Every Monday I believe in the dream, this is going to be a great week! I wake up fresh, pick out a fun outfit, and start the day with a gusto. I am on time. I tuck sweet ‘love you’ notes into the girls’ previously packed lunches. I am a new woman. I will be excited to write every day of the week, respond to every email, complete every task and maybe even do laundry…because I am on top of everything. I sip my coffee, pour syrup on pancakes, and wave as the children climb onto the school bus and drive away.
Tuesday is a good day. I’m still a believer, but slightly disappointed not every task on my To Do List was completed. I’m glad to have another full day to complete Monday’s list. The kids are still on time for school, they have clean clothes and even though I pushed my luck by making their lunches at the last minute…I still manage to get them out the door. I sip my coffee, sprinkle cinnamon on toast, and wave as the children climb onto the school bus and drive away.
On Wednesday I’m annoyed. Not only did I NOT complete any of the tasks leftover from Monday’s To Do List, but I have added at least 9 items to complete before Friday. Where does all the time go? Laina has to wear Maile’s pants because hers have disappeared and where in the hell are Kainoa’s shoes? Sandwiches are made on hamburger buns today, but that’s probably tastier anyway. I sip my coffee, slap cream cheese on bagels and wave as the children climb onto the school bus.
On Thursday I decide waking up two hours earlier than usual will be just the jump start I need to get a handle on the Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday To Do List that is now out of control. But when I open my eyes I realize instead of waking up early it is now 30 minutes PAST my normal wake up time. I knew I shouldn’t have stayed up to watch the Real Housewives Finale Part 2. I jump out of bed, toss leftover bagels into lunch bags and scurry kids out the door. I sip coffee, throw crackers at kids, and wave as they run to catch the school bus.
On Friday I am burning the To Do list. Why did I think I would ever be able to accomplish all that? We’re in survival mode at this point. A fun outfit? I grab the yoga pants from my floor and decide dressing up just means putting a bra on…but I don’t do that either. Laina is wearing last years pants and they abruptly stop at her shins, did I really forget to wash more clothes? The house is a disaster, the kids need baths, I need more sleep and my daughter only has one arm in her coat when I begin pushing her out the door. I sip coffee with my eyes half closed and wave as the children climb onto the school bus.
DAMN…THEIR LUNCHES!!
Something magical happens over the weekend. I pull myself together, I sleep a little better, I get my house in order and by Monday…I believe in the dream all over again. this is going to be a great week!
Sarah says
Every week. Every darn week; I do this!
Genevieve says
Haha! I can so relate to this! Except there’s no schoolbus, my husband takes the kids. And early in the week I’m cooking them hot lunches and putting them in thermoses and by Friday everyone gets what I lovingly call “snack lunches.”
This week, my husband was out of town, so I was flying solo. I did great until Thursday when not only were we late, but I completely forgot I was supposed to work in my middle child’s classroom. :( So happy it’s friday!!
~Genevieve
Jamie says
Is it weird that this post just made me excited to think that I will be able to finally throw at least 1 of my 3 kids on to a school bus next year (starting Kindergarten). I am already imagining that I will have his outfits all layed out and pressed the night before. The animal cookie cutters are waiting to make wonderful creative sandwiches on the organic whole wheat bread that I will have made myself. :)
Jessica says
I do this every week for work to do lists! I make myself a schedule and things I will accomplish, and by Friday I am just hoping to make it through the day without crying.
Mama on the Loose says
This is so me! I think this might be with within each day. I wake up thinking the day is going to be glorious and, by night, I’m tossing the kids into bed. Er, not really tossing, but you get the point. :) Then I wake up thinking, “Today’s going to be great”… fade to insanity. :) Thanks for the smiles!
molly says
Dear Lord, yes. This pretty much sums up how it goes for me too.
Rusty Southwick says
This is funny! Sounds like the circle of life thing going on there, and it’s one vicious hombre. And it always seems to end in burning idealistic idols for some reason. Funny how as the week progresses, our expectations ultimately tank. Friday is reality, while Monday is fantasy.
Sharon {Grumpy, Sleepy, and Bashful} says
Your week is just like mine! Except sometimes I give up on my to do list by Wednesday. Sigh …
Susanna Leonard Hill says
Hey Kat! You’re living my life! :)
Susanna Leonard Hill says
P.S. Although I don’t often comment, I want you to know that I read your posts with pleasure every single time! (And I’m especially fond of those hairdo videos :))
Lacey in Love says
My week is opposite… I start out all “Ahhh no! Not you Monday!” and then by Friday i’m all “Oh Thank Heavens, you do exist!” This could have something to do with my lack of children. Feel free to virtually bitch slap me. ;)
Amy@spotonwellness.com says
Ummm… Yes, EXACTLY!!!! :)
Dana says
This is my week. How did you know? ;)
Fun post!
Andrea, The Blogging Mama says
Have you been spying on me?? Cause I swear that was MY week you just retold.
Jen says
Ah yes! This totally me but I usually give up on Wednesday….
The Tired Mother says
You make it to Tuesday with a smile on your face? I’ll have whatever it is you’re having!
Gigi says
I LOVED this post. Even if it does sound eerily similar to my life!
Meredith Johns says
This is sooo true! I love going to bed on Sunday nights dreaming of all the possibility and potential that lie ahead on Monday morning. And then without fail by mid-week the dream has slipped away again and the routine has turned into utter chaos. The upside? I’m told we’ll all miss it one day when lunches no longer must be made and there are no more buses to catch.
Meredith Johns says
This is sooo true! I love going to bed on Sunday nights dreaming of all the possibility and potential that lie ahead on Monday morning. And then without fail by mid-week the dream has slipped away again and the routine has turned into utter chaos. The upside? I’m told we’ll all miss it one day when lunches no longer must be made and there are no more buses to catch.
Andrea says
Take a bag of mini peanut butter cups and stash them in your cupboard for Friday morning… Then you can eat them while you are burning the to do list.
Or if all else fails just fill the lunch bags with them! Chocolate fixes most everything.
Jennifer says
Quit spying on me!