Monday, June 14, 2010
Ordinary day
Awake. 6:20am. Shuffle to the bathroom. Put in contacts. Wipe mascara from under eyes. Pull on gym clothes. Sigh deeply. Tie back hair. Eat cereal. Brush teeth. Prepare car food for babies. Grab Jared's lunch. Load kids into car. Drive 24 miles to drop Jared off at work. Sing along to Dr. Seuss DVD. Head to Gym. Drop off kids. Call friend. Vent to friend. Cry to friend. Friend gives 2.5 hours worth of therapeutic advice. Meanwhile, bike 10 miles. Feel like quitting. Run 3.5. Rock the abs. Pick up kids. Sanitize hands. Walk to consignment shop. Run after Jack. Call for Sadie. Dig through size 6 shoes. Run after Jack. Hold him as he squirms and screams to try on shoe. Release him. Dig through size 7 shoes. Call for Jack. Look for Jack. Retrieve Jack from employee-only storeroom area. Try 3 more shoes on him. Release Jack. Call for Sadie. Decide on shoes. Call for Jack. Look for Jack. Retrieve Jack from store manager. Return items Jack pulled from shelves. Return to shoes. Look for Sadie. Look for Jack. Remove Jack from jogging stroller on display. Make way to counter to pay for shoes. Notice jogging stroller moving. Remove Jack screaming from stroller. Answer phone. Remove Sadie from stroller. Kiss a boo boo. Return to counter. Pay for shoes. Call for Jack. Find him with store manager. Exit store. Walk back to gym. Strap kids into the car. Sanitize hands. Distribute granola bars and water. Drive to Kohls. Search for a cart with a double stroller aspect. Find one 7 carts deep into the row. Load kids into cart. Go to customer service to return item. Return to car to find receipt. Go back inside store. Head to the bathroom. Return to customer service counter. Return item. Search for shorts. No luck. Exit Kohls. Load kids into the car. Search for binkie. Text a friend. Call a friend. Head to Post Office. Look for custom's forms. No luck. Attempt to figure out best way to ship package to Iraq. No luck. Wait in line. Retrieve tic tacs from Sadie. Stop Jack from pushing a little girl. Apologize to little girl and her mother on behalf of Jack. Call for Sadie. Wait in line. Watch postal worker speak to customers in condescending tone. Make sympathetic eye contact with three customers who interacted with angry postman. Imagine myself going off on mean postman. Call for Sadie. Comfort Jack. Wait in line. Wait in line. Wait. In. Line. Arrive at head of line. Seek advice of postman. Thank Heaven that its not the condescending one. Fill out Custom's form. Seek advice regarding the proper way to address package. Address package. Pay $5. Watch postman attach Custom's form. Realize my Daddy's in Iraq. Feel lump in throat. Begin to cry. Take a deep breath. Call for Sadie. Walk to Car. Load up kids. Drive to H-E-B. Find awesome parking spot. Unload kids. Walk into store. Look for "race car" shopping cart. No luck. Walk to other side of giant store to find race car. No luck. Load kids into non-race car shopping cart. Compensate for lack of race car by giving both children a balloon and sucker (given free at the door). Sample cheese. Observe the lobsters. Start shopping. Deep sigh. Contemplate the budget. Strategically purchase food in a calculated manner as not to waste a penny. Deny requests for candy. Search for Jared's favorite BBQ chips. Put chips in basket. Realize Jack has eaten through unopened sucker and is covered in red stickiness. Cross length of the store to restroom. Wash Jack's hands. Wash Sadie's hands. Wash front of shopping cart. Exit restroom. Back to shopping. Finish and pay. Begin to leave. Turn around to retrieve "Buddy Buck's" per request of screaming 3 year old. Take Buddy Bucks to claw-arm vending machine. Try to put fake Buddy Buck money into vending machine. No luck. Machine broken. Comfort Sadie. Comfort Jack. Cross the length of big ass store for the 6th time. Find another "Buddy" machine. Put buck into machine. Allow Sadie to retrieve stickers from machine. Give Jack a turn. Attempt to help Jack. Get slapped. Try to calm Jack. Attempt to help him again. Get slapped. Threaten to leave. Try to help Jack. Get slapped. Start to walk away. Sadie starts to cry on Jack's behalf. Help Jack get stickers. Leave store. Load kids into car. Distribute apple juice. Load groceries into the car. Return cart. Answer phone. Argue with husband. Eat sushi. Drive home. Unload kids. Unload groceries. Put groceries away. Feel like sitting on couch. Make lunch for the kids. Check Facebook. Comment on status updates. Feel lonely. Change diaper. Change clothes. Find Binkie. Find lovey. Bring kids upstairs for a nap. Clean kitchen. Begin to prep for dinner. Wake kids. Eat a banana. Load kids into the car. Drive 24 miles to USAA. Check in with security at the gate. Receive text message. Husband working late. Search for a library. Exit USAA's campus. Drive to library. Answer phone. Husband is ready. Return DVDs to library. Return to USAA to pick up husband. Call husband. Check in with security at the gate. Enter campus. Drive to parking garage. Pick up husband. Drive home. Unload kids. Check for scorpions. Finish cooking dinner. Clean kitchen. Eat tofu stir fry. Decide to mow the lawn. Attempt to put gas into the mower. Spill gas everywhere. Clean up gas. Mow the lawn. Edge the grass. Close garage. Go inside. Peel off clothes. Jump in shower. Breathe deeply. Think about ice cream. Wash. Dry. Clothe. Find Jack in bathroom. Hear Sadie in her room. Kiss Jack good night. Tuck Sadie into bed. Snuggle. Sing "You are my Sunshine" and the "Lullabye Song". Collect dirty clothes. Run downstairs. Think about ice cream. Put away left overs. Clean the kitchen. Feel like quitting. Think about ice cream. Wipe the table. Put clothes into washer. Pick up toys. Vacuum living room. Think about ice cream. Contemplate stopping. Sweep kitchen and dining room. Mop floors. Open freezer. Find ice cream. Scoop ice cream into bowl. Open refrigerator. Find raspberry sauce. Swirl sauce onto ice cream. Sit down. Breathe. Savor. Every. Bite. Of ice cream. Turn on computer.Check email. Look through family pictures. Write e-mail. Check facebook. Read updates. Make comments. Sign into blog. Begin to write. Decide to write for myself and no one else. Find a sense of self gratification. 11:53pm. Ready to sleep.
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6 comments:
I think I need to let Markus read this. I think he thinks he works hard... love you girl! Some people (like myself) can't wait for that. Just saying ;)
Courtney, it is so nice to know that I am not the only one with the jam packed day. I know a lot of people think that stay at home moms have it so good but I promise you that I am a hundred times more busy now, then I ever was managing a branch of a bank. Hugs! I miss you soooooo much!
I honestly don't know how you can do all this without being a stay at home mom! I don't think I could do all that and work too. Your day scares me a bit, to be honest. Been thinking about having a rugrat ourselves, but the thought of doing all that and then going into work at 11pm sounds like more than I could handle.
I miss you, Courtney. And I'm incredibly awed by you, and proud of you too.
Love it. Jeremy has every other Friday off. I always find it funny when he is so flustered/tired/mad after watching Shelby for an hour. I'm like, "Hello?! Try watching her AND Joey AND working!". I tell him this is why I watch The Real Housewives. It is my ME time. My few hours of entertainment each week, where I don't have to do anything but blink and breathe.
Courtney, I've said this before, and I'll say it again. I wish I lived there or you lived here or somewhere where you could be just minutes down the road. I know you have a zillion and one friends and you probably don't think much about me but I think about you all the time. I really feel like you are my kindred spirit-- like I could say anything and you would just get it. I feel lonely all the time and even though people are friendly and I do things with them, there isn't that connection. You always have that sweet bubbly spirit on the outside but when I read things like this it makes me realize that even outgoing people like you can feel isolated and alone at times too. Being a Mom is hard work and so many days it is such a thankless job. Our husbands are supportive but sometimes I feel like they don't get how tiring it is. As woman, we are emotional beings first so not only are our days filled with a whirlwind of action they are filled with worry and angst, fear and regret, wish and longing, frustration and hope. Add to that feeling constantly tired and worn down and beaten up by the world and your children, it's easy to see why being a mom is one of the. hardest. jobs. there. is. I really hope we can plan a trip either there or you guys to come here. I miss seeing you and I know I don't call you enough but you are in my thoughts often. You can ask Troy, I'll often say, "I wish Courtney were here. I know we'd hang out and she'd be a real friend." Miss you.
Courtney you are amazing! I say you need a double stroller so you can cut out on some of that stress.
Well I went through the same thing when my kids were young, because having 2 little kids so close together is hard.
Now my kids are 5 & 1/2 & 3 & 1/2 & I can say it is easier (going places). There are times when it is still hard but it does get better, I promise. Hang in there.
Lexi, we should really get together sometime. We only live like an hour away and I always go into Dallas. Call me anytime. 682-667-0692 our kids can play or we can meet for lunch or whatever. I, like both of you ladies feel lonely sometimes too, so I could totally relate to your post & your comment Lexi!
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