If you give a mom a minute, she’ll want more time – why planning ahead is important

photo credit:The Counselor Mom

Would you agree that parents are busy people? Today's blog post is one that I posted five years ago , about a day in the life of a busy mom...me. As back to school time approaches, I am reminded of this busy time if year. Maybe you can relate.

Have you ever had one of those days where you wish you had just a little more time to get things done? In some cases it may be poor planning that caused a lack of time to get things accomplished. It can strike any one of us…the dreaded lack of time. It happened to me.

I thought I awoke early enough one morning to begin my routine, but the time monster had a different plan. Murphy’s Law took over - whatever could go wrong, did go wrong.

The clothes I planned to wear needed to be ironed. The iron never got hot, so I had to search for a different outfit. Once dressed, I headed to the kitchen to make my lunch. This easy task was compounded when I couldn’t find the lid to the plastic storage container I wanted to take (for my salad).

I only had 15 minutes left before I needed to leave for work. If I only had more time.

I began putting together the rest of my lunch, a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. My first hurdle was to open the squeezable bottle of jelly. Easy enough? Nope, the cap would not flip open. I finally got it open with the assistance of a butter knife.

In my hurriedness I squeezed the jelly quickly. Splat. Too much jelly that I could not squeeze back into the small neck of the bottle. Perhaps a call was needed to the Welch’s company.

If I only had more time.

Of course I had to stop and jot notes for this blog post. I was going to be late for sure and I still had not had breakfast. The cereal I poured was waiting for me, but I had to stop to pee. No time for breakfast, I just poured the cereal back into the box. The peanut butter and jelly sandwich would suffice as breakfast once I got to work.

Just one more stop and I could make it to work only 10 minutes late. There is a grace period right? I had to stop by the post office and mail a bill payment. After all, I got up early and addressed the envelope.

Once I got in the car, I realized I walked out without my cell phone. I took it off my belt because I stopped to pee. My phone is like American Express, I can’t leave home without it.

More time would have helped.

After retrieving the phone, I was on my way. The post office was only five minutes away, then another five minutes to work. I dropped the envelope in the drive up mailbox and headed to work. Mission accomplished.

My bill was on its’ way. Wait did I put a stamp on the envelope?

If only I had planned ahead.

What has been your experience in not planning ahead?

Confessions of tired mom

Photo courtesy of nafbm.org.

Does it seem like sometimes one day just blends into the next? The kids have homework, practices, you have to make dinner and the list goes on. Then you start again the next day. Have you experienced a time when you have had so much to do that you forget something or just don’t have time to do it?

In a previous blog post I wrote about how I can fall asleep anywhere when I’m tired, well my story doesn’t end there. I have many confessions of things that don’t get done because I am too tired.

• I have let my son go to bed without brushing his teeth because I am too tired to struggle with him about it. The battle would be a true a story of man versus man.
• My kids eat food from a can (with a pop top, no can opener needed) if I am too tired to cook. The positive side is they are old enough to prepare a few things themselves. I am beginning a routine of having the kids prepare a meal one night a week.
• Trying to keep kids schedules coordinated can sometimes lead to memory lapse. A mom in my carpool asked if I need her to pick up my son on the last day of school. Neither of us knew if the last day was a half day, so I said I would call the school. I also wanted to verify that Wednesday was the last day of school and not Thursday as I thought.

I called the school when the secretary answered I asked, “When is the last day of school for the kids?” In a high pitched voice (not my normal tone), I also asked, “Is it a half day?”

She responded by saying, “Mrs. Verges, you can’t disguise your voice, I know it’s you.” I was busted. I just started laughing. I told her that I really didn’t want her to know that I didn’t know when school ended. Obviously I spend too much time at the school if she recognizes my voice.

• I let the kids play longer than they should, instead of getting their chores done. Some days the kids get away with a lot more than they should because I don’t feel like standing over them to be sure the tasks are done.

So what is the solution to being overworked and too tired to do anything? Eliminate some of the things that you are doing. I am learning to say no to a few things. You can’t be everywhere, all the time and not expect to be tired.

You also have to make time for yourself and know that you are not being selfish. Do something that you find relaxing or invigorating. It doesn't have to be anything extravagant. Sometimes it's the little things that go a long way.

What do you do when you feel overworked? How do you rejuvenate?