I’m pretty sure my calendar just laughed at me. This inanimate object is taking on a life of it’s own, I swear I can hear it giggling as I try to fit just ONE MORE THING into those super tiny squares. I finally sat down last night with stacks of e-mails covered in post it notes marked “super important”, my fancy phone with it’s calendar schedule thingy, and my own date book, and attempted to put all dates and commitments onto one big family calendar. The result….I had a bit of a panic attack, and the calendar laughed. “Not possible” it seemed to scream!! I diligently wrote out all commitments for the next three weeks, and then truth be told I might have teared up a little. If wine didn’t give me a screaming headache I would have reached for that, instead I grabbed the cookie dough from the fridge and ate a heaping spoonful. (must not forget to add *contract salmonella to my calendar because I’m sure that will come next ) That’s how I roll.
How did this happen? How did life get so busy? We are just a normal average family with two girls, a dog, and a cat. How is it that we don’t appear to have time for even one family dinner from now until February? Can it be right that we have plans every single night for the next three weeks and only one night those plans are about me? Err a PR event, but that is as close to “me” as I’m going to get!
When I was a kid I clearly remember taking swimming lessons in the summer and being a Brownie (you know a baby Girl Guide) in the winter. I think that’s about it. I sure didn’t feel like I was missing out on anything. So how has our society evolved into one that requires kids to take swimming, piano, dance, cheer, volleyball….pick your poison extra curricular’s and insert here. Just make sure there are a ton of extra activities, each is scheduled multiple times a week, and that each child is never in the same sport because that would be too easy. Don’t even get me started about how much all this costs!
I know I’m blessed, I also know our girls are in far fewer activities than most of their friends. I really have no right to complain but seriously, we have PD Days, March Break and Summer Vacation. Could someone please pass a bill to declare a week of “No Extra Curricular’s Allowed”? During this week children must stay home with their family, get outside to play with their friends, and parents are not required to carpool anywhere.
Sometimes these spoiled life in the Suburbs require you to take things one day at a time. So until a most coveted vacation in February I shall just keep swimming, just keep swimming. Hope you are all keeping your head above water during these crazy over scheduled can’t catch your breath days of winter!
I don’t know about you but I vote for a simplier life, back in the day, however I know these things really build awesome children who have goals and confidence in themselves.
That would be three of THEM. I only wish there were three of me! 😉
Right there with you! I have three kids, and at one point figured out that I have 16 sessions of extracurricular activities a week between the three of me, including Saturdays and Sundays. My calendar laughs at me all the time!! 😉
That’s what happens with life in the suburbs :). It totally sounds like my life, right down to the PR event. Of course, there are a lot of things on my calendar from work, but the kids certainly have a ton of events.
Hey, long time no see! It’s been a while since I’ve visited you. I’m still blogging, just haven’t been able to visit other blogs much these days. I miss it.
Anyway, looks like you’re doing well. Glad to catch up with what you’ve been up to these days.
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It IS stressful, I remember clearly….and I only had one and only allowed one sport/extra at a time! How you do it, I don’t know. But these days will be wonderful memories eventually – that I can promise.
..and that’s just for two girls only!:-)
Had no idea how life in the suburbs can be very busy. Breathe girl!
BTW, your baby’s adorable in her ballerina outfit:-)
Awww 🙁 I’m sorry to hear life is stressing you out! The best advice I can give is to take it one day at a time and try to embrace the chaos! ((hugs))
Ack I remember those days. And I was THAT mom who refused to allow her kids to be in more than 1 sport at a time (seriously? two sports at the same time for an 8 year old? Nuts!) and only one extracuricular and I only had twins. yet still run run run we seemed to do. Honestly I miss those days but only a little bit. It’s nice to have all this “me” time (except the Captain will tell you all I do is say I miss my kids!!!!)
Yikes!
Girl, I feel ya! Fortunately, I’m not at my busy time of year. That’s April/May. Right now, all we have is band, philharmonic orchestra, Bible quizzing, DI, and bass lessons. Because of all my “extra time,” I’m thinking of starting Big Sis in violin lessons. Am I nuts???
As my son and his friends would say, “First world problems!”
I’m SO not making fun, I totally get it. You and your hubby are wonderful parents for giving your kids so many opportunities and experiences in their lives. It’s hectic now, but years from now, when things have settled down, you’ll look back on these days and smile. AND, wonder how the hell you did it all!!
We swim in the form of treading water here as well. I hope February gets here fast for you.
one day at a time for sure….oy….i feel a bit ragged right now and we dont even have a sport going on…