Never Too Late

I’m pathologically late. Not by much, five or ten minutes, but enough to drive my hubby crazy (which takes some doing because nothing gets to him). However, it’s not arriving at our destination five or ten minutes late that’s causing me to unravel, it’s the five or ten minutes before we leave the house that brings me to the brink of implosion. The stress I feel is immense and the tension in the air is palpable. The worst part? It’s completely my fault.

I’m the culprit. It’s not the new baby. It’s not that we have three kids. It’s me. All me. I am incapable of doing what HAS to be done first. Like showering, eating, feeding the baby. I get to it, but only after I’ve done several things that I WANT done. And unfortunately, none of them includes reading a book, watching T.V., or anything remotely enjoyable. That’s the kicker! I create incredibly stressful situations because I can’t walk by clutter on the counter, clothes on the floor, or a mess of any kind without taking care of it. And there’s always clutter on the counter, clothes on the floor and some sort of mess! Thus, my problem.

While some people abide by the adage “Time is money,” I believe “Time is productivity.” While my hubby would prefer we arrive early, I look at any minute I sit somewhere waiting as a missed opportunity to get something done! Something off my list! So I wait until the last possible moment to take a shower, shove food in my face, and breastfeed the baby. Sometimes I do these things simultaneously when I’m desperate, which is often. Lately, I’ve been leaving the house with curlers in my hair and my makeup to do in the car.

The first time I left the house with curlers in my hair, I decided to have some fun with my girls by telling them it was my new style and I’d be leaving them in for the soccer game. They were mortified the whole car ride.

“Mommy, please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” Feisty Girl begged. “You’re embarrassing me!“

“Mooooooooooooooommmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!!!!” Sweet Angel implored.

“I think they look good.” my hubby replied, egging them on.

Despite my amusing joke, my lateness is taking its toll. The rushing has to stop. The time has come for me to manage my time better. It’s never too late to learn. I hope.