[Duchess]

I cancelled a trip with my mom a few months ago and accepted a few really good paying gigs and she won't let me forget it. Like many other people, I'm budgeting my ass off. The thought of turning down work, especially being a freelancer with this economy, makes me cringe.

I no longer have an assistant and this means working longer hours and feeling even more exhausted. This makes my free time even more important. I have a house and three dogs to care for. I think my mom has forgotten what it feels like to juggle work and responsibilities at home when time is an issue.

She has the free time to talk on the phone all day, a cleaning lady that cooks, a yard guy that also keeps her car clean, travels wherever she wants, stay in bed all day if she chooses, etc....

Why she doesn't understand that I no longer have the time or the psyche fortitude to stay in touch everyday is beyond me.