Monday, October 26, 2009

let the whine-fest begin...

Just from the title, I'm sure you realize that it might be wise to just skip this post, right? Seriously, highly recommeded strategy.

Well, another read-a-thon has come and gone. And as much fun as it was, I now begin to pay the price for blowing off all the work I should have been doing instead. I'm not sure if I'm more exhausted from the read-a-thon and the exciting, draining, and ultimately sucky football game last night or from the thought of the week ahead. (BTW, Chris, I still sort of think that going out and celebrating by buying three books is somewhat akin to rubbing salt in my wounds! Oh hell, you know I love you anyway.)

Anyway, I may be a tad scarce this week. Which totally sucks, as I actually finished books (shocking, I know) that I could be talking about. Just going to be "one of those weeks."

Monday afternoons this semester are always a tad hectic...I have just enough time to throw together a very simple supper after picking up the boys from chess club so that Rich has enough time to eat it after arriving home from Annie's flute lesson before he has to run out the door to teach his night class. Today we also have to throw in Baker's birthday. Happy 7th birthday, Baker!

Tuesday is Gray's birthday!!!! Tomorrow, he shall be turning 9. Or so says the calendar, but I'm still somewhat in denial. Yes, that whole they grow up too fast thing rearing its ugly head. Am not ready at all, as in I haven't even wrapped his presents. Or even bought them all.

Wednesday should be fun...Annie volunteers at the library in the morning, and she'll have to just wait there and do some schoolwork when she finishes, because I will be in the dentist's chair having three more fillings replaced. Then that evening I'll be taking her back to the library for teen game night while Rich takes the boys to swimming lessons.

Thursday's pretty slow...Annie just has art class. Oops, and the boys check-ups.

Friday...if things ever get worked out, Gray will be having a friend sleep over. (They've been playing phone tag all weekend.)

And Saturday, of course, is Halloween. No, we don't have our pumpkins or candy or even all of Annie's costume. My parents are also coming to visit. We will be celebrating Gray's birthday with them. And Annie has to be at the library again, as she's helping with the Halloween party they're throwing for the little ones. And since my parents are coming, I actually need to clean, which believe me, at this point is a far bigger task than it should be...this place is currently a dump of epic proportions!

Okay, so I could deal with all of that. Not happily (I hate having so much running around to do), but I could deal and be fine. No, what has totally sent me over the edge here is the fact that I've reached the end of all the school prep I did over the summer...from here on out, it's a matter of just trying to stay one step ahead. And major #momfail this weekend. I honestly had no business blowing off all responsibilities. Because now I don't have today's EnviSci lecture/discussion plan finished, nor do I have today's history prep done. We'll get through the other subjects, and then I'll set Annie loose to just work on some of her long term assignments, but I will still be feeling incredibly guilty for dropping the ball. And I will be scrambling like hell, trying desperately to get us caught back up before this quarter ends and I have to write the damn quarterly report in a few weeks. Seriously feeling like my head's going to explode here.

So...end of bitching and complaining. Except to say that I'll be missing you this week, since I likely won't have much computer time. Have a fabulous week, everyone!!!!

16 comments:

Care said...

You gave me an excellent idea w/this post title but I've already scrapped it (ok, idea was to actually schedule a day of whining and we could all post on diff topics. See why I scrapped it? ha) and I actually feel guilty leaving you a comment at all! hoping you don't blame me for taking time away from that daunting tasklist. but here it is anyway and I pray it helps in some small comfort way. CHEERS! YOU CAN DO IT! YOU'RE "AWESOME INCREDIBLE MOM"! JUST zip into that phonebooth and put on that INCREDIBLE MOM suit and dash after it w/positive energy and forthrightness! RAH RAH RAH!!! WOO HOO! :)

Amanda said...

Oh Debi...Well. Let me just explain more parallels between your life and mine. 1. Morrigan turned 9 last weekend (the 18th), and the day before his party, the house was a wreck, there was no cake, no presents, and I'd forgotten to invite everyone. So, I scrambled to do all that stuff, mostly alone, and collapsed into a shaking exhausted fit after the party was over. It didn't help that I had two writing obligations the next day which took up all of that day's time. yeah. 2. Of course, after Morrigan's birthday weekend, one would think I'd start preparing for Halloween. The box of Halloween decorations has been out since mid-September, and not a one of them has gone up. I need to dust again. I need to clean the house from the readathon. None of our costumes are put together. And then just to add to all the things I"m supposed to get done this week (about 1000 of them I didn't list), Jason's got the week off work because he's falling behind on schoolwork and needs to get ready for next month, ie the month in which I shall do nothing around the house because I'll be frantically trying to churn out 50,000 words...yeah.

You're doing fine, Debi. And your family seemed to like doing Readathon with you, so it's not a #momfail at all! :)

Kailana said...

Wow, I can't even believe you said #momfail! You totally deserved the weekend 'off' and it was a great family experience, so you shouldn't feel guilty at all! You are not superhuman, as much as mothers today seem to think they should be. You do so much everyday for your kids. I highly doubt that they ever feel like they are lacking for anything. Don't beat yourself up about it! Besides, you do the read-a-thon with Annie, right? You have to enjoy her while you have her because you never know what to expect during the teen years. :)

serendipity_viv said...

I think you are a fabulous mum from what I have read. I am impressed that you home school and manage to do all the prep for it. I used to struggle doing it for two days teaching, let alone all week.

I am doing the Halloween thing too. We are having friends round for a barbie and the kids will all go trick or treating. It is not such a big thing in England, but we try to please the local kids.

Shanra said...

*thwaps Debi with her trusty newspaper* You are not momfail and I agree with Kailana - you deserve a weekend off. (Even if that does mean things are more hectic now than they could have been.) You always sound like a fantastic and amazing mum whenever I hear you talking about your family and you deserve to be proud of that! Not feeling like you're a failure because you're having a busy week and spent a weekend doing something fun with your whole family.

*huggles tightly* You'll survive the week, Debi, sweetie! *huggles* You just take the time you need (and remember you are also important)! *waves pompoms*

kreed said...

You know I can relate to your post - you get to read about my overwhelmedness (is that a word!?!?) all the time! So although I completely sympathize and am ready to win the lottery, hire a nanny for both of us for a couple of weeks and whisk you away to the tropics I am going to draw the line at you bashing your own mothering skills! I do not know anyone more devoted to her kids and you are an amazing mom! I have a feeling that Annie has plenty to work on and she is lucky to have you teaching her at home even if you don't have your lesson plans done for the immediate future!

Thanks for your response to my crazy recent post. I should probably know better than to blog at 1:00 in the morning. I just get so disturbed and figure if I can't sleep, I might as well blog! I wish I deserved all of the nice things you said about me - it sure makes me feel good to have someone as wonderful as you give me such nice compliments! and I am so thankful that people with different beliefs and ideas can be friends because I sure wouldn't want to not have you as mine.

Gray can't be 9....that is impossible! Aaaarrrgh...time sure does fly! Happy birthday to Baker, too.

Hang in there this week - things are bound to slow down sooner or later. And don't forget the good old crock-pot - I have many a crock-pot meal planned for my family this week!

Trish @ Love, Laughter, Insanity said...

Oh Debi--a) don't ever feel bad for venting or "whining" b) no #momfail whatsoever! It's OK to do things for yourself every once in a while and even though this week might be a little busier because of it think back to the great time you had (and the great time that your family had). It will all work out--one way or another. And it might not all get done, but I'm betting the most important things will. Leave the cleaning to the end. Your parents will forgive you if your house is a little dirty, right?

And totally non-related--I played the flute, too! Flute players unite (well, I sucked and don't play anymore...but once upon a time)!

Good luck and lots of love...

Eva said...

That is CRAZY how much stuff you have to do!!! I don't think that's whiny at all! I second Trish's suggestion about the cleaning. :) I wish I could come over and cook for you!

Jean said...

Damn, but I wish you guys lived closer. We could trade help on the housecleaning front, since I have a party to clean for. Yeah, it's not for 26 days, but it's the principle of the thing. And do NOT think of the read-a-thon time as wasted. It was a family thing all around this year, and family time is never wasted time. Take a deep breath and think, "I can be flexible here." As for Gray's birthday, well, come April, I won't have even one teenager any longer; both kids will be in (gasp!) their 20s. Try that shock on for size. Enough rambling. I shall send you a virtual hug and thoughts of calm. You'll get through the week; I know you will.

chrisa511 said...

Go Shanra for Thwaping Debi with a newspaper! She needed it ;) Seriously Debi, you could actually TRY to be a #momfail and not succeed, you're one of the best mothers I know. I just sent you a big long email, but one thing I forgot is to tell Gray happy birthday for me!!!! Please tell him :D Hope he has a great day!!

Staci said...

Don't apologize for letting it fly..that's what we're here for!! I believe though that you're much too hard on yourself!! Relax and it will all come together!! I am so sorry that you have to spend more time at the dentist...I hate them!! :)

Happy Birthday to Gray and Baker and may your weekend be filled with laughter, candy, and good times!!

Melody said...

Happy Birthday to Gray and Baker!
Oh Debi, Debi... I want to let you know you're a wonderful and a fantastic mom and sometimes I wish I've your zest for everything! And I love reading your rambling post; they always make me smile and I wish I was there to give you a big hug! :)

Ana S. said...

DEBI! No momfail at all! Do not EVER say those words >:( It sounds like you have a crazy week ahead of you, but you WILL get through it. Whenever I feel like all the things I have to do will crush me I just try NOT to think about them at all...I just do them, move through the motions. It keeps me sane :P

I so wish I could go over and clean for you *hug*

Michelle said...

No Momfail for you! Weeks like yours do suck but I know that you will get through it and look back on it with laughter and disbelief. Somehow, those weeks that look the most daunting are those that are the best. Have a great week celebrating all those birthdays and Halloween!

joanna said...

What a crazy schedule! Good luck with it all and remember, just take it one chore/task at a time otherwise the thought of everything else still waiting will overwhelm you... And look at the bright side - it's almost the middle of the week already! :-)

Carl V. Anderson said...

No reason to feel guilty. You are trying to give your kids a unique and worthwhile education, do all the things that parents with multiple children have to do (extra curricular activities can be a full time job!), and being a wife, and being an individual and taking time to explore your own passions. And you are not failing at any of these. I admire what you do for your family and for yourself and am glad that you dive in and get involved in things even if it occasionally leads to crazy, pull-all-of-your-hair-out weeks. Life is meant to be lived and you are living it. I hope your week off from the blog world helps things calm down for you.