can include a lot more than what you are physically doing, etc... right? Cause obviously you are thinking/feeling a lot, and writing this blog about it, so it seems to me there is a lot more that you could answer than the potato thing.

You're feeling a lot, and trying to live in the moment (which, I don't think is mundane at all), and you're thinking about a lot, and I think that if someone asks you that question, maybe they are willing to be a sounding board for some of your ideas.

I think that the whole trying to live in the moment thing can be a great conversation starter, but you may get some blank stares or looks of confusion when you bring it up, because they may not know exactly what you mean -- which is great, because that offers more room for conversation while you describe what you mean to them, which would then allow you to work out more of the details for yourself, right? And I think that's really interesting, and personally, would find it a great conversation to have with another mama...so, I think you're doing a lot! Just gotta pull of the filter that society has put on "doing."

Sending you love...

"Fundamentally the markswoman aims at herself" DT Suzuki

this doesn't really address the feeling -coming from outside?- that you should be doing MORE... but , I've said it before-- your ability to be in the moment: it's staggering and beautiful. I aspire to it!!! Even if that "moment" is peeling potatoes. Or maybe ESPECIALLY if the moment is peeling potatoes or whatever seemingly mundane task. The ability the skill whatever to find joy in that-- it's wonderful. I think it's goregeous that you know and accept that you are doing what is right for you right now and ENJOYING it. And no, it doesn't mean you don't have goals or dreams for the future or no memories of the past!!! All those things are of course in the present with us. Okay, I can feel myself getting all confused by the nature of TIME so I'm going to stop. Cos, yeah, it's hard to articulate!

that is quite possibly the worst question to ask a stay at home mama. but, since they're askin.....
wake up. go to the bathroom. pick out clothes. iron if needed. check email. check hipmama. check other sites. take shower. get dressed. brush teeth. do hair. put on a face?! hear children or must wake them up. give hugs. give kisses. cuddle. hold. tell dean to get movin (he's 8, knows what to do) with mecah - carry. hold hands. walk with. take to the bathroom. wipe. give shower. dry. dress. brush hair. pick out a barette. brush teeth. watch them choose bowls, plates, cups, silverware, drinks, cereal if we're havin it. make breakfast. pour milk. pour juice. listen to breakfast conversation. laugh. pack snacks. pack bags and purse. put on shoes. drive. go get coffee. smile at kiddos. go to the library. read with them. feel happy. make phone calls. eat lunch. get dean's stitches out. drive. come home. carry sleeping mecah to bed. do laundry. fold laundry. hang laundry. soothe a whimpering but still sleeping mecah. put away laundry. play knights on horses with dean. hug for mecah. take to the bathroom. pause for me, while a cartoon is on. catch up on hipmama. and, it's 5 o'clock!
the life of a mama is so hard to describe!! it is important to me and may seem unimpressive to others. but, I LOVE IT.
i can tell you do, too, and that you are damn GOOD at it.
thanks for this

i always feel exactly like that when someone asks what i've 'been up to' lately. my typical answer? "not much," then i change the subject. i could babble for while about work, my daughter, and watching tv before bed (seeing as it feel like those are the only dimensions to my life currently) but i'm secretly terrified that people think i'm a boring loser. like i SHOULD have so much more going on than that. a novel about to be published?? an affair with a celebrity?? an orgy?? getting arrested for civil disobedience?? yeah, all those things would be so interesting to talk about....but they are not my life!!

oh well, i'll just keep being dismissive (and a little defensive) when people ask what i'm up to....

that too. There is never any end of things to feel guilty about or things to think you SHOULD be doing. And a whole pool of people so insecure that the only thing that makes them feel good about their own choices is to make a funny face or depreciating comment about yours.
It is easy to feel insecure. I think when we are young we all have these crazy ideas about the spectacular things that we are going to do. And then when we get older we realize that maybe we don't want those spectacular things enough to trade off all the warm and comfortable things that we have.
i am sure that you wouldn't think poorly of, or assign boringness to another houseworking mama, if you heard about her day. You probably only do that to yourself because there is still a part of you that lives with adolescent ideas about what excitment is.
Or maybe i am just projecting because i have that problem. I mean here i am living my dream of expatriating, and learning foreign languages, and teaching english... and at the end of the day i still argue about who forgot to buy the damned toilet paper or who ate the last piece of bread. You know what i mean? life is mundane no matter what you do.