Motherhood and More: Keeping the calendars full of life*

This month has been busy.  Like busy-busy.  Like so busy there are days when I don’t stop until bed, and even then I lie there thinking about what tasks I didn’t finish, or what I can do to optimize the next day’s agenda.

I get it.  It’s part of working, part of being a parent, of being involved in things.  And honestly we aren’t nearly as scheduled as some families.  But geez.  I’d like to take a breath, or at least a small pause.

My son is playing soccer this fall, and of course he’s amazing at it and will probably be in the 2030 World Cup.  But unfortunately becoming the next Tim Howard takes tons of dedication and practices and multiple weekend games. 

My daughter is in gymnastics and is remarkable and I’m almost positive she’s the best 4 year old gymnast ever and will be in the Olympics in a few years.

And in between all of the sports stuff, and all that goes with them, we also have religion class and school work and festivals to prepare for (I make pretty things and sell them) and life and cooking dinner and wait – it’s almost Christmas but then first is Halloween and when am I going to sew the costumes for the kids? Did I turn in the permission slip for the field trip? Why can’t I find the homework folder?  And just what happened to the Ninja Turtle lunchbox?  I have to make the grocery list before I go to the store and before I make the grocery list I have to make the weekly menu otherwise I won’t have any of the right dinner ingredients and I have one day, one shot to get to the store because all of the other days are filled up.

Also – have I paid the bills that need to be paid?

And when am I supposed to find time to fold the basket of laundry that has been sitting there for five days?

I have far too many monthly calendars to keep my life organized – each one dedicated to certain family responsibilities.  I have a weekly menu calendar and a daily schedule calendar and a bill calendar.  Plus when I’m not at work I make a list of chores that need to be completed each day.  And even with all of this most of the time I still feel a little lost.  Or behind.  Or like I’m forgetting something.

There’s just so much to do.  So many things to juggle, so many responsibilities.  The other day a couple of friends and I were trying to find time to get our families together and it was almost laughable how difficult it was.  Each of us had a different night we were free-ish, and none of them corresponded.  And so nothing was planned.  We’re all so immersed in life, in all the stuff that comes with being an adult and a parent.  There isn’t a lot of time to schedule the fun stuff. 

I am hopeful that time will slow down a bit and life will become less rushed.  But I’m realistic, too.  It will probably only become worse.

Part of me really enjoys all this, though.  My kids are growing older and are more involved in things.  They’re making friends and learning and generally being awesome.  And it’s my job to encourage them to try new things and work hard, to support them in any way I can.

So I flip open one of my calendars and pencil in another obligation.

*This column originally published in The News-Enterprise on September 24, 2014.