time. All I know is though writing this sounds logical, when trying to apply it I seem to be stuck back to guilting myself as much as ever! Pam Johnsonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-456168418670274120.post-87042064183086424792013-03-01T11:11:37.681-06:002013-03-01T11:11:37.681-06:00Pam, BIG thankyous for commenting (I get so few he...Pam, BIG thankyous for commenting (I get so few here that I sometimes fail to check for them)! <br /><br />Sadly, I can completely relate to the customer comments that you describe. I've also gotten, "Fest is only on the weekends; what do you do the rest of the week?" (*sigh...*) But just as frustrating is being asked, "So how was your year??", and for the life of me I can't answer that. And I think it's because I'm looking for something epic to tell them: "I moved into a new house," or "I put together my first art show," or "I cured cancer." When in reality my year was a storm/flood/torrent/tsunami of little moments instead of just a handful of big accomplishments. And sadly, telling them stuff like "I worked hard to make someone smile by sending them daily uplifting emails" doesn't impress anyone....<br /><br />It's been almost two years since I wrote this post and I'm still struggling with this hot topic. (At least it's hot for me....) I'd hoped to encourage a dialogue by writing this originally. And my goal then was to continue thinking about and exploring the subject and post updates here. But immediately after sharing this post I stuck my neck out and linked it to Facebook, where well-meaning friends (all female) challenged me, bless them. To paraphrase them, I felt like I was being told to 'suck it up' and that all this was 'just excuses for not creating.'<br /><br />Of course, I instantly began doubting myself. The thread sent me into a tailspin! I couldn't figure out what I was feeling. Did I feel let down by my gender? Had I not explained myself well? Were they seeing something that I was missing? Was I just in denial and they were rubbing my nose in the truth?? Gah....<br /><br />And then just two nights ago I watched Part One of a documentary called 'Makers -- Women Who Make America' (you can see it on the PBS website and I'd recommend it to ANYONE). A woman being interviewed there said (again paraphrasing), "Back in those days, a couple could come home after killing themselves protesting for women's rights and fall down on the couch, both exhausted, and the man would wipe tear gas out of his eyes and say, 'God, what a day!' And the woman would wipe tear gas out of hers and say, 'God, what a day!' And then she'd get up to begin their dinner."<br /><br />And watching that brought me full circle to all of this. And then the next day what do I see? A comment from you! So maybe this all needs to be revisited.<br /><br />Again, thank you, Pam!delaynehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10606786002615861044noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-456168418670274120.post-42018969210447211152013-02-28T19:39:07.669-06:002013-02-28T19:39:07.669-06:00So true! I feel that way all the time! While at th...So true! I feel that way all the time! While at the Renaissance Festival and other art fairs, other people's evil comments would make things worse. "The Renaissance Festival is only two weeks, what do you do the rest of the year?" Grrr! This pesky feeling keeps me from practicing music and so many other things. Posting your blog on my 'fridge will help to overcome these insidious thoughts! Pamnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-456168418670274120.post-89701144120605751752011-06-06T14:21:02.697-05:002011-06-06T14:21:02.697-05:00Thank you, Kate! I always appreciate your comments...Thank you, Kate! I always appreciate your comments. :)<br /><br />I tell you what: this dang topic eats my insides out! My poor Mom feels, I'm sure, like I give her the biggest portion of the blame, but I can't do that. By virtue of her gender, she's got the same problem, too, and can't help how she was raised either. Women forever have been wrestling with this Do It All (or die trying) system.... <br /><br />Men haven't been helping, of course. And I think we did ourselves a bit of a dis-service over the years by fighting for our fair share of the workplace, because the guys (OK, MOST guys) aren't all that keen on adding housework and childcare (cooking/gardening/laundry/mending/fill-in-the-blank) to their resumes. So what we did was successfully add even more to our plates. Boo....delaynehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10606786002615861044noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-456168418670274120.post-28685363655631896872011-06-06T13:32:05.118-05:002011-06-06T13:32:05.118-05:00Delayne! I LOVED reading this: you articulated exa...Delayne! I LOVED reading this: you articulated exactly what I've been struggling with...and now I understand why you reacted so strongly to the 'personal assistant' comment...I'm enthusiastically awaiting further suggestions and comments on this, because even just now as I type this I'm realizing how many things I've made a priority before my art these past two weeks. I want to think more about this amazing post, chew on it and come back for more...but meanwhile I hope you won't mind if I re-post it! EXCELLENT and inspiring writing :0)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com