One step forward, two steps back

Rachel — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 18:46:23 +0000

Last week I briefly mentioned that in my quest to be more frugal, I was following the advice of the book and tackling my grocery bills. Oh, I so wanted to write a post on the beautiful, organized spreadsheet I had developed in order to compare prices. I wanted to talk about the shock I felt when I realized how much more money I was spending than I should have been. I had big dreams!

But then…we were struck with the thing that can bring a home with children to its knees: illness. With some pretty crappy timing too. Not that any time is particularly convenient to get sick, but still… The husband and I started school again and in an attempt to make our schedules work, coordinated a baby swap a few times a week with a neighbor also trying to finish school. In the midst of the craziness the husband and baby were hit with a doozy of a cold. That’s right, a DOOZY! Poor little Claire especially, and any parent knows that there is little worse than having a sick child.

My schedule for the last week basically looked like this:

4:02 AM- Baby crying, offer comfort.

4:37 AM- More crying, more bleary-eyed comfort offered.

5:15 AM- Baby too congested to sleep. Sit in rocking chair with baby to keep her upright and help her breathe.

6:20 AM- Crawl back into bed.

6:35 AM- Baby cries. Discover diaper leak, urine everywhere. Awesome. Baby in tub.

7:55 AM- Leave for school.

10:00 AM- Baby swap so husband can go to school. Tend to sick child.

10:12 AM- Wipe snot

10:23 AM- Wipe snot

10:37 AM- Restrain child in order to wipe snot

10:42 AM- Give up on keeping snot river under control and accept that everything will be covered in mucous for the next several days.

11:00 AM- Naptime!= homework time for mom

12:45 PM- Baby awake, wipe snot, lunch time, sick and tired husband comes home

1:15 PM- Work, work, work…

8:30 PM- get home, start getting baby ready for bed. Baby’s coughing fit induces BARFING. Baby in tub.

9:15 PM- baby finally asleep. Eat late dinner.

9:35 PM- Lapse into a coma from exhaustion

So! As you can see, there has been no time for organized spreadsheets or meal planning or even checking my email. Besides, had I even printed off one of those lovely spreadsheets I’m pretty sure it would be covered in snot.

Let’s hope this week runs a little more smoothly.

Like clockwork

Rachel — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 02:26:53 +0000

Men are so weird.

I grew up in a family with all sisters, no brothers, so I don’t think I really got the full idea of how guys are. Sure, my dad lived there, but he was my dad. Needless to say, getting married was a pretty big eye opener for me. And I’ve had it easy, my hubby is generally very well mannered and not the usual gross boy.

One thing I’m still discovering, after 3 years of marriage, is that men are nothing without their routine. If one thing gets off in their personal schedule the whole day might as well go down the drain.

This morning the hubby and I were up a little early due to the fact we are still adjusting to daylight savings. As a result, he could get ready for school at leisure and had plenty of time before he had to leave. Normally he doesn’t eat breakfast because he tries to sleep as long as possible before he absolutely must get up and get ready. But today, I assumed he would want breakfast since he had time, and who wouldn’t want to eat when given the opportunity? I know that I always look forward to my next opportunity to eat. You know, like a normal person.

Except when I asked him what he wanted for breakfast he said wanted nothing. Nothing? Huh? He said he had to leave for class. “But you don’t have to leave for at least another 10 minutes. That’s plenty of time to down a couple of Eggo’s!” I insisted. He said he didn’t want to rush. “Well then, just grab a quick bowl of cereal. You don’t want to be hungry, do you?” I pressed. No thanks. “Are you nuts? Why on earth would you willingly go hungry for the next 3 hours?” I couldn’t understand this crazy man’s logic.

Finally he came clean with a sigh, “I don’t want to throw off my schedule. If I eat now, I’ll have to eat lunch early, and then I’ll be hungry in the afternoon.”

Me: *Blink…blink* “So, eat a snack in the afternoon. It makes no sense to go hungry if you don’t have to.”

Him: “No, I want to eat just 3 meals a day. I have to stick to the schedule.”

Seriously, this logic is completely baffling to me. I have no eating schedule. I eat when I’m hungry, I don’t eat if I’m not. I eat when food is available, I don’t eat if there isn’t any. Simple as that. And since I know you’re dying to know, same with my bathroom habits. I go when I need to, and don’t go if there is no need. Logical, right? No schedule. I’m footloose and fancy free!

Crazy hubby, on the other hand, has an iron-clad bathroom regimen, especially in the morning. If things don’t go according to schedule, his whole day is off. Apparently his eating habits must go as planned too. And I know his sleep must stay on schedule. If he gets more than 30 minutes off for even one night he wakes up the next morning insisting he is getting a cold due to lack of sleep. Personally, I think it’s all in his head.

Are all men like this? Are women like this too and I’m just the weird one??

Mommy By The Book » schedules

One step forward, two steps back

Like clockwork