Spare time? Are you kidding?
What do you do when your friends or partners can take time off, and you simply can’t? When your schedule is bursting at the seams, even on the weekends?
What if you feel like there’s never time to catch up, to take stock, to plan productively, much less to snooze, to enjoy your family, or to simply take a breath?
Ah, you will say, wagging a finger, and with an admonishing tone. Prioritize.
But what if you have, and there’s still no time? And no time to waste?
Life in the Fast Lane
It’s Saturday. Theoretically that should mean slowing down. Sleeping in. Not working, schlepping, hauling, or manipulating a crazed schedule.
Not so, around this little household. And maybe not so, around yours.
I was up early, as usual. Saturday school for my son. Waking him (to moans). Driving him (late). Art supply shopping (for a project of his). Errands. Laundry. Writing. More driving. Do some work. Pay the bills. And maybe, if I’m lucky, a nice hot shower. Yes, a nice hot shower…
Don’t get me wrong. I know how fortunate we are, in so many ways. A week ago we celebrated a major win – my son’s acceptance to college with scholarship. But the rhythm of my days? The lack of sleep? The desire to play and there’s just no way?
Tricks Up Your Sleeves?
There’s no question that lately I’ve taken on more rather than less. Partly, it’s single parent life. Partly, it’s my nature – and personality type. Partly, it’s financial necessity. I could let this go – “this” – the daily writing. But it’s my reality check, my Better-Than-Prozac-Pill, my Connection-To-The-World in a very special way.
I could also give up the (newly entertained) idea of dating. You know. Dating. That thing that adults do, when they seek the company of others who are approximately their age. To share a drink. A conversation. A meal. Common interests. A little, mmm, flirtation.
How does anyone manage it all?
Any suggestions? Tricks up your sleeves?
Ready, Set, Go!
By the time they’re teens, parenting should be old hat, shouldn’t it? And if we’re lucky, it is – more or less. But that doesn’t mean the pace slows down, at least – not for some of us, unless they leave town and you get to stay behind and fend for yourself, and only yourself.
I may be reasonably skilled at pacing in relationships, but when it comes to life in general?
Um, not so much.
I know six months from now I’ll be missing these days – terribly. The thought of empty nest is both horrifying and the light at the end of the tunnel.
I’m ready for a break. 20 years worthy of ready. For time on my hands.
What about you?
- Time on your hands? Never enough time?
- Do your friends seem able to get out, and you can’t?
- Do you hit the weekend with hope-to-slow, only to find it’s go-go-go?
Here, I’m running, and still falling behind. I know, really I do, how lucky I am. But right about now I could go for some uninterrupted sleep and a clean house that stays clean, a day with nothing ahead but freedom. Then again, I have freedom. I choose this world. And it’s a good one. But, that sleep…
Ah Kate. We “choose” in some ways, and in others? Not so much. Then again, we see all the good in what we have, and the necessity of the infrastructure that upholds it, for all of us. (Now about that sleep. Shouldn’t there be a way to cordon off some amount of time for it? A “Mom’s Week Off” (To Sleep)?)
I know what you mean about choice. It’s easier for me to believe the less savory if chosen too. I resent life less.
Maybe instead of changing to daylight savings we could have a sanity savings time, with an extra hour (or three?) every night. But only if Mom is sleeping.
I’m pretty bad at prioritizing. If there’s something that needs to be done around the house, I am adept at procrastinating while updating my blog or leaving comments on others’ blogs. Or tweeting about how I’m procrastinating or have too much to do. I would love to be a high energy person who always seems to get so much done and has time for everyone. How does one achieve that? It’s always been a mystery to me.
Karen, thank you for the comment – and welcome. It is entertaining to see those who have “no time” – but spend hours on FB or Twitter. Then again (I’m not judging, really!), it’s easy to multi-task with some of these tools. Nonetheless, I’m astounded at the number of adults who spend countless hours on Facebook (especially) – even while at work. On that note – I’ve got a stack to get to! 😉
No question, never enough time. And what time I have I try to fill to brimming with stuff: stuff for them, stuff for work, stuff for my house, and then stuff for me. I’m always DOING something. So I ask, where is the time to do nothing and to recognize the importance of that.
And it looks like, from reading this, that I missed a very important announcement, so I’m off to read.