(August 2010 – Cy was 3 weeks old and big kids realized he was here to stay)
Eli is barefoot.
Cora Jane’s pants are on backwards.
Cyrus isn’t even wearing pants.
It’s raining.
Nothing in this actually-happened-to-me-scenario would be noteworthy EXCEPT we are walking into a Dr’s office for our appointment.
Half a hour late!
I’m losing it folks.
The worst part about boarding the crazy train is now I’m considered the “flakey friend.” Back in High School I was the prepared friend. The one who brought full sized shampoo, extra snacks, magazines and nail polish to camp. In college I was a bit spacey, but always on time and where I said I would be. Being the midnight shoulder to cry on for a sorority sister or dancing till 2am would still have me arriving to teach a 5:30am aerobics class on time and with energy to spare. As a newly married woman and young mom I was labeled “carefree” (maybe careless when I wasn’t around) because I let my kiddos eat table food at 6 months and didn’t hover while they climbed to the tops of park jungle gyms.
Now I’m the flake. The one who buys birthday gifts on the way to the party… late. The one who forgets to pick up a friend’s child from school while they are in the hospital having a baby (Yes, I actually did that last month). The one who can never get it together to make a meal for a new mom. The one who’s laundry pile is ever growing, never folding.
I think the worst part is thinking I have everything together only to discover I totally flaked out on something. Like last week – I had to bring food to my mom’s group. I brought donuts (of course) because “I’m not blessed in the kitchen.” I had arrived early for the first time the whole year, donuts in hand, with my hair actually done (aka not in a ponytail) and the children were rested, dressed cute and sent to childcare without breakfast still smeared across their faces. AND no one knew I was 13 weeks preggers. In my mind I had finally made it. I really could handle being pregnant with 3 small children and maintain a growing (awesome) business all by myself. Then I got home and checked my calendar only to see I was a no-show for a lunch shoot for OC Family.
Aaaaarrrrhhhhhgggg!!!!!!!!!!
Failure. Flake.
Feels like my new identity.
What’s a mom to do?
What will solve all my scheduling problems.
A personal assistant, daily maid and live-in nanny of course!!
Until I get picked for Real Housewives of Orange County I think that might be a pipe dream. And frankly, a dream I never want to see fulfilled. I love my life. I love my husband, my children, my messy house and my awesome biz. I just don’t want to be a lame friend.
I’m now reachable by cell and my outlook calendar will shoot me a reminder set times before events, obligations and casseroles. I hope it works because there is no Plan B.