Tag: Lists

That Sounds Familiar

~ Lenore Diane ~ Leave a comment
By Edward Koren

I’m confident that much of what you are going to read is not new. In fact, I may have mentioned some of these things in a previous post (or two). Regardless, based on the conversations that took place in the house today, I find the following lists timely (if only for me).

10 Things You Might Hear If You Have Kids

10. “My pajamas are wet, so I took them off.”
9. “No fair!”
8. “Mommy! He’s touching me, again!”
7. “But Grandma lets me do it.”
6. “Mommy, Joe is looking at me.”
5. “But, I wanted to sit there.”
4. “You’re a poopy head.”
3. “Butt. Butt. Butt. Butt.”
2. “Mommy, Charlie hit me.”
1. “Mommy, I can’t find one of my worms.”

10 Things You May Have Said If You Are A Parent

10. “Please stop rocking in your chair.”
9. “Leave your brother alone.”
8. “Don’t pull your shirt over your knees; you’re stretching it.”
7. “Don’t play with your food, please; eat it.”
6. “Because I said so.”
5. “Stop pouring the water on your brother’s head.”
4. “Don’t make me come in there.”
3. “No, really, the dog does not want to wear your pajamas.”
2. “I am going to count to three.”
1. “Aaak! There is a worm on the counter!”

.|.

Laundry and Notes

~ Lenore Diane ~ Leave a comment

So, I am realizing two more components to Phase 3 (when kids begin school) includes an increase in laundry and notes.

When my boys were first born, we received countless outfits from friends and family. Because my boys had such a large wardrobe, I didn’t have to do laundry more than once a week. And, life pretty much consisted of changing diapers, nursing and napping. I was not overly active, during the first 12 months of my boys’ life.

Today? Well, the boys have fewer clothes, as the baby gifts are a thing of the past. The boys are also more active than their pooping, napping and nursing days. Having to change their clothes more than once a day is not uncommon, due to playing in the mud, water, etc. And, due to the smaller wardrobe, laundry is done at least twice a week.

In addition to an increase in activity for my boys, my activity level has increased. My paid gig keeps me busy, as does tending to the boys, tending to Rob, keeping house, etc. Today, while starting the third load of laundry, I realized I had notes scattered throughout the house. Little reminders here and there, helping me to keep from forgetting what tasks I have to tackle.

Call prospects for paid gig. Check paid invoices for paid gig. Get bday card for Dalton. Order cakes from Brusters. Pay bills. Mail insurance paperwork. Pick up flea/tick meds from vet. The 3×3 notes are everywhere. Sadly, these lists don’t ensure proper processing. After I dropped the boys off this morning, my first task was to go to the grocery store (list in hand). And now, I realize I forgot to buy something that was written on the list, which means I am creating a new note, reminding me not to forget what I forgot this morning.

Now, please excuse me. The bedsheets are dry, so I need to move what is in the washing machine into the dryer, and add another load to the washer. Then I need to make the boys’ beds. First, I had better write the note about what I forgot this morning. What was it again? Don’t hate me because of my glamorous life.

Thrown off by free time

~ Lenore Diane ~ Leave a comment

Free time throws me off, and I do not think I am the only one it throws off. You run non-stop, trying to tackle every item on the to-do list. You end the day, frustrated that barely two items were removed from the list, while 16 other items were added. You wake the next morning, stepping onto the same hamster wheel ready to repeat the day, when suddenly, the wheel stops. You have just been given ‘free time’. Yes, the list and obligations still exist, but someone has just handed you a ‘get out of jail, free’ card, entitling you to day of free-time. What on earth do you do with that?! Do you immediately create another list, this one listing things you accomplish with your free time?

I talked with a friend today. Her daughter had an ‘away’ game today, so she would not be home until late. My friend’s husband had plans with people at work, so he was also going to be home late. My friend had the night ‘off’, and she wondered how she was going to spend it. I have found myself in that position several times. And, as silly as it may sound, I find I get a bit stressed when I have free time. What on earth am I suppose to do with free time? It is so easy to get caught up in the ‘do this’/ ‘do that’ kind of lifestyle, and I find an overwhelming sense of guilt comes over me when I have ‘free’ time. Goodness knows, if you go up to someone and say, “Hey, I have some free time today ….”, you may be interrupted with a response similar to, “You have free time?! Oh. I wish I had some free time. I don’t even know what free time is anymore.”

I do not know if this is 100% accurate, but this is a blog – and are blogs suppose to be 100% accurate? Consider this my A Million Little Pieces. (Oh, bad joke.) Anyway, it is as if the world wants to be busy 24/7 and scoff at the idea that someone actually has free time. Someone always has to be busier than the next person. And, if someone dare talk about taking the day off, it’s as if they are lesser of a person, unable to keep up with the proverbial Jones family. Again, I admit that may not be entirely accurate, but I think there is a valid point hidden in my words. Maybe? Perhaps? Or not.

Recently, I wrote about Curious George. The fan mail I received with that post was overwhelming. Really. You fans are truly amazing. I would not be here, if it were not for all of you clicking and reading. Thank you. Ok, so I did not win any followers with my Curious George rant, which means the fact that I am about to make a point by using Curious George may have you leaving this post right about . . . now.

I watched an episode of Curious George where the Genius was overwhelmed with her work. The man in the yellow hat suggested she take a day off on Saturday and join them in the park. The genius agreed, and the three of them met on Saturday morning to spend 4hrs in the park. The man in the yellow hat prepared for this outing, and he had a list of things to do to relax. He also kept checking his watch, to ensure they did not relax more than the 4hr time allotted. As you might imagine, things did not go too smoothly. First, the genius was discombobulated, because she did not know what to do with her free time. Second, the man with the yellow hat was so focused on the list and the ticking clock, that he became flustered and created problems. Well, George created the problems, but the man in the yellow hat opened the door.

I think free time throws people off track, off kilter, etc. And, as I said, I get thrown off with free time. When I know my husband and boys are gone for the day, I tend to spend the time watching the clock tick to the time my family returns home. And eating? Wow. I cannot tell you how much I eat when they are gone. It is as if I have never eaten, and I go hog wild. (Pun intended.) It is truly better for my waistline that the guys do not give me free time. Then again, truth be told, hobbies do a body, mind and spirit good. Which brings me back to my friend.

My friend admitted that she did not know what to do with her free time, because there was not really anything she wanted to do with it. She didn’t really have any hobbies of which to speak. The same holds true for me. I do not have a long (or short) list of hobbies. I enjoy doing some things; but, if I am given free time, I tend to ‘freak out’, for lack of a better term. Hobbies suddenly become chores, and who wants to do chores during their free time? Not me. I suggested to my friend that she head to a coffee shop to sit, sip and surf. I find the ambiance of a coffee shop to be very relaxing. And, since having started blogging, I have made it a point to patronize coffee shops.

I am not sure why I am thrown off by free time, but I am trying to get a handle on it. I hope my friend made it out tonight, and I hope she enjoyed her ‘get out of jail, free’ card. Though, neither she nor I believe we are in any sort of jail. We both like our life, we just do not know what to do with it at times. In any case, I hope you are able to enjoy your free time, too. We all deserve free time. And, we all deserve to enjoy free time without guilt. So, the next time someone hands you a ‘get out of jail, free’ card, take it and walk away happy, leaving the lists and plans behind you. After all, the lists and plans will be there when you return.