Life’s a boot camp

Sometimes I wish I had an “off” switch. I only seem to go at one speed and it’s frenetic. Life often feels like a boot camp, but without the health benefits.

Husband got home last night at 8.45pm – just after me and the Sprogs – and asked what we’d done that day. Here’s what I told him …

“Shoes & Sox had a 20% off sale, so I got Sprog 1 fitted for new school shoes. Do you realise she’s a size 5 now? At age 9! While we were there, Sprog 2 insisted that her sport shoes were too small so I ended up getting her some new ones too. Then we went to this new FroYo place where you pour and decorate your own yoghurt. There were all these lollies you could choose, but you’d have been so proud, the kids got some fruit as well. Riot had a sale on so we bought a stack of plaster-painting stuff for $20. Then I got Sprog 1 some Target jammies for camp. Then we patted the bunnies at the pet shop. The grey lop-eared one was soooooo cute. Then we came home and had lunch – boiled pasta with cheese for Sprog 2, scrambled eggs and toast for Sprog 1, chicken salad for me. Then we did some plaster painting. Then I dropped Sprog 1 at a playdate. Then Sprog 2 and I did the grocery shopping. Then I tried to convince Sprog 2 that spring-cleaning the pantry would be a fun bonding exercise. She bought it until we finished rearranging the junk/snack section, then she lost interest. Then I did some prep for dinner. Then I picked Sprog 1 up from her playdate. The playdater’s mum offered me a glass of wine and a chat and it would have been rude to decline … but it put me behind schedule for dinner. We finally got home about 6.15pm and I started frantically cooking – it’s a new creation, Grilled Chicken with Spicy Capsicum, hope you like it

. Then we went on an “adventure”. Sprog 2 wanted to try out her new shoes, Sprog 1 wanted to try out her new camera and I wanted some exercise. So I took them on a bushwalk. The bushwalk turned out to be waaaaaaay longer than I remember it. I started freaking out towards the end, it was getting dark, there were spider webs everywhere, Sprog 2 got a splinter and started wailing and Sprog 1 kept threatening to collapse on her knees from exhaustion. When we finally made it back onto the road, the streetlights were on. We staggered home, pausing under a few sprinklers along the way to cool our sweaty bodies, and only just got here. I think I might have a quick shower and go straight to bed. How was your day dear? Actually, can it wait until tomorrow? I’m too tired to listen properly.”

Fortunately, Saturdays have become enforced rest days because Husband takes the car to work. Another scorcher has been predicted so we’re parking on the sofa to watch lots of movies and paint lots of plaster. I may also restore order in the playroom … because I don’t know how to relax. Oh, and a dear friend has invited me to drinks tonight. OK, not really a rest day. But about as slow as I get.

Are you an over-scheduler?