Don’t Wake The Kids

I’m convinced that a so-called work life balance is a myth. I thought I was busy before kids. Ha! How naive of me!

There are so many things I have to do and so many things I WANT to do. Like blogging for instance. So a lot of things get sacrificed – but mostly a spotless house and sleep. I can’t complain too much. I have a job I love. I have a family I adore. Friends – another sacrifice.

I always wondered why my mom didn’t have lots of friends. Now I know. Not enough time. I’ve learned if you don’t hang out, your friends move on.

Maybe one day I’ll nail down the ever-moving target of work life balance. If any of you do, please let me in on the secret.

P.S. My Worry Wart post drew lots of spam. I wonder how much I’ll get this time.

I’m a born worrier. My earliest memory is of me worrying. I can worry with the best of them. As a mother, my worrying is on overdrive.

Today we let Jumpshot travel on an overnight fishing trip. I hesitated to let him go as my worries flooded my brain. But I let him go anyway. I reasoned that I shouldn’t let my worries and fears rob him of life’s experiences.

Does it get easier?

Let a toddler find a marker and see what PERMANENT artwork you’ll get. The upside, you’ll have a permanent reminder of your son’s/daughter’s adventures.

I distinctly remember the moment I realized the enormity of becoming a mother. I was well into my first pregnancy, and I was sitting at the dinner table with my mom. All of a sudden it hit me that my name would be Mom, not Sally. Someone is going to call me Mom. Wow. Mom laughed at me as if to say, “Duh!”

How ironic that Jumpshot spent the first two years of his life calling me Sally. He would stand at the top of the stairs in our townhouse and yell out, “Saaalllyyyy, where are youuuuu!”

When did the realization of motherhood hit you?

You know what they say, you learn something new everyday.

On a recent episode of My Boys, I learned that grown men de-evolve when women aren’t around. I guess I never thought of it. Having had a lot of guy friends, they were always fine, upstanding young men. What I learned is that they were fine, upstanding young men when I was around.

Now take my husband. He’s smart and funny and an all-around good guy. What he revealed to me is that when I’m not around, he regresses to a cursing, half-dressed, crotch-scratching adolescent boy.

Ladies, we make our men better. Use your powers for good.

As a working parent, I always feel as is I’m catching up. Sometimes I have to let things pile up when other events take precedence over my life. This blog is no exception.

Spring has sprung, which means Mother’s Day activities, Teacher’s Appreciation Week, end of school year parties, etc. Let’s add to that an increased work-load and (fortunately) sleep patterns returning to somewhat a normalcy.

All this to apologize for neglecting my blog.

I have piles of mail, laundry, dirty dishes, toys, etc. I am such a creature of habit and routine, that a simple thing as working an extra hour a day has really thrown me off. I’m just grateful that I now have a three-day weekend to play catchup.

Next week I get to start a new routine since the kids are out of school and will be attending a day camp. My car might actually become a sanctuary, if not cleaner.

I should install a sign on the front door that says, “Excuse the mess – Progress underway.”

I recently made an appointment for James to get a haircut. Incidentally we go to the same place. My stylist answered the phone and made the appointment for me. So I asked her if she had here baby since it had been a while since I’d seen her. “Yes,” she tells me. When I asked how old she is now, thinking she would tell me 3, 4 months tops, she replied, “Oh she’s 7 months old.” I told her I guess it was time for me to get a haircut as well and scheduled one for next week.

That’s how it goes when you cram work and motherhood. It was a couple days before I realized I scheduled it for Mother’s Day weekend. Bonus for James. Now he doesn’t have to shop for anything. I might call back and piggyback a massage as well. Then I might find some other things to do to keep me out of the house for a day.

Well I hope posting goes better for May than it did for April. Sorry about that, guys. My energy levels were sorely depleted. Turns out my thyroid levels are little low, and I’ve been put on hormone therapy, which should help. I hope. I sure could use some help in the distraction department.

Today, I was taking out the recycling and garbage. I have two trash cans inside to sort things – I stole that idea, so feel free to steal it from me too. I got distracted and accidentally emptied the garbage into the recycling bin outside. So I had to dig it all out, cutting my finger in the process on a metal lid. Ouch!

I also weeded my pitiful garden. I’ve never weeded in my life. But I decided the dead plants needed to come out so it looked a little better. Plus a thistle had made it’s way in, and that’s no good. My gardenias bloomed this year, so I am a little proud. But I’m not getting cocky. James just threw out an indoor plant I killed, and my two St. John’s fire didn’t make it either. I have a long way to go to being a gardener.

On a heart-warming note, I got my Mother’s Day gift early from Diva tonight. We were watching TV. She came to get me when she discovered Harry Potter was on. So we snuggled up in her bed and watched the end of the movie together. She isn’t a fan, but she knows I am. Then to top it all off, a Public Service Announcement came on. It’s message was basically you don’t have to be a perfect parent to adopt a child. She turned to me and said, “At least you’re perfect, Mom.” Now that’s a perfect ending to a day.

Jumpshot says: School sucks.

Mom says: Why does school suck?

Jumpshot says: Because it’s boring.

Mom says: Nothing exciting happens?

Jumpshot says: Exciting stuff happens, but the activities are boring. Except P.E., Chapel, Music, Computer, Library, and Spanish.

Mom says: What about Math?

Jumpshot says: Oh yeah, and Math. We’re learning about colons.

Mom says: Colons are exciting.

Jumpshot says. Yeah. You get to tell time with them.

Mom says: So what activities are boring?

Jumpshot says: The usual.

Mom says: What does that mean?

Jumpshot says: Uh, it means the usual.

Mom says: What about lunch?

Jumpshot says: I’m starving.

Mom says: That didn’t answer my question.

Jumpshot says: I know . I’m just hungry.

Mom says: You’re silly.

Jumpshot: In school, the girls call me Bobalina.

Mom says: They’re silly.

Jumpshot says: I know.

Mom says: Do you mind being called Bobalina?

Jumpshot says: No not really.

Mom says: When are you going to bed?

Jumpshot says: Dun, Dun, Dunnnn.

Mom says: Say goodnight.

Jumpshot says: Goodnight.

We are on high alert for the Tooth Fairy as Diva is getting ready to lose her first tooth.  I am the designated tooh puller.  Sally will take care of a lot of things, but loose teeth give her the creeps.  That’s fine.  I’ll trade pulling a tooth for changing a diaper any day.

I read an a column in the Sunday paper about a month ago about parents paying too much for teeth.  Some parents, lacking small bills and not wanting to crush their child’s dreams, give their kids a brand new 20 dollar bill.  Are you kidding me?  All it takes is a little planning.  For instance, ToothWatch began on Monday.  I have been holding on to a George Washington ever since.  You have to remember how many teeth your child is going to lose.  You need to balance out how much you pay.

Diva has a playdate with her best friend today. I’m dropping her off at lunch. Of course, she doesn’t have a sense of time yet, so I’m being barraged with “Is it lunch time yet?”

And of course there was a rainstorm early this morning, and Jumpshot didn’t get enough sleep, triggering a migraine.

So this has been my morning thus far:

“Is it lunchtime yet?”
“Mommy, I want to hold you.”
“Maaaaaa, my head hurts.”
“Is it lunchtime yet?”
“Mommy, I want to watch Agent Oso.”
“Maaaa, I’m going to throw up!”

I’ve cleaned up vomit, took out the trash, washed the dishes, got Jumpshot to sleep finally, got Agent Oso on for Manchild, and Diva in the tub to get ready for her playdate.

Thank goodness I got about 10 hours of sleep last night. Thanks, James! Who, by the way, was not here for any of this and is off playing disc golf with his brother this morning. I think I should get a back rub out of the deal.