I recognized about 20 BK (Before Kids) that there is simply no way for me to maintain a mental to-do list. There were simply too many people who all were convinced they held an especially important place in the line of my myriad responsibilities and who were all too important to ignore wait their turn in line for my attention. I was a "git'er done" girl, and BK that was ok because I was young and had indepletable energy levels.
I managed these demands with a little notebook of to-do items which gave me great satisfaction from marking items from the list.
Then I married and had kids. Immediate AK (After Kids) I discovered that there was no longer time to keep my neat little notebook handy. And the most demanding individuals I would ever answer to would be less than 60" tall and possibly smarter than me. (Especially in their own minds.) Orders ("requests") would be shouted to me through a closed door or window while I was backing the car out of the garage attempting to go slave away for a modest wage that would be needed to make such orders possible. While texting and driving is highly discouraged, imagine attempting to find your notebook in your purse, remember what you think was shouted to you and hoping that they didn't really say they needed it for that day all while driving to work.
Recently, Little Sunshine brought home a paper outlining the holiday season's activities at school. For the past week she has made sure I knew that the class Christmas party would be today. On Monday, I had planned to go get some treats for her to share with her friends in a stocking stuffer exchange.
I didn't write it down, and I was not feeling well. And it's the most demanding time of the year for me with work. And when I say "not feeling well", I really mean I may have possibly begged for someone to put me out of my misery permanently while I was attempting to help wayward professors get their late grades entered.
Little Sunshine met me at the door as I dragged my almost lifeless body home. "Did you get my party stuff?"
"No, I'm sorry, mama doesn't feel very good." She let me off with a highly skeptical "Ok."
The next morning, as I was putting on my coat to go back to work (still sick), Little Sunshine comes in and says, "Mama, remember my party is on Thursday."
"Yes, I remember, baby," I replied.
She puts one hand on her hip, and points at me with the other, "Don't forget to get my party stuff."
Knowing I had a hard day of work ahead, and knowing I didn't feel that good, and knowing that I still had two days, I said, "I will try. If I remember, I will."
Perhaps that was my mistake. She says, "Ok." and left the room.
Five minutes later, she returns. "Here, mama. I wrote a note for you to remember." Shocked, I took the note, suppressed a snort, and said, "Ok, thank you."
She wasn't done.
"Now, mama, put that note in your purse so you won't forget."
It's hard to be put in your place by a six year old. Even harder to accept that she thinks that you are senile.
I bowed my head and replied, "Yes, ma'am."
She got her party stuff that day.
I managed these demands with a little notebook of to-do items which gave me great satisfaction from marking items from the list.
Then I married and had kids. Immediate AK (After Kids) I discovered that there was no longer time to keep my neat little notebook handy. And the most demanding individuals I would ever answer to would be less than 60" tall and possibly smarter than me. (Especially in their own minds.) Orders ("requests") would be shouted to me through a closed door or window while I was backing the car out of the garage attempting to go slave away for a modest wage that would be needed to make such orders possible. While texting and driving is highly discouraged, imagine attempting to find your notebook in your purse, remember what you think was shouted to you and hoping that they didn't really say they needed it for that day all while driving to work.
Recently, Little Sunshine brought home a paper outlining the holiday season's activities at school. For the past week she has made sure I knew that the class Christmas party would be today. On Monday, I had planned to go get some treats for her to share with her friends in a stocking stuffer exchange.
I didn't write it down, and I was not feeling well. And it's the most demanding time of the year for me with work. And when I say "not feeling well", I really mean I may have possibly begged for someone to put me out of my misery permanently while I was attempting to help wayward professors get their late grades entered.
Little Sunshine met me at the door as I dragged my almost lifeless body home. "Did you get my party stuff?"
"No, I'm sorry, mama doesn't feel very good." She let me off with a highly skeptical "Ok."
The next morning, as I was putting on my coat to go back to work (still sick), Little Sunshine comes in and says, "Mama, remember my party is on Thursday."
"Yes, I remember, baby," I replied.
She puts one hand on her hip, and points at me with the other, "Don't forget to get my party stuff."
Knowing I had a hard day of work ahead, and knowing I didn't feel that good, and knowing that I still had two days, I said, "I will try. If I remember, I will."
Perhaps that was my mistake. She says, "Ok." and left the room.
Five minutes later, she returns. "Here, mama. I wrote a note for you to remember." Shocked, I took the note, suppressed a snort, and said, "Ok, thank you."
She wasn't done.
"Now, mama, put that note in your purse so you won't forget."
It's hard to be put in your place by a six year old. Even harder to accept that she thinks that you are senile.
I bowed my head and replied, "Yes, ma'am."
She got her party stuff that day.
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| I just noticed the "family planning" note.....this is proof positive that I will utilize free stuff no matter where it comes from. There is no need for more family planning, just in case you were wondering. |
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