Follow me as I go undercover to bring you information about my adventures in knitting and motherhood.

Sunday, August 29, 2010

Double Standard

Today I'm getting ready to head out of town for a week long class that is being held about an hour and a half from my house.  It's a leadership course that is required for my job.  It's the first of many unusual work engagements I have coming up this month.  

As I am getting ready to pack, I can't seem to get one the Yarn Harlot's latest posts out of my head.  She had just gotten back from traveling and was lamenting about someone who asked her a question about whether her husband minded being left with all the work while she was away.  

Why is it as women that we feel like it is our job to take care of our children's needs (and our spouses for that matter) ahead of our own and if we leave them to their own devices we are bad mothers and wives?  Why do I feel so guilty for leaving them alone for the week?  Don't get me wrong, I'm going to miss them both terribly and I feel that every time I leave them for any length of time.  But why guilt?  And why in these situations is the husband seen as the hero?

When my son was born, I had the privilege of being able to stay home with him full time for the first five months.  Then when I did finally head back to the office, I only went back part time.  I typically work two ten hour days and a four hour morning per week leaving me with plenty of quality time with my little man.  And I love it.  I wouldn't change it for a thing.  I don't want to look back on his childhood and think "man I missed it".  

But, when I tell people that my husband watches Sam on the morning that I work, they are amazed and have nothing but praise for him.  Where is my praise for the other days that I spend with him?  It doesn't occur to anyone to comment on the sacrifices a mother makes.  That's our job after all. 

So in any event, I'll be spending today getting ready to head out for the week.  Of course I'll be taking some knitting along with me on my trip.  My current project is the Fibonacci Scarf.  



I'm making it in Colts blue and white (I'm originally from Indianapolis) as a present for my Mom for Christmas.  This is my first project with any sort of striping or color work and I've been experimenting with jogless stripes along the way.  It's an interesting patten in that the stripes can be as small as one row or as large as 34 rows.  I have quickly discovered that all methods are not equal in this case.  The slip stitch method works great for the larger stripes but is way too noticeable in the one row stripes.  

This means that this project will be my first color work and my first blocking experiment.  My hope is that by the time I'm able to blog again next weekend.  I'll be able to show you the finished product and detail my adventure in blocking.

Have a great week!
Beth

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