Metal Meredith

Some days, when Henry is napping, I get bored. (Especially when I am trying so hard to avoid doing the things I must do like emptying the dishwasher or folding clothes.)

And my favorite:

My mom called this morning and was shocked to get me on the phone at 1030am. I thought I would share a blow by blow of a typical day here. I am not he busiest mom ever, thank goodness, but I am not sitting around on my ass all day, either.

615am: Alarm goes off, I get up 7 minutes later
630am: Wake Vivienne
635am: Wake Phil, feed Vivienne
700am: Vivienne to bus stop, pack up Henry’s snack
730am: Phil leaves for work, check email, eat my breakfast
800am: Wake Henry, dress Henry, breakfast
830am: Henry to school
900am: Drop off Henry, check in with school and see if they need anything. Use the next 2 hours to grocery shop, run errands, clean house or do some computer work.
1145am: Pick up Henry
1230pm: Henry lunch
100pm: Henry nap, my lunch, check emails, write blog (hi!)
230pm: Pick up Vivienne at bus stop
300pm: Henry wakes up, snack for both kids, Vivienne reluctantly does some homework
430pm: Start dinner
530pm: Phil comes home, dinner
630pm: Bathtime, playtime, get kid ready for bed
730pm: Henry to bed
800pm: Vivienne to bed
830pm: Clean up dinner, watch some TV, straighten house
1030pm: Get myself into bed to read
1100pm: Lights out.

There aren’t many things that throw me off in this schedule. One day a week or so Phil goes out after work, leaving me alone with the tiny heathens for the last 6 hours of the day. On those nights, bedtime comes a little earlier for them both. On Tuesdays, we throw gymnastics classes in the evening.

It seems much more daunting when I write it down. But knowing when to look up at a clock helps. Sometimes, if I am too scatterbrained to keep up, I set the kitchen alarm to ring when it is time to get Vivienne, start dinner and the like.

For over a year, I have been participating on a site called Kiva.org. It is a place where I can lend a small amount of money, along with a group of other people across the world, to small business owners in foreign countries that otherwise wouldn’t be able to get funding. Over time, I have given to 13 people in 9 different countries; Bolivia, Iraq, Lebanon, Peru, Tajikistan, Cambodia, Pakistan, Tanzania and Uganda. I have funded both men and women in areas of construction, food, transportation and clothing.

I get email updates on my loans, mostly from the people that have received them. It is rewarding in a way that I can’t explain. With my $200, that I have consistently invested over and over again, I have helped so many. I love the way it feels.

Below is the most recent update from a woman in Cambodia. I hope it makes you smile, too.

This is an update on your loan to Sreydy Deab in Cambodia.

Mrs. Sreydy is working in a garment factory while her husband is a motor taxi driver and does construction work. In February, 2008 she requested a loan of $800 to purchase new motorbike for her husband’s business. Sreydy’s husband is able to save more money by using his new motorbike in the way that he doesn’t spend much money to fix it. Therefore, the living standard of Sreydy’s family is better then. In addition, she would like to say thank you to all lenders for lending her some money because it is very important when her ability cannot cope the high cost to buy a motorbike in which she really needs it immediately. Sreydy will request the loan again in the future.