NOT QUITTING MY DAY JOB

Monday, November 07, 2005

Last week, Don drove my car out to San Diego, and I stayed at home with the kids for 3 whole days.

And I use that term very loosely... I went to work and had babysitting help during the day.

And still. It. Was. Hard.

Let me detail for you, 8 p.m. to 8:17 p.m. on any given night.

8 p.m. Sarah, you need to practice piano before you go to bed. Go do it.
But I want to watch That's So Raven. I haven't watched TV all day, Mom!!!
Go play piano. I don't want to hear about TV.
That's so unfair. Dad lets me watch TV!
GODOIT!!!!
(She storms off to the piano. I hear paper fluttering and angry playing.)

8:02 p.m. Dogs are pacing. They have to go out.

8:03 p.m. Outside with the dogs. Becca comes out. She isn't wearing any pants. Put the dogs on the outdoor chain and get her back inside.

8:04 p.m. Retrieve the dogs. It is now raining. They look forlorn.

8:05 p.m. Drying off the dogs. Sarah is stuck on her new piece. Have to help her through a few measures. Phone is ringing. The machine picks it up. It's our realtor. Have to call her back after the kids are in bed.

8:06 p.m. Forgot Becca has no pants on. Ask her to tell me the story of how the pants got off. I get the runaround from a 3 year old. Ask her where the pants are. She put them in the hamper. Re-pants her.

8:08 p.m. Packing lunch for Sarah. Getting Sarah's allergy meds ready for her. Getting the homework sheet out for tomorrow. Cleaning up dinner dishes. Doing a Spongebob puzzle. All at the same time?

8:11 p.m. Sarah is finished practicing and is taking her allergy medication in front of That's So Raven. She is "starving." Too bad, no eating right before bed. Reprise of "that's so unfair, Dad lets me." We practice the hard spelling words during a commercial.

8:12 p.m. Becca is playing too rough with Eddie. Eddie is growling at her. I send them both to different corners. The dogs spot a cat coming downstairs and take off after it. Phone rings again. It's my mother. I could pick it up, but I don't. I don't want to scare her.

8:13 p.m. Cleaning up the living room. Shoot, I forgot to feed the fish. Start defrosting food. Throw in a load of laundry. Pour a glass of water for Sarah.

8:15 p.m. Heading upstairs with the kids for a bath. Becca climbs on the back of the office sofa, which gets her put into the corner again. Sarah's room is a mess due to an unexpected mid-evening outfit change; help her clean it. Becca gets the first bath while Sarah picks out her clothes for tomorrow. Sort the mail.

8:17 p.m. Call husband on his cell phone and tell him he is the greatest husband and father in the world. Because that's just 17 minutes of it!