My day was so laughably insane yesterday, I had to write about it. I take very seriously the counsel of "good, better, best," and try to not to be involved in a million different things just for the sake of being involved in a million different things. I multi-task out of necessity, not because I like it or am particularly good at it, and try to avoid it wherever possible. Which was why yesterday was such a joke. So, here was my day:
6 a.m.: Wake up! It's time to greet the day. (OK, so it was 6 a.m. plus two lovely snooze buttons.)
7 a.m.: I'm ready to go. Time to get the girls up. #2 is not wearing pull-ups at night, so we can't let her sleep in, or . . . well, you get the idea.
7:30 a.m.: time to teach music lessons for a half an hour. Try to not think about the crash coming from the girls' bedroom while you're supposed to focusing on your student.
8:00 a.m.: time for breakfast, scriptures and family prayer before #1 chases the bus down the street to the bus stop.
9:00 - 9:45 a.m.: make calls, receive calls regarding a service project you're in charge of at the church this evening. Everyone who said they would get you materials, etc. last week is bringing them this morning, which means you only have today to iron, cut and piece fabric together to make quilts, make sure you have enough batting and thread, make sure people are bringing their quilting frames . . . blah blah blah, yada yada. Talk with the people who are helping you about 10 times each, possibly 100.
10-12 a.m.: playgroup for #2! Yeah me! Step on 8 legos, mediate 3 fights, make sure no one is being left out and host 5 preschooler games. Oh, and don't forget the 20 more phone calls regarding tonight's project. (Remember how everyone is just brining their material to you today?!) Oh, yeah, and don't forget the PTA Board. Yep, make sure the teachers have dinner for parent-teacher conferences tonight. Call caterer (well, mom who can cook for a crowd really well) and school to make sure there are enough plates, cups, etc. Five phone calls (and two new music students later -yeah!) you just about have that one done.
12-2 p.m.: Feed lunch to preschoolers and the 2 year-old. There's a friend staying after play group for a while, so make sure the sandwiches are 1: white bread, 2: smooth peanut butter, 3: the peanut butter is exactly to all sides of the bread, no cheating! And don't forget the yogurt. Fight with the two year-old over nap time. I will be victorius! Three more PTA phone calls, 30 more church phone calls.
1:45 p.m.: Forget that #1 is coming home early until she knocks on the door. A good mother would watch for her to walk from the bus stop, wouldn't she?!
2 - 4 p.m. Frantically iron, cut fabric and batting, and organize materials. Realize that the batting off the roll is 45" instead of 60" wide, so you'll be short and won't have enough available for all of the fabric you have. Further realize that at 2:00 in the afternoon of your project, there is nothing you can do about this. During this same time, try to supervise #1's piano practicing and homework, preparing her for her lesson today (of course!).
4:25 p.m. The calvary arrives! Tum tum tum tah! Darling husband (oh wait, this is cyberspace . . . aren't I supposed to call him DH or something?), sensing the impending mega-meltdown, arrives to take #1 to piano.
5:00 p.m. Arrive at church to set up quilting frames that no one has brought yet. Me worry? Nah.
5:50 p.m. In keeping with the theme of this day, of course we have parent teacher conferences today. So I abandon the ladies at church and run down to school. #1's doing great, I think her teacher wants her to be a writer. I definitely think she's got the genes for that, don't you?
Oh, and remember the dinner for the teachers at school? That's right. You have to take all of the dishes and extra food back to the mother who prepared it for you. Granted, a whole lot better than doing it yourself! At this point, all your DH (did I do that right?) can do is laugh as you babble to yourself.
6:45 p.m. Back at church. Things are going just fine (I knew they would). We're ready to go, a few quilting frames short, but still doable.
At this point, you realize all you've eaten today is half a peanut butter sandwich.
9:30 p.m. Arrive home, kiss your floor, put the 2 year-old to bed, clean the kitchen, straighten the tornado enough to not step on any more legos, kiss your girls (they're asleep, yeah Dad!) and eat ice cream while watching "Biggest Loser." Laugh at the irony.
For some people, this is normal. For me, this is a need for hospitalization. I thrive on routine and schedules and lists (don't get DH started). Any deviation gives me hives. I think yesterday was one of those painful teaching days. Organize as much as you can and prepare for the unexpected!
p.s. Fast-forward to this morning. DH calls at 7:40 a.m., shortly after leaving for work, reporting he has a flat tire in rush hour traffic. Throw children in car with a Go-Gurt and a banana and go rescue said DH from side of freeway. Will I ever learn?!
