CityView Magazine - Fayetteville, NC
Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/1323574
CityViewNC.com | 15 to dresser drawers. Dirty laundry in bins in all four closets. Laundry that will visit me in my nightmares in the form of muddy, grass- stained little pants with worn out knees. I could tackle the laundry. Or I could exercise. at would be self-care. I should probably do that. Because at the top of my laundry pile is my favorite pair of jeans, with a gaping hole on one side. In a tense jump-wriggle-shimmy battle of hips versus skinny jeans, the pants were defeated with a final tug when one belt loop was ripped clean off. If getting dressed leaves one feeling a little winded, does it count as exercise? I could take the time to make myself a decent breakfast - something healthy and substantial to compensate for the cold coffee and my son's discarded waffle crusts. Perhaps I could apply a facemask, shape my cuticles, paint my toenails, take a catnap or listen to NPR while I soak in a hot bath with whatever fancy salts you're supposed to use for relaxation and renewal. But alas, there are floors to mop, groceries to buy, columns to write, emails that need responses. ere's everything but enough hours in the day. I'll end my day in the same comically dysfunctional way it began. I'll stay up past midnight pairing socks, stacking tiny superhero underwear, and folding dance leotards. I'll fall asleep on the couch before I get to my own pile, which means my no- yoga-yoga-pants will be extra wrinkly in the morning. But while I'm at it, I'll savor a glass of red wine and watch one too many episodes of something on Netflix that will make me laugh. And you know what? at feels an awful lot like self-care of my very own sort. I marvel at the people in the same season of life as me who seem to be able to do it all. e ones who juggle parenthood and careers and still manage to squeeze in pre-dawn workouts and bedtime skincare regimens. And when I cut myself a little slack, I can marvel at myself too, because I'm doing a pretty darn good job of taking care of the people I love. And besides, aren't holey jeans, like, totally in right now? Claire Mullen can be reached at clairejlmullen@gmail.com. COMING IN OUR FEBRUARY ISSUE WOMEN I N B U S I N E S S CityView's annual listing of the feminine side of the movers and shakers that make Fayettevile an exciting place to do business.