Some days, no matter what you do, you’re out of time. You multitask and your arms, legs, even your hair follicles – the whole kit and caboodle – it’s all insufficient. Maybe Murphy’s Law kicks in – no more than usual, mind you.
But the fact is, you’re caught. Squeezed. Really squeezed – all deadlines converging at the same time, even the best of your contingency planning not quite good enough, kids stressed and pressed as well, and no solution that you can see.
It ain’t pretty.
You want to throw your hands up in the air and call Time Out. Not the “go to your room” sort of time out (which you wouldn’t mind at this point, as long as you are the one who gets that privilege), but the I-need-to-huddle-with-my-teammates-and-strategize sort of Time Out. Preferably with the wise words of an experienced coach to call the next play.
Only you’re the coach.
And you can’t find your teammates, dammit.
So your new day begins. Sort of.
- Your Day Planner’s cup runneth over.
- Your kitchen table has disappeared under paperwork, again.
- Your kid’s white board, with his schedule is almost as bad as yours.
- Your resource constraints – of all sorts – keep growing.
- Yikes. That vice-like press is doing its job. And then some.
All around are the remnants of one of those days when you pulled out all the stops, and so did your kid, and the signs of pulpy leftovers are everywhere – stained and strained – on the trashed floor, the couch scattered with papers and CDs, the chairs strewn with clothing, mail, and crumpled notes.
You consider your day. You weren’t an example of grace under fire, though an enormous amount was accomplished. But the effort it took is written all over your face and twisted through your aching muscles. Early morning went to Task List A. Mid morning to early evening were dedicated to Task List B. You cooked dinner – twice (gotta love those teens!) as evening and night moved into Task List C. Everything got done that was possible to do, but it took an 18-hour day.
Your kid is sleeping it off, but you pick up and start again, the night spilling into the next morning, and another set of lists as daunting as the last.
Oh, it’s hardly earth-shattering, but you don’t feel good about yourself. You don’t feel good about much of anything. Worse, though key items were crossed off some lists, too many others remain.
Nothing much has changed, except you feel as though all the juices from all your reserves have been squeezed dry.
And you pick up and keep going. What else is there?
Squeezed oranges, Image courtesy Flickr.
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I don’t have any words of wisdom here, I can just commiserate and say, yep, I know those days.
Maybe dinners could become some of those easy frozen things that teenagers can do for themselves? You know, on the really bad days, when you really really need some time off? Otherwise, I have nothing much to contribute here, except my hopes that life will lighten up for you.
They’re already there. 🙂 Guess we’ll all drink orange juice.
I think you and I are leading parallel versions of the same week. First the sleeplessness, now the squeeziness – although right now I’m feeling the squeeze must be from a vise rather than an orange juicer…
Were we not battling snow today, I would suggest we swap houses. Perhaps a day spent with the other’s boys would be a nice change of pace and scenery. What do you say?
What a nice idea! But we’re battling snow and ice in my neck of the woods, too. Slip sliding away, though a bit less today.
Definitely been there, done that. All the time. Hugs to you on making it through.
Reminds me of a cute quote I saw the other day: “Due to the economy, the light at the end of the tunnel has been turned off. “
I try to remind myself I don’t need to be famous and can probably live on less money than I think. But it’s crazy hard.
At some point I have to let go and just do the best I can. My ability to be satisfied with that gets better as I get older. At work I started only doing the things I luv on my own time. Somehow everything gets done at least to an 80% level which is pretty damn good really.
And sometimes, just sometimes the things you love get done to an even higher standard. You grow to love those moments and hope to Hell that the camera is going when you do that. :O)
Story. Of. My. Life.
Did you bug my home?
Let’s face it. This week has sucked. More than usual. Even if not for the kids. (Who told that I’ve been bugging other mothers’ homes?)
🙂
If I lived nearby, I’d come clean up for you and send you out for a massage (and perhaps salt your driveway so as to make your escape possible). And I’d make some chocolat chaud and buy a box of pain au chocolat for your relaxed return. Sorry the days are not slowing down for you!
You’re a sweetie, Stacia! Pain au chocolat sounds yummy! (You’d have to bring all your cutie pies with you though. I probably wouldn’t know what to do without kid commotion.)
I feel squeezed whenever I try to be a better blogger and read and comment on all the blogs that I know/think I should visit and comment. It adds a lot of stress. SO sometimes I just mentally declare “blog bankruptcy” in my head. Life all of a sudden becomes so much more relaxed whenever I do that. 🙂
Sadly, I know exactly what you mean. It’s overwhelming, isn’t it? Something has to give…
My life felt it was a high-speed version of this before Christmas. And then I hit the brakes. Does that mean it doesn’t sometimes feel overwhelming. No. But because I literally and figuratively said enough I’ve been able to manage the days that do sneak in. Part of it is recognizing my own limits and setting aside the time to address them. For example, I DO NOT do well when we have plans on Sundays. I just end up feeling frazzled and rushed on Sunday night. A weakness maybe but one I’m finally giving in to. It makes Monday easier and so on.
Although…I’ll be honest, a part of me really does think that all my newfound mindfulness, and organized living is really because of the meds. It kind of makes me sad.
It is definitely overwhelming at times, the pull in various directions and the realization that somehow YOU have to get to everything. I try to breathe in-between, but I agree it can be daunting. No advice here, just wanted you to know I can sympathize.