I was visiting with my girlfriend and her mom this afternoon and we were talking about how stupid busy I am. Really, when am I going to step back and look at how much I’m overdoing it?
Here is my list of One Too Many Things To Do These Days:
1. The Mrs. Claus Affair – A small foundation my friend Rebecca and I started this year to benefit the spouses of deployed service personnel over Christmas. Basically, it’s our way of ensuring that moms who are hoofing it on their own while their men are off fighting for freedom have something to open on Christmas morning. We finished our first service project (a holiday card mini-photo shoot where 2/3 of the proceeds went to our foundation) and we have one more fund raiser to go. Then we need to sort nominations and plan a luncheon and shop for gifts…I’m tired.
2. Rex – I’m trying to volunteer in Rex’s classroom 1-2 days a week in the mornings. It doesn’t sound like that much but I swear two hours plus travel time and unscheduled trips to the commissary (since I’m there…) turn it into a half day event.
3. Laundry – They keep wearing clothes. Really, how necessary is this? My parents were here for way too short of a visit and for nine days I didn’t touch an article of clothing except to put it over my head. I finally felt guilty that my mom was doing so much so I collected a few stray shirts and went down to start a load. She yelled at me. It was so sweet. Now she’s gone (they left 5 days early to beat the Frankenstorm) and there’s no one here that likes to do laundry.
4. A Christmas Story – Harrison and I tried out for our military community’s production of A Christmas Story playing in the month of December. I’m playing the mother and Harrison is Toady, Scut Farcas’ little cronie. I have practice every. Single. Night. I’m so stupid.
5. Writing – I’m picking up some freelance stories here and there (to fill the time) and forgot that real journalism takes more than 20 minutes of disorganized inner dialogue thrown at the computer in a frenzy of self expression. I finished a story yesterday that took me over three stinking hours. It’s like being back in college.
6. Cooking – Because my husband just bought me a truckload of French antique furniture for pre-Christmas I am living the frugal life. This means I don’t have money for fast food or dinners out. Since we eat at least twice daily in the car I swear I’m now making sandwiches seven times a day. Add that to my crock pot marathon and it’s like I’m becoming some sort of stay at home mom who isn’t here often enough to get anything done.
As I visited with Glenna about my overextendedness I realized something: it will never end. I’m Mormon and we’re big believers in a busy, rocking afterlife. We don’t die and get to nap in the ground, oh no. We move on to bigger and better things.
But really, would it be so hard to let me squeeze in a week long snooze of unconsciouness before I have to go toward the light? The eternal To Do List is almost too much to think about.
I miss you. That is all.
Thanks for this post! I loved it… mostly because I can TOTALLY relate… I had my first WHOLE day at home this last Saturday for the first time since July. I’m wondering if a day will ever come that I am not running on fumes and tired out of my mind! Hang in there! You are doing good things!
You are crazy lady! But then I start looking at my schedule and I think I’m over-extended as well! This last Saturday, I did a baby shower (cooked home made soup and three different desserts), got everyone ready for the Ward Harvest Party, left that to drop the kids off at the in-laws and went to an adult Halloween party. Such a long/fun day but seriously. It was so much. And now that we’re moved in a new house I have project after project, plus unpacking, plus homework, plus cooking and laundry and cleaning and all that too. But I did opt to pass on my daughter doing the Christmas choir. And I’ve said no to a few things lately. But I also just got a new calling so there’s that.
I’m tired again. 😉
Miss you lady, I think you’re wonderful!
“No” is not an expletive 🙂
Curious what you think of this quote;
“Mothers who know do less. They permit less of what will not bear good fruit eternally. They allow less media in their homes, less distraction, less activity that draws their children away from their home. Mothers who know are willing to live on less and consume less of the world’s goods in order to spend more time with their children—more time eating together, more time working together, more time reading together, more time talking, laughing, singing, and exemplifying. These mothers choose carefully and do not try to choose it all.”
― Julie B. Beck
Wonderful. Words to live by.
I appreciate every single word here! Matches my life these days entirely. So busy & so stressful these lately that I was diagnosed just last night with Shines. Guess what brings it on, besides having had chicken pox as a kid – thus ready having the virus in my system. STRESS! Practice saying no my dear. That’s what I’m working on currently for Quarantine. Of you don’t, your immune system will for you. ::hugs::
*shingles*
And apparently my brain is shot & I can’t spell or type or read or be grammatically correct! Damn little fingers that are still too big for my iPhone keyboard. Boo! I’m going back to bed.
You are an awesome mom. Everything you are doing is “bearing good fruit eternally.” Your kids thrive on the things you do for them and love being busy WITH you. It was makes your family “you.” I am glad that I have you as an example in my life now 🙂