Day: October 8, 2004

I guess I’ve already gotten used to having Howard here at home. Since he left yesterday morning zero housework has gotten done because he isn’t there to wander through and keep me company while I’m doing it. Or to do it for me. Or to admire work that has been done.

Tonight I’ve got to get the dishes done and mentally prepare myself for tomorrow morning. Tomorrow is Saturday. With it comes “Saturday Work” each child is responsible for cleaning their room and one other room in the house. I’m responsible for making sure they actually get the work done. Usually the work is done by noon, frequently by 10. Saturday afternoons are full of clean house and relaxation.

Walking the kids home from school was a bad idea. It seemed like a fun idea early this morning when the weather was cool. Kiki and Link were enthusiastic and left the car happy to know that today was a walking day.

Halfway through the morning I remembered that I’d promised to watch a neighbor’s children at 4 pm. I did some mental math. Bell rings at 3:30. Kids take 10 minutes to gather stuff and find me by the playground. The walk takes 15 minutes. It was tight but do-able.

Things I forgot to account for:
Gleek needing to go potty
The school bookfair with candy for sale
Kiki and Link walking slow because they were eating candy
Kiki and Link both tripping and skinning their knees

I got to watch the neighbor drive away from my house while I still had a block to go. She didn’t see me. I rushed the rest of the way home, dumped all the kids into the car and drove to the church building where the neighbor was setting up for the activity she was in charge of, apologized, and took her two boys home with me.

Now I’m hot, sweaty, tired, smelly, I have a headache, and I need to appologize to my own children for venting stress in their direction. On Monday I’m DRIVING.