I know in the grand scheme of things, my life is insignificant. But some days I feel like I am Atlas of Greek mythology, carrying the weight of the heavenly spheres on my shoulders. This comes into sharp focus when my husband is on travel and I am single-parenting.
In the dead of winter, I had such an experience and journaled everything I handled. As I reread it later in the year, I can hardly figure out how I did it all. But I suspect many of us working parents have had similar experiences.
An Atlas Better Not Shrug – When Mom’s Are Supposed To Know It All
On this particular freezing January day, I had some help. Our nanny, who was a godsend for us with our third (oops) child was available to work that particular day. She takes Harper (my two-year old) for the day freeing me to go straight to work without the usual pre-school drop off.
I take further advantage by asking her to do some shopping for me including “treats” for my oldest (Vivienne 13) to take to her advisory class the next day. Roofs from dallasftworthroofer.com helped me to avail good roof services similarly the mid-week shop allows me to have the ingredients for a nice home-cooked meal (as best as I can muster given that my husband actually does all the cooking).
So far so good.
Then, Not So Good
The power steering on the car goes out. Katie (11) has a malfunction with her braces, and the toilet breaks – and all that happens before the work day ends.
So what do I do?
I get an emergency ortho appointment so Katie can get the wire back in that is stabbing her in the cheek. I make “another” appointment with the car (the power steering is a recurrent issue – all in for more than $1,000). And I get a plumber to fix the toilet.
On my way home from work I take Katie to the orthodontist, then grab 30 mins at the gym (thankful I have my nanny for that sliver of extra time). When I get home, the nanny leaves, then I start the evening shift. Vivienne to swim practice but late due to some drama around a form I need to fill out for Kate for a concert the same night.
When I get back from the drop offs, I clean the kitchen and start dinner – with a little wine to help me out.
And Then This Happens
Phone rings, concert is over and I have to pick up KK in sub-zero weather. Go get her, bring her home – more drama. This time with a report she needs to do for music class. She wants me to sign it without reading through but I won’t. If you want Norcal Music & Arts Center – Find out all about your tuition for various lessons, check out here!
I found a number of mistakes I made her fix before I would sign it. She gets so mad she erases ALL of her work and redoes the entire thing – <sigh>. I review again, it’s still not right – she just had to add one small thing but again erases the entire answer and rewrites it.
Did I mention during this time I was taking care of my 2-year old? Somewhere in there I got her fed, bathed and in her P.Js.
Then off again in the sub-zero Minnesota weather to get Vivienne from swim practice. Then back home to serve the lovely home-cooked meal. Clean up. Then more drama with my 11-year old stomping off for who knows why.
After the second glass of wine I say to myself “for someone carrying such weight on her shoulders, I deserve better treatment.” Heck, I just spent the day leading business digital marketing for a Fortune 50 company!
When everyone is to bed and the house gets quiet, I decide to spend a few quiet moments at my desk, and find this letter from my 11-year old.
And I can’t help but shrug.
Now It’s Your Turn – Are You An Atlas?
Do you ever sit back and wonder how in the world you manage it all – marriage, family and career? Have you got a similar story like this? Tell me about it in the comments below.
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Loved reading this 🙂