But lately, the pace of life is beginning to catch up with me.
Individually, none of the kids are over-scheduled.
Olivia has weekly piano lessons, once-weekly church youth group, is on the school track team (which lasts all of 6 weeks), and the summer swim team.
Jack has weekly piano lessons, weekly cub scouts, and is on the swim team.
Grant is on the swim team.
But add all those things together, plus the end of school year things like talent show rehearsals, staff appreciation week, the school book fair, etc., and suddenly, life is spiraling completely out of control.
Here is what our day looked like today:
8:00-2:00 - Work in school library
2:00 - All three kids had a dentist appointment (I love that all three can get their teeth cleaned at once!)
3:00 - Drive from dentist to track meet to watch and cheer for Olivia.
5:30 - Leave track and drive to swim practice.
6:00-8:00 - Swim practice. The boys practice 6-6:30, Olivia from 7-7:45.
8:15 - home finally after 12+ hours, Olivia started her homework, I put the boys to bed, then started a load of laundry because everyone is out of clothes!
Our refrigerator is almost empty, with the exception of a few wilted and stinky vegetables. We've been living on fast food and take out. Tonight, my dinner consisted of a Starbucks Frappucino, a handful of red licorice, and a chocolate chip cookie. The dinner of champions! (My kids ate Subway sandwiches . . . don't ask me why I didn't get one too.)
I know this frantic schedule is short-lived. Track is over after today. And in 3 weeks, school is out for the summer, as is scouts and mutual (church youth group), and we'll just have swim. Afternoons will be spent lounging at home, taking it easy, and eating meals as a family at home again.
I just ended my 2-year stint as PTA President, and to the amazement of many, did not take another position on the board. I'm realizing that even I have limits as to what I can do, and those limits have been pushed to the max!
It is a constant challenge for me to find a good balance between leading a well-rounded life, and being a crazy woman who is too stressed and busy to enjoy the daily moments of life. A scripture comes to mind, reminding us not to "run faster than we have strength". I need to pay attention to that one, I think.
I am not writing this post to get advice or suggestions on what I should or shouldn't do (keep those comments to yourself!). Rather, I am writing it for myself, so that 20 years from now, when my kids are complaining about how "exhausting parenthood is, and they don't remember being this busy when they were kids", I can look back and shake my head and laugh . . . and remind them that they are where they are because of all the experiences they had. And to tell them to slow down a little, and take the time to smell the roses!
3 comments:
I am glad you aren't doing more for PTA this next year. Gotta say no to some stuff.
You guys don't have mutual at all through the summer? We might need to implement that here. That sounds like heaven!! So many people are out of town through the summer that we usually just combine all 3 YW classes for all Tues night activities.
I am not looking forward to this stage in my life. Being the ultimate taxi driver. My mom said she would drive over 100 miles each day to take us all to our various activities. I remember having to wait outside the dance studio or piano lesson .. waiting and waiting for my mom to come and pick me up. I just thought she was ALWAYS late .. turns out she just had to drop off and pick up all the other sibling to their activities. You don't think about those things as a child - all the time your mom sacrifices for you.
You're an awesome mom. Keep up the great work. Let the countdown to Summer begin!!
Good for you saying no!
We are just starting all the taxi driving and it's already making me crazy with 1 kid! She's just in swim and soccer and now she wants to do dance.
Today I was supposed to get up and go running. I couldn't get myself out of bed and I'm ok with that! Sometimes I need to listen to my body when it says STOP! Before it makes me stop by getting sick or injured.
Ha ha to Stef's comment, I also remember being irritated when my mom wasn't right on time!
I think it's incredible that you were the PTA president for two years. Totally wise to cut back in order to keep up with the kids and your sanity! I too fear that stage--and it truly sounds like each of your kids has a very reasonable schedule! Yikes.
My schedule is not even that crazy yet, but we've had McD's for the last three days for lunch because I was out and it would be too inconvenient to come home/I'd never get out again/there was nothing in the fridge to eat anyway. There are worse things!
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