It has now been 6 months since I was a business owner working outside of
my home. It has been an incredible six months – our lives have 
completely changed. We are now living on the opposite side of the world on a tropical island and we are now a homeschooling family. The kids are no longer rushing to keep up with my schedule and the general facst paced life in North America. We are free to make any day a pj day (we are making up for lost time on this one), a beach day, a big outing to the zoo or just the local park. The weather is almost always the same here, so we just see how we feel – if we need more rest, then we take it. If we are up for adventure, we go for it!
However, my expectations of free time for myself really have not happened like I had imagined. I had envisioned free evenings once the kids were asleep – no chores, no emails, no work. I had envisioned myself sewing the girls cute matching dresses and dolls (all of the materials I have here on hand – except a sewing machine – but I would have time to sew by hand, right?). Along with reading a long list of books that I have been wanting to read for years. I would also practice my piano each day, so that I would be playing like Alicia Keys. And don’t forget working out each day – I would train for a triathlon!
For any of you who know me – you know that the above is not me being funny, I really believed this would ALL happen. Yes, within the first 6 months.
Reality – I am usually so busy with chores, clean up from dinner and catching up with laundry that I don’t sit until 9:30pm. Then Everly typically wakes once around 10pm and I have to help her fall asleep. By that time, it is too late to begin a project, so I spend time online or Alan and I watch tv or part of a movie (which drives him crazy to stop part way through, lol). This past month, I have also had to add in planning for Christmas and Isla’s birthday. I am trying to find time to read in the afternoons with a hot coffee – but with 3 young children, I have read 5 chapters between 3 different books! I repaired a dress and a costume – but that is the extent of sewing. I have been more successful with working out and I do manage to swim regularly and I have recently began running and training at the gym.
So, when did I fit in 30 hours of work a week, plus emails, schedules, and planning at night – on top of maintaining a household?! I don’t have a dishwasher and I have the tiniest washing machine in the world, but that does not add that much time.
However, I do spend my days with my kids. We do some basic chores throughout the day, but I don’t spend my days cleaning. I am getting to enjoy a coffee in the afternoon and I have read more books to the kids than I have ever before. Our condo walls are full of art work, the floors are covered with lego projects, and the counters full with science experiments. Many of our days are spent exploring the city and all that it has to offer. And many days at the beach!
I feel so very fortunate that we are on this adventure. I am also so grateful that I loved A Gym Tale for the 10 years that it was mine and my families way of life. I am also thankful that we were able to walk away from AGT when we felt the time had come. It is an incredible experience to be able to try living life in a completely new way.
Time to Live, Learn and Love 