Sometimes, I feel like I need a job!

koyote · Apr 11, 2009

Just to get out of the friggin house.

So, my wife is n the middle of an accelerated nursing program- 3 days of school a week, 2.5 full days of clinicals. a couple evening of studying away from home.

We have my son, who is really amazing but needs a lot of attention- 1: he's homeschooled 2: there's nothing he wouldn't rather build than buy- and that can get a bit taxing on my time and materials. But he'll be a pretty decent carpenter and machinist by high school age

We also have a 2.5 year old daughter who is really working the daddy magic. And she wants to help in the shop a bit more than is strictly advisable. I find myself sometimes having to wait until she's asleep before hitting micarta or ivory work because she just quietly shows up in the middle of the dust.

And I've got orders and stock and I have to get stuff out because we have to survive this whole nursing school period.

All of this is just keeping busy- not even as hard as a basic deployment- but I am at home all the time and that's making me a bit crazy.

trentu · Apr 11, 2009

Did that for 3 months and started losing my ambition to make knives. Try and get a part time job at least out of the house or you will get grouchy and burnt out. Maybe you just in need of a vacation?

strahd71 · Apr 11, 2009

i kind of feel for ya..... my wife is an LPN but has gone back for another year for her RN. she is almost done but it sure has been tuff. i got 4 kids tho (9, 7 (twins) and 3 year old)and i work full time and i still am over whelmed by life. i've been so depressed its unreal!

hang in there buddy!

jake

steelshaper · Apr 11, 2009

I hear Ya man and I dont even have kids! After two years of being alone in the shop all the time I finally broke down and got a part time job. I now deliver pizza. I love it! The job is only a few hours a week but my stress level is way down.

Good luck man. I am pullin for ya!

go mike · Apr 11, 2009

I'm a full time high school student, and all this time, I was thinking about how school takes up too much time from me making knives. I hate school.

koyote · Apr 11, 2009

I just don't have the option of a part time job right now. I used to get out once in a while to work with a local blacksmith, but even that hasn't been doable lately.

At least the rain is ending and I'll get the kids out into the countryside a bit. That does help.

Will Leavitt · Apr 11, 2009

Perhaps you could get your son to babysit the youngest for a couple of hours a week just so you could take a walk or go work out or something. I know when I spend a lot of hours in the shop I'll gravitate towards the computer more than when I only have a couple hours after work. I guess it's just a need to talk to someone. A lot of us try to portray ourselves as the loner and the "I'm a MAN" type of guy but I know for myself when I put a knife up or sell one I'm just worried sick about if someone will buy it or the buyer likes it. I guess it's a need for acceptance. We'll beat our chests and proclaim our independence in the shop but with a knife out it's "like my knife, like me please" kinda of feelings of angst.

Cheer up man, she won't be in school forever, it just seems like it. I was in the RN program here but had to stop when it came time for clinicals because I can't afford to replace my benefits for my family so I can complete the program.

deker · Apr 15, 2009

go mike said:
I'm a full time high school student, and all this time, I was thinking about how school takes up too much time from me making knives. I hate school.

Trust me Mike, school looks like a dream once you're out in the "real" world

It's not so bad really. It's a set schedule that eats only several hours of your day. The expectations aren't so bad as long as you keep up with the work, and you get MONTHS off every year! Enjoy it while you can.

My wife has been out of town helping ill relatives for over 5 weeks now with no real end in sight. I have 3 hours of commuting a day, but I have to get home early to let the dogs out in the evening, so it's hard to even get a full day in at work. By the time I'm home and have exercised/fed the mutts, it's time for bed.

I at least get out of the house now though. I used to work from home and I understand the going stir crazy with responsibilities around the house piling up, work piling up, and no break from the monotony.

Hang in there Koyote. Just remember that whether it seems like it or not when they're loading crackers into the DVD player, or super gluing each other to stuff, these are the days to cherish with your kids.

-d

koyote · Apr 15, 2009

Man, I'm lucky with the kids. They need a lot of interaction but while they do "creative" things, it's usually not crackers in the DVD player. Though Leif blew a 2oz bottle of gap filling CA trying to seal a handle on a shovel (just like da does on some knives, right?)