Today was a really effective day. I got a lot done. Unfortunately very little of it was house cleaning. This means that I feel rumpled and unsucessful because all the things I didn’t get done are lying around and accusing me of sloth. At least I managed to shut most of the dishes up by shoving them into the dishwasher where they will be scalded with hot water as punishment. Hah! Take that dishes!
I will ignore the rest of the accusitory voices because I know I did good work today. Besides they’re all things that are easily accomplished while NotMyBaby is here tomorrow morning. Well okay, not “easily,” but at least they’re physically possible in between moments of snatching small things out of his mouth. I’d forgotten how hands-on toddlebabies are. I’ll be relieved when this babysitting gig ends in June.
What did I do today? Made breakfast, got kids out of bed, supervised morning homework for Kiki, started a load of laundry, sent Link to school, welcomed NMB, sent Kiki to school, hung wet laundry & started a new load, sent Gleek to preschool, took Patches and NMB on two errands and then to the library, put NMB down for a nap, hung more wet laundry, started a third load, started the dryer, ate a snack, did a little recreational reading, got NMB up from his nap, carried NMB on a walk to retrieve Gleek from preschool, handed NMB back to his mom, fed sandwiches to Gleek & Patches, read email, took Gleek & Patches with me to the grocery store, unloaded groceries, drove to pick up Link, ate another snack while reading, separated Gleek from her beloved friend because we had to leave, drove to pick up Kiki, started Kiki on afternoon homework, worked on a sewing project, made dinner, made kids eat dinner, started regular homework time, enforced regular homework time, went to a committee meeting, nudged Kiki to finish up homework, put kids to bed, loaded the dishwasher, and here I am.
And that’s all the thoughts I have right now besides a “things to do tomorrow” list with which I’ll not bore you good folks.
Dang. I think that’s more than I accomplish in a week.
Having kids is like training for a decathalon. At first it seems impossible, but gradually over years of training you find yourself managing.
Also knowing that “now” is the only possible time slot for a particular task is a great motivator to keep moving.
Too right.
The other thing that mom-training gives you? The ability to carry a large number and variety of items, including a kid if necessary, and still have enough dexterity to open doors, latch seatbelts, wipe noses, and catch the cat as it tries to bolt out the door.
Men don’t seem to learn this lesson, however. I still hear a lot of “but my hands are full” from my mate, when he’s holding a jacket and a bookbag.. and that’s it. The wimp. (ha!)
Quote
“If a mother’s place is in the home, why am I always in the car?”
A friend of mine bought a key chain with this thought on it. I wish I had bought one too. . .