feeling more like myself
2012
Tomorrow morning, first thing, is my final exam for the semester. Phew! It’s been a full on semester – but marvellous too. Completing my first full time, month long placement provided me with just the right affirmation I needed that yes, I do so want to be a nurse. And it is something I am good at.
I adored every moment of it. Especially establishing nourishing and respectful therapeutic relationships with my patients. I loved that. And the researching bits … many of my patients were very ill or debilitated and every night I came home with a mental checklist of what I wanted to read up on before my next shift. I learnt so much.
However, now that it is all behind me – well except this one short exam in the morning – I cannot tell you how incredibly satisfying it is to be home again. I’ve almost had to reintroduce myself to my kitchen, my chickens, my chores. And rediscover my enthusiasm for them.
This afternoon, when I left for babysitting, tomorrow’s bread was rising gently in the corner of the oven’s alcove. Freshly baked gingernuts were cooling on the bench and a pretty plateful ready for Abby’s afternoon tea was on the kitchen table. Puy lentils with spicy hungarian sausage was simmering on the back of the stove. The washing was done and hung. As were the dishes – well, they weren’t quite hung ;-) The sheets were changed and the beds made. The kitchen table looked like folks sat there to eat and talk – it was almost clear, dressed only in a crisply ironed, newly thrifted embroidered linen cloth (with matching napkins) and a bowl of fruit.
My home looked and smelled of attention, love, satisfaction and a huge dose of happiness.
And I breathed a sigh of relief. One month’s absence had left me feeling rather peevish and uncertain. I was worried I might have forgotten how to move through lovely slow days at home. No, the more I re-engage with my home, the more I want to do, the more energised I am, the more I realise how very important it is to my whole family’s wellbeing … not just mine.
Yes, this nursing stuff is very good. But so’s being a home mama.
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What a lovely post Lily. Makes me feel very calm. I’m glad you’ve had a good month nursing. Your compassion shines through this blog and you are going to make one terrific nurse and you are one very special home mama. Enjoy your week and good luck with the exam tomorrow.
Blessings Gail
Thanks Gail!
The exam in the morning is a practical one – I will be given the case study of a patient. I will have twenty minutes to think about him or her and look things up in my drugs handbook. Then I have to administer eye drops and a nebuliser and complete a two page sheet outlining how I would care for this patient. Should be fun :-)
I am so glad to be back home. And I know that no matter how much I enjoy the nursing, I will never work full time. Three, maybe four days a week – but full time would send me crazy!
warmest regards and you have a lovely week too – hope you’re surviving this freezing weather and that the torrential rains didn’t catch you out.
lily x
Best of luck with your last exam! I’m sure you will be a great nurse judging from the tender loving care you show in everything you do.
Oh, and that bread looks delicious!
Best of luck with your exam! You really sound like you will be a wonderful, caring nurse.
It is so nice to just have time at home, isn’t it. I had a week off from work last month and I just stayed home and puttered and it was so lovely. Enjoy your time off.
ohhhh, yummy lily! what a restful, nurturing space.
I have to remind myself thta being at home is enough, and important enough, for now.
so hard to balance with financial needs though…
x umi