Treasure Sale Update

*Special Announcement*
I always try to respond to comments with an email, but it has come to my attention that not everyone is getting those emails because their email address is not attached. I am sorry that I just realized this! I’ll be sure to leave comments in the comment section!!
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So those three short days were pretty much my life for the past three weeks. Running the shop was the easy part, dare I even say fun. Inviting the general public into your living space is always entertaining. Also, Marie was having a blast trying to up sell my brother’s disco light. I thought I was going to die laughing when she tried to show this elderly man how fun the disco light was and how much he needed to have it. Whoever said that customer service is dead just hasn’t had the pleasure of working with Marie.

The hard part was, of course, setting it up and even harder was getting my house back in order afterwards. I’m just going to say that garage was looking nicer than the rest of the house since I couldn’t spend any time doing laundry and cleaning.

On the upside of this, I made more cash than I ever imagined. Who knew peddling my wares could be so lucrative? When I had the hard, cold cash in my weary hands, I felt a rush of power and accomplishment that I have not felt in a long, long time. The feeling took me by surprise. Who knew I missed making money so badly? For a few days afterwards, I felt despondent. I never expected to feel this confused about motherhood and my former career as a teacher.

But then I remembered how miserable I was when I was teaching. (I promise a post or two on this soon. I’m working up to it). The stress was unbearable. At the time, Harrington had what he calls a “coasting” job; the kind where you just show up and do your thing and go home. Teaching is the antithesis of a coasting job, and he never understood why I would be all cranky and emotional when I got home from a hard day of managing 150 teenagers and their parents. Well, years later, he has a job that requires total engagement, and he gets it now. And I am reminded why I don’t want to go back at this time. Not to mention, in my heart, staying home with the Babes is what works best for me and my family. . . I just need something a little extra, and I need a plan so when the Babes are in school, I know what I am going to do.

I know that I have talked about this before, but after the Treasure Sale, I see my future goals much more clearly. I am going to slowly start my freelance writing career. I am going to set a goal of writing an essay every one to two months and submitting it. I am going to continue to go to my writer’s meetings. I feel this is so key because the discussion helps me think of myself as a writer in an actual industry. The moderator is really good, yet I don’t think he realizes what an impact he has on me and my ability to see myself in a different light.

I have already submitted an essay and received a really nice rejection letter. I seriously didn’t think I could feel so uplifted from a letter like that. I think it was because the editor said how much she liked my references to pop culture, which means she actually did read it. Yea! And getting read is half the battle. So being an optimist, I only have another half to go. Next week, I am going to submit it to a second round of magazines now that I have a better feel for the process.

Hard to believe I got all that from some silly, little Treasure Sale. Oh, all that and this:

I skimmed off the top and treated myself to a pedi. As my friend Tracy wisely said, “Take some of that money and do something nice for yourself.” Thanks, Tracy! Now for the rest of the money, we are saving it to spend on our family vacation.

Money AND wisdom AND clarity on my future career plans, yeah, I’d say the Treasure Sale was successful.

Well, if you made through this gynormous post, congrats! Enough about me, what’s going on with you, Friends? How’s your summer starting out?

Other Treasures Discovered

If you follow me on Twitter or are fan on the Mommy on the Spot page on Facebook, then you know I have been bitching up a storm about getting ready for my Treasure Sale (which sounds way better than garage sale). (garage sale sounds like I have junk, whereas a Treasure Sale sounds like I am parting with my Beloved Possessions because they no longer fit our lives). During the process of the Treasure Sale, a few Intangible Treasures have been discovered.

1. I think that I am more overwhelmed than I realize. Or maybe sifting through almost ten years of stuff is just too much while taking care of little ones. But I felt that I almost had a mental breakdown during this time. I don’t know, but I just feel drained. Is this normal part of purging? I don’t know. Or is that just a normal part of taking care of a 1 year old and a 4 year old?

2. I think that I am lonelier than I care to admit. It’s like I am never alone, but often feel lonely. I am taken back by this because I feel that I am kind of hitting a stride in my mothering skills and have created a nice circle of friends. So why am I like this? I think it has to do with the face that the person I share my life with just doesn’t get what it’s like to be a mom, let alone a stay-at-home one. It’s not that Harrington doesn’t value my prowess in SAHM-y skills; it’s just that he doesn’t get what it takes to take care of a house and kids. I don’t know why this should bother me. My friend Ali at Sunrise Rants talked about living in a village. I totally get this.


3. The Male Ego is tough to crack. I will not bore you with all the tedious details of the arguments surrounding the prepping of the Treasure Sale. Let’s just say that when I want something done around here and it’s put off or done as quickly as possible with little concern to quality, I take it personally. This is my “office,” and when it comes to certain things, please just respect the way that I do it. Don’t let your ego get in the way. I feel like there is little talk of the Female Ego. . . probably because it went out the window when giving birth. The whole mothering, nurturing thing leaves little room for an ego. The birthing process, nursing, being pooped on, vomited on, calming irrational fears, learning the special patience that is required to put up with little ones – all that destroys the ego so the heart can grow and give the Babes what they need. That in turn takes a lot out of me. So if I need a little extra support, be it emotional or manual labor, to get through a tough day or an extra duty such as the Treasure Sale, I feel it should be given. Without reservation.


So, yeah, who knew I would find these gems right alongside my old papasan chair (my first piece of furniture I bought all on my own for my new apartment) and Wizard of Oz poster (from my childhood room).

Because this is going to take some time, I probably won’t get to posting for Feel Good Friday or comment much on your blogs. But I will be back next week!

Wish me luck!