One good thing that has come from my unemployment is a greater appreciation for all that my wife did for the 20+ years I went off to work while she kept my family and home in running order. Besides my school work and looking for a job, running the household is the biggest time consumer. Doing laundry, which includes the ironing (though I'm sending more to the dry cleaner as part of my self-imposed anger management program which I'll address in another blog), folding and putting away clothes is extremely time consuming. Everyday is laundry day but on Wednesday I do all the sheets and towels so it's declared the official laundry day for the week.
The male ego is a funny thing. Many of us males define ourselves by what we do, in fact at a cocktail party you will notice that after two men meet the next question is always, "So what do you do for a living?" So here I am jobless and changing careers. I don't want to define myself by my past career since that's gone and I haven't started a new career so I can't lay claim to that territory either. I'm the monkey in the middle.
Even when I was fully employed at the peak of my career I didn't feel as manly as John Wayne. How do you think I feel now? I mean not wearing the rubber yellow gloves when I do the dishes (with really hot water!) only goes so far when trying to prove to myself that I'm a man's man.
Thankfully my brother-in-law (a man's man, a framer by trade, the kind of guy who barely winces when he accidentally shoots himself with a nail gun) picks me up on Tuesday nights and takes me to the shooting range. Like Clark Kent changing into Superman, I rip off my apron and strap on a holster. After a hundred or so .45 caliber rounds my testosterone is restored, balance is achieved and I'm ready to tackle....laundry day.
Steve, I can totally relate. I have been unemployed for 6 months now. We lost our home, health insurance, and living off of a dismal unemployment check. If I don't find work within 3 more months we will be facing some serious problems. It feels great being a man unable to provide. So like you focusing on God's provision must be enough. Going out to the range is a great idea though. I do see what my wife has been having to deal with at home though with the two babies...unbelievable.
ReplyDeleteSteve, someone else shot me with the nail gun, i didn't shoot myself. You wouldn't really go to the range with a guy who shoots himself with nail guns would you? I am tougher than you though because i will not wear the rubber gloves; thanks to Obama'a Hope and Change when the Mortgage Backed Securities brokers are out of work so are the framers. Want to trade coupons this week?
ReplyDeleteCouldn't believe only two days after reading this that Jen leaves the "Change Curtis's Sheets (Zach tinkled on them)" on the list on the center island. You weren't kidding about that fitted sheet!
ReplyDelete