I love our new routine, but continually find myself having one week where I’m totally on top of my game and then the very next week, I’m behind the eight ball from sunup to sundown. Like Monday for example.
We had just come back from a beautiful weekend where we saw this:
Visited here…
…where we met him:
and then took the scenic route home:
(Skyline Drive)
I was feeling relaxed and fat and happy. Then Monday morning came and with it came responsibility. My brain knew what needed to be done, but my body protested. Guess who won.
I did not workout. Natalie was late to school. Ainsley was almost late; and gasp! I had to come home after dropping Ains off to put something on other than sweats and slippers. Although the hospital is a pretty casual place for some, I thought it would be best to at least put on real shoes.
For both school drop offs this morning I rushed from the house hoping to make it on time so no one would see me in my pjs. No such luck! We got to Natalie’s school three minutes past the end of the drop off line, so not only did people see me walk Natalie into the building, but quite a few did since the entire student body was filing into assembly to do the morning pledges. And there I stood (I believe I mentioned the slippers, but I may have failed to mention the wet hair and lack of make-up) waiting for all the kids to pass by so I could make my way to the sign-in sheet at the office. I wouldn’t be surprised if I was an impromptu lesson for the girls of what not to look like when dropping your child off at school.
I rushed home to pump – definitely a priority over putting on real shoes – and then ran back out the door to drop Ainsley. I planned to let her off in the drop off line but she burst into tears at the thought. So, I parked and once again dragged my shoeless self into yet another school brimming with fully dressed, put-together women (honestly, it’s hard not to look better than someone who doesn’t have shoes on).
As I walked to my car I couldn’t help think of the scene from Kindergarten Cop on the second day Arnold Schwarzeneger shows up at the school. There are all the moms who the day before looked like they had just rolled out of bed standing there perfectly coifed. I thought it was funny when I saw it pre-children, but now….. now I can totally relate.
(c) 2016 Leighann Marquiss
Comments (13)
yep, been there, done that! got to school this morning and 1 kid forgot a paper she really needed and the other kid forgot part of her lunch. drove most the way home and met hubby with the stuff. drove back to school and went in the school looking like i had just rolled out of bed because i hadn’t planned to see anyone this morning. oh well. kids learn by visual examples. we can be the poster children for how not to dress when in public. motherhood is fun!!
it’s HARD to come off of a fun weekend with you “A game” on! just keep thinking about your weekend…and not your shoeless feet 🙂
Yes I have those mornings even with homeschool. Everyone’s crying and complaining. But this recent one tops my list , my in laws just happen to come by while I’m in the shower and the kids are down stairs! Those days I find myself taking lots of deep breaths and starting all over.. OR finding that hidden candy!
Reading your blog is good medicine. Most of us know exactly what you went through this morning. Keep your chin up, you’ll be back on top of your game in no time!
Oh do we understand that one!
I enjoy your reading your blog!
Paula 🙂
you mean you aren’t perfect?!?!?!? I guess I will not want to be hanging out with you when I return if you just wear slipper… *gasp*…
lol, totally joking obviously. This post totally reminded me of this book I read “Almost French” about an Australian girl who connects with a Frenchman in Romania, decides to visit him on her way to England, never makes it to England… moves in with him… after years she gets married to him… but it is all about how she was a granola Australian, who did relief work in poorer countries… and how she met this Frenchman, fell in love, and stayed. She talks about one time putting on sweats to go to the butcher store and how the frenchman was appalled because it was showing disrespect to the butcher. Eventually she turns totally “french” even bought a popular dog that was about 8,000eur and takes it to get bathed/groomed once a week. She never leaves the house not fully put together, even just to get the paper or go to the butcher. Amazing her mental transformation. I see this a lot in Europe.
And I definitely scream AMERICAN… I am also a mom that likes to PLAY with her kids. It is amazing to see these mom’s look perfect in their heals at the park with their designer bags, talking on the cell phones… and not playing with their kiddos. That is not me. So not me.
As Courtney said… just keep thinking about your wonderful weekend!!
Thanks for this post, Leighann. I love to run into moms like this, who are real and okay with it. I’m much more relaxed around them and because of that, I enjoy being around them. I think you were a good example that day and I especially like how you prioritized pumping over shoes!
You’re such a good Mom, because I would have just made my kids late and made sure I had my shoes on 🙂
It was also nice reading a comment about a book based in Romania. That’s where I was born, and it’s still nice to see references to it.
Mara
Oh my goodness…I was laughing so hard out loud that my husband had to have it read to him, too. Maybe you should keep an extra pair of shoes in the car for times like this?
I must say that I became an expert at double pumping in the car while driving to and from work. Some put on makeup, some eat, some talk on cell phones, and some pump. You might want to look a little closer when you see a woman w/ a scarf around her neck in the middle of the summer! 🙂
Have no fear, you’ll be back in the groove soon.
I saw Amanda on Saturday at the Heritage thingamabob. I think it’s been at least 15 years since I’ve seen you two…time does fly.
I love this post. If it makes you feel any better, on the way to dropping Sarah off at school this morning, we had to stop at a burger king bathroom because I forgot to put my mostly potty trained 2yr old boy on the potty before we left and he needed to poop. Then I made my just turned 4yr old hold my 20 lb seven month old so that I could help said 2yr old without putting the baby on the yucky bathroom floor. I left the place praising God that he didn’t have an accident in his carseat (or anywhere for that matter, I didn’t have wipes or a change of clothes) and that my baby didn’t get dropped.
Also, be glad that Natalie’s not old enough to be totally embarrased by you in slippers & pjs.
I can’t tell you HOW many times I’ve dropped my kids off in pajamas or with wet hair. Now that they are in Middle School and High School, they are starting to get annoyed. “Could you drop me off at the corner” annoyed. WHAT-EVAH! I am so glad you got some mommy and daddy time. Although you had a hard time bouncing back into the game, it will leave you recharged for the long haul. 🙂
Try reading Proverbs31.org Devotion-Younger, Cuter, Skinnier. It will put it in perspective.
Andrea
Hey at least you didn’t forget the kid at home and arrive at school to find you were missing them! I think I remember an event like that taking place some time in our youth:) Your doing great, cut yourself some slack. Next time you’re looking great and put together school will be called off because of a power outage like ours was today. I actually got up did my hair, makeup, etc. only to arrive at school and be sent back home! Lots of Love. Amanda L