June 8, 2007
Time Is Not On My Side, No It Ain’t
Time is of the essence. Exactly what does that mean? It seems to mean that things must be done immediately. And that is often how I feel day to day.
As a full time worker and full time mother, I struggle with all the tasks on my to do list.
A typical weekday consists of waking up at 6 a.m., showering, dressing, eating breakfast and brushing teeth, and that’s just myself.
I then have to get a very tired almost-three-year-old dressed, fed, watered as well as convincing him to brush his teeth. The dog needs to go outside to pee, then he needs to be housed in his kennel while my husband and I are working.
It’s one big mad rush to get Dawson out the door. He insists on taking a his blanket, sippy cup and favorite toy to daycare every single morning.
He fights me about sitting in his carseat and buckling up and I have to bribe him with candy just to stop the whining. He prefers to lay down in the back seat with his blanket. He is definitely my son, I like to sleep longer, too.
Dropping the child off at daycare isn’t that much easier. Dawson always drags his feet on the sidewalk and tries to tell me he can’t go to Renee’s because she’s too busy and he wants to go home and play in the sandbox. Even though Renee has a huge sandbox in her back yard, Dawson prefers his own. After several moments of negotiation I am able to leave for work.
Insert 8 hours of paperwork, phone calls, messages, demands and projects here.
Once five o’clock rolls around, I’m ready for a margarita or a long nap or both. But do I get it? No. Why, you ask? Because after picking up the Doodlebug from daycare, it’s a journey home.
I never realized how hard it is to concentrate on driving a car, making coversation with a toddler who wants to tell you about his day and running a list of dinner choices through my head.
Arriving home, we change into our everyday clothes, I let the dog out to pee and try to satisfy Dawson’s ravaging hunger. Doug usually has dinner planned, but not started, simply because he likes to do lawn work to unwind after work.
I try to occupy Dawson while folding yesterday’s laundry at the same time and there’s the constant picking-up and dumping-out of toys through the house.
It never ends.
I can’t pee in peace, Dawson tries to bang down the door or Doug tries to tell me about his day while I’m doing my business. I can’t hear him behind the door, but I pretend like I can. I still don’t know why he told me the neighbors were putting their snowplow on their truck yesterday. It’s June. I can only imagine what for.
After dinner, one of us does dishes while the other wrestles Dawson into pajamas, reads a book or fiddles with the cable remote because a certain little boy has to have his nightly episode of Blue’s Clues before bed.
When Dawson does finally go to bed, I manage to pick out some clothes for the next day, gather stuff that is laying around into one corner of the room to be put away when “I find time” and read a few pages of a book. I usually fall asleep reading.
And the hilarious part is that I never seem to get anything accomplished outside of work, but yet my day seems filled to the brim. Overflowing, actually.
Weekends are not easier. Remember all that stuff in the corners? I try to put it away and occupy Dawson and find some free time to think. And pee in peace. In fact, I finished writing this entry at 3:30 in the morning. I awoke with the nagging feeling that something was not finished.
Is anything ever finished? I need an extreme home makeover. Ty, please come organize my house and my calendar and take me to dinner. Doug won’t mind, I promise. As long as you give him home maintenance tips.
Hurry. Time is of the essence.
“Where Does Your Time Go?” Tell us all about it!
This post is part of a Blog Blast sponsored by Light Iris, a new site for moms that’s all about saving us time. Check it out — and join us! You might just win a Blogher 2007 conference ticket. Good Luck!
Posted by Dana @ 8:10 AM • Uncategorized
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June 8th, 2007 at 8:27 AM, Janet a.k.a Wonder Mom Says:
Wow woman. You are one busy lady.
Nothing is ever finished. I learned that when Stinkfoot was born. Order, no such thing. Organization, not happenin’…
But the time with the kid. Love it. Even when I think I have had enough myself.
June 8th, 2007 at 8:47 AM, Dana Says:
I know. It’s a great feeling to spend time with Dawson. The aftermath of all that play time is not as great!
June 8th, 2007 at 12:55 PM, AbsolutelyBananas Says:
Oh, I need a home makeover too! And a “What not to wear” makeover! Here via PBN Blog Blast.
June 8th, 2007 at 1:12 PM, Leslie Says:
I feel the same way – and I’m not working full-time!
June 8th, 2007 at 1:47 PM, Cori Says:
Funny, I feel a lot like you do and I’m a SAHM. I’ve been torn lately between going back to work and staying at home. Still I can’t decide.
June 8th, 2007 at 2:04 PM, Shauna Says:
Just a few years ago I worked full-time. That time between picking kids up from work and putting them to bed is so short, and jam-packed. I’m wondering how being home full-time doesn’t keep my house any cleaner… I loved your post (and can so relate to always having company in the boudoir).
June 8th, 2007 at 6:05 PM, Kel Says:
If you track Ty down, can you send him my way? I feel you on it all, it’s nice to know there is no end in sight. Worth it though, so worth it.
June 8th, 2007 at 9:16 PM, Jennifer Says:
I’m exhausted just reading this! Great post!
June 8th, 2007 at 9:31 PM, sherry Says:
I don’t think I ever realized how exhausting parenting is until I was in the middle of it all. It’s rewarding but exhausting!
June 11th, 2007 at 8:02 AM, Cheryl Says:
This was the first morning EVER that I was actually a little relieved to pass my toddler off to someone who is probably much more patient than I am.
You do an awesome job getting through the day.