Because Dr. Phil said so

Just so we are clear about things, I was NEVER going to do this. I thought blogging was dumb or for people who had too much free-time on their hands, which certainly was not someone like me. After all, not only do I stay at home with my almost 2-year-old daughter, but I happen to run a pretty successful medical transcription business from our home. I do it all without he help of family, as my closest family member is 6 hours from here. Its all on me, baby. My husband works out of the house. He gets to leave this insanity for up to 10 hours a day. This is what brings me here.

I was watching a Dr. Phil episode last week . He had a panel of mistresses on there. It was the sort of show that most of us wives watch with interest to see if Dr. Phil is going to tell you the secret as to why men cheat on their wives and how to keep it from happening to you.

Now I must back up a bit. When I told you I work from home, I mean that in every sense of the word. The physicians I work for transcribe into a digital recorder. These voice files are sent encrypted to my computer and I have software that allows me to decode what they sent to me, so I can listen to what they say and type it. No need for getting all dolled up to go to the office. No more panicking when I put my finger through my last pair of pantyhose. Just roll out of bed and got to work. It is great! Nobody looks at you funny if you have baby puke on your shirt . However, it does tend lead to a wardrobe of nothing but sweatpants, holy t-shirts, and comfy fuzzy socks (my office is in the basement - brrrrrrr!) The days of me rushing around to get my make-up and hair just right are gone. My designer clothes no longer a necessity, as diapers are much more practical. I mean, good God, my husband has witnessed me lying on the floor in a pool of puke when I was pregnant, sweatpants are a big improvement over that. Right?

In any event, that sets the stage for this Dr. Phil episode with the mistress hussies. Here I sit at 3 p.m. performing a glamorous task of folding towels while the baby sleeps and I am waiting for my next batch of work to arrive. I am decked out in my favorite t-shirt that happens to have the armpit blown out (who sees that anyway?), Sponge Bob pajama pants, and mismatched socks. I have on no makeup, am wearing glasses, and rocking pigtails. You know, the pure vision of lovely. This is how I looked when I got Dr. Phil's fabulous advice on how to keep your husband from cheating.

According to Dr. Phil, we don't have to like it, but if we are sitting at home in sweatpants everyday, no makeup, and our hair in a chip clip, while our men are out in the world with working women who are fluffed up everyday and looking nice, this may be an indication of their straying. HOLY CRAP! I immediately started texting my husband and asked him his view on this. He, of course, thought I was ridiculous and paranoid. He told me that he loved me no matter what. All I kept thinking was that I bet all these cheating husbands said the same thing to their wife.

Now, I have no doubt my husband is faithful to me, but it sure did make me stop and think. First, it made me think that maybe I could make a little more effort. I still don't any reason to be anything but comfy while I work, but for God sake, perhaps I could put on a bra or at least chuck the Sponge Bob pajama pants during the daytime hours. Today, for instance, I put my make-up on and did my hair. I just couldn't bring myself to get rid of the sweats, but did manage to put on a nicer t-shirt than my one of my 20-year-old favorites. I will say, it did get me noticed at lunch today by my husband and he was a little late getting back to the office because of it. Perhaps Dr. Phil was on to something! :)

On the other hand, thank you, Dr. Phil for making me a neurotic mess about what I once thought was the best perk about working from home. I wonder if Robyn even owns sweats. Hmmmmmm. Maybe I can bring her over to the dark side.