Tribe

November 14th, 2010 | Posted by Alison Spath in Life

This spring I had a fellow Stay-At-Home(schooling)-Mom friend propose an idea to me that she called Tribe. Basically, the idea was that we’d pack up our respective broods and head on over to someone’s house one day each week to spend a few hours getting some real work done. Painting, cleaning, cooking, organizing, gardening, yard work – whatever anyone needed to get done, we’d get it done.

Then the following week we’d head on over to the other person’s house and get stuff done over there in return, alternating houses each week. Whatever you need, spell it out and we’ll get it crossed off your list. The kids could play and we’d get some things accomplished, while at the same time getting some much needed and very welcome interaction with people who came up higher than the underwire in my bra.

Now, I love my kids, but this Stay at Home Mom gig can get kind of lonesome and isolating if you don’t stay on top of the real life friendship thing. Plus, I like to get stuff done – and kids can kind of put damper on the Productivity Department.

In short? Sounds win-win to me. Let’s do it.

So we agreed to give it a whirl. Between the two of us and another mutual homeschooling mama friend, we formed ourselves a little Tribe. I’d like to say that what happened next was miraculous, but really – it’s just obvious. We’d get together week after week and kick serious butt around our homes. The kids get to play and keep themselves busy (i.e., out of our hair). Adults and kids alike look forward to “Tribe Day”, husbands too – especially when they come home to find that the fridge has been completely cleaned out, the upstairs is spotless or the 18 bushels of apples you bought have been peeled and there’s a pie in the oven.

Sometimes I’ve even found myself scrambling at the last minute for something for us to work on when it’s my week. Instead of some thoughtfully planned out project, we end up getting to stuff I only kinda cared about, only sorta needed done, or only would would have slugged through if I was under house arrest. Bookshelves organized anyone? Well now they look great!

I actually love this Tribe concept so much that I’ve swindled other Stay At Home Friends into this gig as well. I’ll work at your house if you come work at mine? Sold.

So this week I had a pretty good sized project on my agenda, and it just so happened that Tribe days with each set of friends had us working at my house two days in a row.

Well whaddya know? Let’s Paint the Playroom!

Before

We’ve only lived in this house for oh, CLOSE TO A YEAR NOW – and I’m finally getting back into my role as Domestic Engineer.

Painting rooms has been on my list of things to do here for what feels like forever – and now that the clouds have finally parted after what has felt like one hell of a year, I’m kicking paint canss and taking names later.

And a little help from some friends has gone a long way.

Sharon Rolling

Can you tell this was Tuesday?

Trim

The left index finger being held out of harms way is your first clue.

One of the best parts about this arrangement is that you can get so much more done when your kids are occupied by somebody else’s kids. More done than when it’s just you and the man working on some project and the littlest one won’t stop asking Daddy to “play with me!” because Mom never does.

Sorry. I really hate to play. Can’t we read or draw or blog or something?

Little friends love to play Sick Kitty.

Kids Play

Or better yet, Dead Kitty in the Street – the game that came right before Sick Kitty.

Got kids you’re supposed to be teaching how to write?

Wet Paint Sign

I can homeschool AND paint at the same time, yo!

Wet Paint

And progress doesn’t have to halt when there’s a squabble that needs tending to, a toy needs to be found or someone has to figure out how to stop the cries of hunger.

Feed'Em

The Tribe that eats together, stays together.

Lunch Time

Mac and cheese, veggie dogs and corn anyone? No? OK then, how ’bout leftover bean enchiladas for the big girls then?

Leftovers

Hey wait. Who you calling “big girl”?

My Wednesday Tribe helped me finish up the trim and after a brief work hiatus due to finger issues, the room was wrapped up this weekend while Dad played Dead Kitty in the Street and Mom played Get This Playroom Put Back Together Before They Ask Me To Play With Them on Monday.

Purple Playroom

Much better.

Done

Purple rules.

And Done

Girls drool.

A big thanks to Sharon, Andrea and Rebecca all your help! Couldn’t have done it (so quickly) without you gals. Now go Find Your Tribe!


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