appreciation

I need my husband.

This might seem like a simple statement and you might quickly dismiss it - but I warn you; it is anything but.

There were many years when that statement was not true. And it was the cause of a lot of sadness on both our parts so its a beautiful change.

For the past day and a half, my dh has been on a band trip chaperoning with A's band. I have been left to be well, mom. And I used to have mom downpat. I knew what mom was. I was good at it. I had schedules organized, I planned ahead for the next day, I could sign homework, get supper prepared and answer the phone all at the same time.

Now? notsomuch.

Yesterday I was lucky enough to be able to sleep in with the kids because I had an appointment and they were going to come with me. We got ready and headed to the city and had a grand ol' time skipping out on work and school. We drove back to town just before supper time and I was patting myself on the back for getting home in enough time to fish lawn chairs out of the storage and still get J to soccer on time. I shouldn't have patted myself so heartily though.

I got home to a phone call from a friend of mine asking me if I realized I'd missed a meeting at the dance school regarding the ballet exams next fall. Ah. No. Hadn't even crossed my mind. Oops.

Then I promptly fell asleep and woke up (rather, dragged my sorry arse out of bed) at what would have been a reasonable hour if I hadn't had children to get ready for school. I hopped in the shower, I hurried them along and I put my makeup on and dried my hair. Then I remembered - oh, wait, they need lunches!

So they made their lunches while I finished getting ready. I signed homework and was ready to pat myself on the back again when I remembered they had dance afterschool today.

Oh crap. Phone call to my mother - please could you pick them up (early dismissal) because I am working out of town today (but at least on a proper site visit so I should be home by 4) and won't be able to get them to dance in time. Love my mother - she obliges. The kids pack their dance bags into my car and then promptly take them out when I realize they'll need them before I'm back to town.

I get them on the bus, drive out of the driveway and realize that I have not left a note in their agendas letting the teachers know that gramma will pick them up afterschool. Another call to mom - please pick them up at the bus.

A day full of work ensues and I head back to town. I finish up and drive over to the high school where I'm met by the slightly panicked drama teacher who's worried I'm late and there are fourteen teenagers who need stage makeup on (two of whom have to change their race!) and I'm the girl to do it! I work my butt off getting them ready (and being grateful for my talented trained protege) and while I'm up to my elbows in spirit gum putting on a fumanchu - I hear my cell phone ring.

Argh. It must be K. I'm busy. I don't have time to answer it.

It rings and rings and rings and I try to catch it but its too late. They've hung up. A few minutes later it rings again and this time I pick up. Its my mother.

Where are you? I was worried you were lying in a ditch.

oh...right. I didn't tell you I had to do the high school show's makeup today did I?

So - I finish up and head over to where mom has taken them for supper and plop my weary butt into the seat. We visit, we eat and I leave to pick J up from dance (I'm congratulating myself because I'll be on time - since today is the day he's done at a quarter to).

I sat waiting for him for fifteen minutes because today is NOT the day he's done at quarter to. Today is the day he's done on the hour.

But I did get a chance to pop into the ballet classroom and apologize to the ballet instructor for missing the meeting yesterday. He is not concerned and he is aware that with K being gone, its tough for me.

That, my friends, is the understatement of the year.