Today, my morning looked clear, I still had deadlines a day or two off. Most kids still at school, well at least until noon when the high schoolers are scheduled to return, but basically a quiet, open morning to write. Yesterday I had focused on all the small, tedious, but necessary tasks to be done. That I did, thinking my mind would be clear and I’d be less apt to procrastinate over something tweesie!
And so as everyone else in the family set out on their day, my husband realizes, oops I forgot to pay a bill and I forgot to pick up something I need right now. Can you do that and I’ll come home at noon and get it. And that reminded me that I also had an errand to run for my oldest son, even though he can drive, he has a car, he knows where to go and he could do it. Still I knew I would do it and already I’m connecting the three errands into one.
Then my middle school daughter, the one who leaves last comes down to the kitchen just 5 minutes before bus time asking me what she can pack for a lunch? Pointing out that we have cheese and fruit and these granola things all of which she scrunches her nose at, I mention how about peanut butter & jelly? Where’s the peanut butter she wants to know (it’s only a 64 oz jar), oh and that jelly is old! It’s not old and it’s not like it’s been sitting out and open forever. C’mon. We’re out of small ziplock bags, she argues. Here use this I say.
How come you’re taking a lunch anyway? Did you forget field trip day to the aquatics center! Ahhh, that’s right. Just another change up in the end of the year schedule. Good thing my husband spent all his money on water, at least she’ll have that to take...hope it’s cold! I hear the bus drive by. You’re gonna have to take me to school mom! Yep, yay!
So now my wide open couple hours has closed to about half and I find another task to fill that time. I love being there for my husband and kids. I love being able to make their day a little easier and a little more pleasant. Sometimes I wish my entire day can be spent that way.
The funny thing is everybody in the family thinks that is all I do and that I have all this free time for fun and games in between. Oh were that to be true. So I laugh and pretend that that is the way things are. I have no deadlines or due dates, I am here to take your requests!
The funny thing that all moms know (and it seems to be our little secret) is how long it takes to do nothing! All day long I could pick stuff up off the floor...trash, laundry, shoes, toys, school papers, underwear, towels. If I ever come to the end of that, somebody walks in the door tossing backpacks, jackets, bobby pins, jewelry, water bottle...or the dog throws up!
Forget the 10 loads of laundry today. They would have used that towel again anyway, or slept on those sheets another night (of course). Or worn something else.
And though housecleaning is not my cup of tea, sometimes it’s hard to tell that the furniture that’s covered with junk is actually dusted underneath. But even so, if I didn’t do any of these things, we would notice. Right? Wouldn’t we?
Another day, half gone by, small missions accomplished. Missions so small one could not even write them on a to do list. Missions so small that if you did put them on a to do list, it would take all day to write it out.
Missions so small, so full of love, so important and so unnecessary! I need no reminders that I’m a mom!
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