It’s a season where I am already overwhelmed on a Sunday night just looking at my week ahead with some manner of dread. A lot of weeks are like this but not all. Last week I was able to get coffee with two dear friends and we are aiming for once monthly and are so far two for two.
But tomorrow I work and then I get Mom on an online appointment and then I head to two back to back appointment that I am fitting in to attend them in person for me. Then two additional online clients and then running kiddos to their evening activities. 2 kiddos out of 4 have something tomorrow evening so it’s not a super heavy load where we need to ask my Mom-in-law to be the third driver. Phew! She’s out of state visiting my sister-in-law and her family.
Then it’s work outside the home the next two days with quick dinners and the evening rush and then Thursday I have client from home and doctors’ appointments for Dad and Mom to and Friday has more appointments for Mom.
I am planning to watch a show online and spend a little time on social media and also try to get a decent night’s sleep while I’m not feeling my best.
It’s A LOT right now while sandwiched. A whole lot.
Still in the thick of Packing Prison as we have airline tickets and that means that there’s no margin if we don’t leave on time and there’s also no margin for shoving in some extras around everything else in our large SUV. It has to fit in the bags for the plane. And for me, the maximalist, this is my Everest.
Super used to having plenty of room for way too many outfits, all of the bells, whistles, extras, and even the kitchen sink plus little gifts to keep the kiddos entertained in the vehicle. We will head to a local familiar chain store when we reach our destination and figure it out, but there’s just nothing like taking everything you wanted to take and then some. I will admit that I rarely if Ever have used everything I’ve packed in the past and this is a go, go, go adventure trip and all of the kids will have options for some screentime for long drives.
But as I type this and get ready to head to the laundry room to move a load over and put in yet another load after having the kids ALL day (ran to one child’s camp, saw online clients, completed documentation, made simple meals though my husband did warm up an easy dinner, took the kids on a short hike and to the pool with friends, answered a million questions and dried tears ALL before my husband got home from work) I noticed that it is this dark in our bedroom (I stopped in there to fill the toilet paper rack in our bathroom with new rolls after shushing the kids for the 100th time and mentioning consequences to get them back into their rooms) but my husband is lying in bed all tucked in where he has been since around 9:30 PM when he insisted he couldn’t do anything else but go right to bed because he isn’t feeling well, with his headphones in watching an action movie on his phone. I often watch something long after I should be asleep (more on that another time), but I can’t help but feel that I (and many other primary caregiver parents) am getting the short end of the stick while being expected to be the one to stay up late several nights this week to get everything packed and together.
He will pack the car and drive us to the airport and make sure we get everywhere on time. I have it better than many because he is in charge of the tickets and keeping all things related to the hotels, the excursions, the rental mini van, etc etc etc together. And he will drive us everywhere because he likes it and I hate it. But still, I’m packing for 5 and he will throw his own things in on top and will lose zero sleep in preparation for this trip.
He’s driving. I am thankful he’s driving. I guess I’ll be comatose during the travel because it’s unlikely that I’ll be functioning by then and this is nothing new. Someone’s gotta pack and it isn’t going to be him.
Sandwiched Support 