From re-arranging the clutter in my kitchen and throwing out the remnant bags of snack crumbs and bits that always seem to pile up all the way to carving out more writing time in my day, which has to be done or my brain may very well explode from the book idea running rampant in it? I'm buried under things that need doing.
But the damned list never seems to get any shorter. Why is that?
Why, oh why, is that?!?
Does everyone feel this way, or is it just me that thinks I'm utterly and completely inadequate?
In between marking off "to do's" today, we have The Peanut's ballet class this morning and another appointment this afternoon, a birthday present to buy for a party later this week, my utter lack of exercise for the day (a walk is just not going to happen, I'm afraid) and travel arrangements to make for a trip out to see family in Arizona.
Aiiiiyeeeeee.
Why can I not seem to make headway on any of these items? Is it just me, or do other women spend their lives perpetually behind and feeling crappy about it, too?
Seriously, I'd love to know if anyone else feels this way. A sort of schadenfreude heal-all, if you will, I suppose, but today I'm feeling like it is just me. And that sucks.
For those of you who do manage to stay on top of the "to do" pile and actually feel like you are making real progress, I have a question: how in the hell are you doing it?
We have only one child, yet I still can't keep up. I have this sinking feeling this morning that I'll be old, grizzled and gray some day soon, and still not be caught up on anything.
Someone give me some good news about all of this. Generally, I can surf above the frustration and just enjoy the little moments as they come and be happy about getting anything marked off the To Do list at all.
But today? Not so much. Today, I need a clone or two. Or at least it feels that way.
(Lovely photo of woman walking alone via onkel_wart.)
7 comments:
Well, ask and ye shall receive, I suppose. Thus far this morning, I've managed to do my Morning Pages, wrote a little over 800 words in the waiting room while The Peanut had her ballet class, watered the square foot garden and the potted flowers on our front porch, and am ready to start on the kitchen.
Somehow, just ding something -- anything -- has resulted in doing far more than I expected by 10:45 in the morning. Especially having been out of the house for an hour as well. Yay.
Feeling a little better, but still trying to figure out how I can better manage all of this and still achieve my own goals, too. How do moms with more than one kid do this?!?
Just testing, Christy. I had a problem commenting on a co-worker's blog, but never with any others. I had to post as anonymous or the comment would disappear.
So this is a test.
And it works just fine! Now back to read the post.
My daughter has two little girls (7 & 9) in dance recitals and rehearsals for same this week. Plus a husband, a big dog, and works two jobs. So the to do list at her house never gets shorter.
Molly, sad as it is to say it, I'm glad it isn't just me. Misery loves company, I suppose -- although it's a sweet sort of misery, having lots of momma things to do. *g*
I have been struggling with this for 23 years. Do I keep a strict schedule? Is that even possible? Should I get up earlier or stay up later to find time for myself? Generally I find that somehow the most important things do get accomplished, even if not in as timely or polished a manner as I would like. My advice would be to pare down to the basics, hire as much help as you can afford (a housecleaner once every two weeks was life transforming for me and my husband. Having someone to mow the lawn is heaven.) Don't try to be supermom. There will be time for gardening when your child is in college. If writing is your personal priority, then make it the only thing after your family. Walks will happen when they happen and paragraphs will write themselves as you go along. I found that the most soul-starving aspect of modern child-rearing was all the time spent in the car driving to and from activities. Never found an answer to that although I love road trips with my daughters. I could go on but won't since the issues you raise have been a preoccupation for over two decades.
Take care and good luck.
Good luck
I've been doing this for over thirty three years...sometimes twice over. There is always, and there will BE always many things to be done. I agree with Molly. Pare it down to the essential first, then really think about it before adding to that list. Things will not necessarily get done RIGHT NOW, but done they will get :)
I learned a valuable lesson today -- that just by doing something, even if it is only a little bit? I feel a lot better.
So next time? I'll just do something. Amazing how something so small can make such a big difference, but there you are.
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