Time Management and the Lack Thereof.

Every once in awhile, and by that I mean literally every hour of the day I spend with my kids; I let my mind wander to that forgotten place of tranquillity. Where either they were babies and slept most of the day, or they were just a thought in my mind.
Don't get me wrong, I'd never in a million years wish my kids were not here...it's just when you're wiping one kid's butt with one hand, and making a tuna fish sandwich with the other, you start to wonder what the heck WOULD I do if I ever got a little ME time.

I daydream about lounging about on the couch reading a mystery novel. I could nap, watch my DVR'd Oprah episodes. I could plant those little packets of seeds I've been harbouring in my purse for 3 weeks...get my tomatoes, corn, pumpkin and lavender started for the Season. I could just lay in bed and stare at the ceiling....in the peace and quiet. Aaahhhh. Just the thought of it sends chills through me.

So this morning as I dropped Little C off at her very first play-date, and came home to find Little B's friend eagerly waiting outside to play and ride bikes it dawned on me: By God, I might actually have 1 whole hour to myself to do absolutely sweet eff all!
The thought took awhile to process. I had time to run downstairs and put a load of laundry on while it was sinking in. I also had time to wash the dishes, clean the cat litter box, scrub the bathtub and air out all the blankets.
While this small glimmer of quietude penetrated my cerebrum I ran outside to make sure Little B was practising safe road rules while flying down the road on his bike. I was even able to make all the beds, clean the playroom and detach the 9 million pieces of dog fur from my sofa pillows. (yes, I counted them)

By this time I had fully digested the fact I had some ME time to do with what I wanted to do. That was I, as in ME, as in the person who occupies this body. I had absolutely no one needing a drink, or a snack, or a wipe. I had nothing to pick up, wipe up or mop up. No cartoons to find, or missing DVD's of Dora to scour the house for.

As I shook off my "Mom" hat and went to grab my "Me" hat the timer went off. It took me a second to comprehend what was going on. I know I had set the timer to remind me to go pick up Little C from her play-date, but I must have set it wrong.

There's no way it could already be time. NNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

p.s. I'd do it all over again. I'd enable these 2 miniature people to completely override any and all of who I ever WAS.