Dumpster Fire Day
Last night my husband said, “We need to talk about tomorrow morning. I need to be at work at 6:30.” I said, “I don’t guess we really need to talk about it. I just need to take Allie to school.” And we went to bed. I guess we should have talked about it some more, because I woke up this morning at 7:19, about the time we usually leave the house to take Allie to school. Both of the kids were still asleep.
I darted into Supermom mode and roused the girls while stepping into clothes for work. I got Shelby dressed and brushed her hair and microwaved breakfast sandwiches for us all to eat in the car (thank you, God for convenience foods). I got Allie (who said she would do her hair at school) to school on time and careened onto my street to see Shelby’s bus already parked in front of my house and waiting. I pulled up beside the driver to ask him to move the bus so I could pull into my driveway to get my daughter safely out of the car and onto the yellow dog. I ran up to the house and grabbed her back pack and sent her on her way.
I then had 15 minutes to change from house shoes to real ones, put on make-up, fix my hair, make coffee (priorities) and grab my lunch to get out the door. I cut a few corners on the make-up (who am I kidding anyway) and was miraculously about to jump in the car with no seconds to spare – when I saw it. Shelby’s anti-seizure meds still sitting on the counter. I deflated like an old balloon. I called my boss as I jumped in my Toyota and apologized while telling her I had to make a stop at my daughter’s school and would be late.
I made it in 30 minutes late to a day so busy and hectic that I got to go relieve myself only once and had a few seconds to heat up my lunch before returning to my desk to scarf it down. The one time I did go to the john, I looked in the mirror and saw the horror that was the bra/ shirt combo I had chosen. I worked an extra 40 minutes (maybe making up for the morning), leaving with just enough time to get to Allie’s school for pick up. After taking her straight to a neighborhood babysitting job, I pulled up to my house the same time as Shelby’s caseworker with whom I had an appointment. I let her in the service entrance (a.k.a the garage) with me and Allie’s dog Monkey escaped like a convict with a taste of freedom. I ushered the case worker in and then proceeded to chase this demon chihuahua down the street until I gave up and came back to greet my guest – a disheveled mess (me, not her).
Monkey came back and scratched at the door a few minutes later (“It’s not so bad living in our cool, cozy house, is it you ingrate?”), and I wrapped up the meeting with MHMR just in time to visit the little cowgirl’s room for only the second time today before shoving Shelby back in the car to go to speech therapy. If you didn’t catch that she was home with me, it’s because I can’t remember when, in between all this other stuff, I got her off the bus. And now after arriving home, making dinner, cleaning up the kitchen and helping my husband look for his keys, I am finally sitting in my favorite chair and almost relaxed.
Why did I tell you all of this? Because just in case I have EVER given you the impression here on my blog that I have all my chili together, I want to assure you that
. The End.
Yep, we’ve all got those crazy making days, don’t we, Lauren. He gives more grace in those hours.
We make it through. He smiles …
I think so, Linda.
Oh, my, Lauren, what a crazy, crazy day! I got frazzled just reading about it. So glad you survived to tell the tale, and to take it all in stride.
Blessings!
Thank you, Martha!
All that AND the cranky lady at work? You are awesome!
Ha! I actually wrote this a while back, Patrece. Just now publishing it.
Everybody has bad days! It is great that you have turned this in an encouragement!!
Thank you, Hadassah. And what a beautiful name you have.
Such a great way to turn this bad day into encouragement!! Thank you!!
Thank you.
We definitely all have days like that, Lauren! You did well to get through it with everything that went awry! It is so good when folks share that they aren’t totally organized either. We are all in this together and it’s very encouraging for others! Thank you so much for sharing with the Hearth and Soul Link Party.
Commiserating is part of community isn’t it? Thank you so much for hosting April. I love visiting your site.
Oh, Lauren! Thank you for sharing the story of your disaster day with us. I am so glad to know that I am not the only one to have those days that seem like “dumpster fires”! 🙂
Once we come down off the adrenaline, these kinds of days are always funny.
This made me laugh! Sorry. I’m glad you see the humor in your days like that. I’ve learned that humor helps me so much in the craziness. God bless you , and may you have a much quieter and calmer weekend.
If you can’t laugh at yourself, someone else will! Thanks, Patty.
Oh my! How I remember those crazy days with kids being hauled here and there, along with responsibilities galore of my own to juggle, Lauren! I’m in the early days of an empty-nest and truly enjoy the freedom and lack of hair-raising stress. But when school started this year, I honestly felt a twinge of grief over not having “ducks” to get in a row at my household. This post reminds me to be grateful about where I’m at in life! Lol! And it also reminds me to thank you for your openness and vulnerability! Love it!
Thank you for encouraging me! I know one day I will both miss the hustle and bustle and be grateful for the slower pace.
Sounds like such a crazy day!! I hope you have a better week! 🙂
https://colorandgrace.com/
Thank you, Grace.
Oh, those days! I’ve had my share, too. I guess we are in good company. I’m so grateful that His grace (and a bit of chocolate) help us get through!
Chocolate! I should have thought of that! 🙂
That last bit made me smile – always good to tell it like it is – all the best people do #GlobalBlogging
Thanks, Kate!
Oh my gosh. Today was a day here, too! Thanks for sharing authentically! So glad God’s Grace is enough on days like these!
We lived to tell the tale, Bethany. Praying you get some peace now!
None of us have it altogether, but we have all we need when have Jesus. He;s what holds us together.
Yes, so thankful!
We all have days like that sometimes! Praise God that his grace means we don’t have to have it all together!!
Yes! So thankful.
Talk about “real life.” You get the prize!!!
I don’t know about a prize, but I got through!
Oh no! I hate those kinds of crazy days… thankful you all survived though!
I bet as a mother of 3 you have seen a few of these days!
Real life! It is nice when others share some of the not so pretty and not just the picture perfect moments! Hope the following day was a lot less stressful!
http://www.chezmireillefashiontravelmom.com
Thank you, Mireille.
Oh, Lauren, this is beautiful! 🙂 Thanks for being so transparent with something we all struggle with from time to time. And, I LOVE that COFFEE IS A PRIORITY!!! LOL None of us have it all together. One day at a time. . . #grace
Thanks for linking up at InstaEncouragements!
Yes! Coffee! Thanks, Patsy.
Ahhh…I think we have all had days like this. So glad you had a favorite chair to end your day in!
Oh that chair. Thinking about it now, Carri.
Do you drink wine? it may be time. (: xoxo Had 10 gals in last night and some of them had some of your day but not all of it and were glad to come over. (You’re invited, of course.)
Yes! And chocolate.
Sounds like a really, really hectic day! But you managed to hold it all together and no one was forgotten at school. #GlobalBlogging
There’s the bright spot!