Last week I wrote about all of my scatterbrained ways. You would think that I was all prepared to tackle the work week with all guns a blazing. Well, that’s at least what I was thinking. Did I have some successes in the realm of working mom brain functioning? Sure. Did I have some MAJOR falters along the way? Two Thumbs Up! I know I shouldn’t be so excited about those thumbs up, but at this point I can only laugh at myself for all the stupid that transpired last week. But before I fester over the laughable moments of my week, I think it’s best to check out what did work for me.
I managed to leave each day with all my ducks in a row. Handouts where filed away. My desk was cleaned off. Copies were made for the next day. Lists were created so I knew what needed to get done. And I managed to write my ever growing list of meetings in my planner in addition to scheduling them into my Outlook calendar. And for some bonus points, I even wrote down my husband’s schedule of when he’s working late for the next couple weeks. It’s just good to know these things ahead of time, like knowing that this past weekend, grocery shopping was done with me and Abby flying solo. Being able to plan for that, mentally, is uber important for my anxiety and stress levels.
So for the other parts of my life that lacked forethought…
Tuesday I had a training after school. I had squared away with my husband that he would pick up Abby from daycare. We needed diapers PullUps {we’ve got this potty training thing on a fabulous roll right now} and wipes so I had plans to get to Target sans kiddo to pick up said items, and perhaps have a little me-time strolling the aisles with my customary soy chai from the Starbucks kiosk inside Target, a place where two of my favorite worlds collide. Before I left school, I remembered that my wallet was in my jacket. You know, the jacket I didn’t take with me in the morning because a comfy bulky sweater was all I needed. On my way out to the car, I ran into a teacher and was just chit chatting about how I needed “diapers” but forgot my wallet. She offered me some cash, but I declined because it wasn’t a dire emergency. We each got into our cars, I turned mine on and realized I didn’t have enough gas to get home. Cue me running from my car to hers, to ask to borrow money. I felt so lame, but we both giggled. She’s a mom after all.
Wednesday, progress report grades where due. By 2:30pm. Of course I was asked to cover a class on my planning period. I was able to arrange to have the coverage split in half so I could have time to work on grades. I was handed a key. By the time I left, I couldn’t find said key. I retraced my steps. No key. I went back to the classroom I was in. No key. I searched my pockets. No key. On Friday, while I was teaching, and wearing the same pants I wore on Wednesday {you do that too, right?}, I reached my hands into my pockets while waiting for students to finish work, thinking to myself that man, these pockets are very deep and have crazy stupid nooks and crannies. And then, the effing key. In a stupid cranny. Crazy pockets I tell you.
Thursday I was very tired. {I’m pretty sure this all transpired on Thursday, but you know tired, so who knows if this is the right day.} I decided to make some coffee to drink beyond the tumbler I bring with me every day. {Shhhhh…it’s contraband to have a coffee maker in your classroom.} Being in a portable, and not having easy access to water, I asked a student to fetch me some. This was before school had begun and he was just chilling in my classroom, waiting for the bell the ring. He obliged because middle school kiddos think it’s the bees knees to help teachers out. He comes back, I pour the water in, and go to put the coffee in the basket. Of course I have no filters. NO FILTERS! Sigh. I quickly sent off an email to a fellow teacher with similar illegal contraband, started teaching and 30 minutes later she delivered a coffee filter to me.
Major FACEPALMS all week.
I swear I wasn’t like this before. First there was pregnancy brain. Then new mom brain. And now, folks, we’ve moved into the realm of working mom brain.
Please tell me I’m not alone. Please. Tell me your story below. Working Mom Brains UNITE!
Photo Credit: http://thekrazycouponlady.com
I am extremely scatterbrained when it comes to grocery shopping. Thank God our grocery store is less than a mile from our house, because I usually end up there 3 times a week. I plan our weekly meals on Sunday mornings. I go through my recipes and the sale ad and make a list. Almost always I will get home and realize I forgot something: that was ON MY LIST. I do check my list before I leave the store too, that is how crazy I am. The night before I cook, I prep my meals. About half the time I will forget that I was out of something, or will have completely passed over an ingredient. My husband has come to accept this “quirk” of mine, and the cashiers at my store know me very well : )
I almost always forget ricotta cheese for lasagna. I mean I write lists, meal plan, all that jazz, but that damn ricotta I always forget to put on the list. Target is my store I forget the most at. My husband is convinced I purposely do that b/c it is my favorite store after all
Twitter: wa_tracy
haha Tracy! I went to Target twice last week and both times forgot to buy toddler-sized forks for my 18 month old! I did get a cute new dress the second time I went though!
Ah, Tracy. If my dissertation counts as a baby, I’ve got this too.
You are such a fun writer – good luck with the next 18 years of this!
Jaimie recently posted..Professors Meme
You are so not alone….. I thought I had a handle on the “working mom brain” this time around. My son is 15 and we have a 3 year old. When she came along I thought, “I got this, I have been doing the working mom thing for years.” Boy was I wrong, its worse this time around.
I loved the “Of course I had to cover a class.” I no longer make plans to do anything during planning because of course I am going to have to cover a class more often than not…. Thanks budget cuts.
Donna recently posted..Before, During…After is yet to come
I make lists upon lists upon lists. If I didn’t, my life would fail. So I’m not entirely disorganized, but only because I am constantly writing things down in the notebook I have with me, all the time.
Christa the BabbyMama recently posted..When the Answer to ‘Stress’ Is ‘Make’
Twitter: mommeetmom
So far this week: Sunday was 2nd bday (which was well planned and went without hitch). No time for prepping stuff for Monday- got to work, and anticipated frozen back-up meal mysteriously gone from freezer. Went to but lunch, but wallet still in camera bag (at home) from bday party. It would be SO much worse if I were still teaching and couldn’t be a minute late or move things around. Sounds to me like you have a good system in your support network. That’s worth a million brilliant organizational schemes.
cayley rice recently posted..Week of February 19: Especially Fast, Good Enough to Repeat
Ha! I love this. I did a search on the web to prove that I can’t be the only one with what I’ve called the “mommy brain”. I love how you layer the different levels of it, thought (pregnancy brain, new mommy brain, working mommy brain). It’s all true. Thanks for the laugh on a Thursday afternoon. It’s a relief!