07 September 2012

Climbing Trees

I feel like I'm in the process of climbing a grand tree.  An arboreal beauty.  The problem is, I'm stuck on a branch.  I have been reaching for the next one up and I'm standing on my tippy toes, my calves aching from flexing in an attempt to reach the next branch, and then they begin to shake.
My arms begin to shoot pain down into my shoulders as they stretch upward and my fingernails are scratching at the bark, only to get tiny bits in my eyes while my head is straining, looking up.  This isn't working, why do I keep reaching for that branch, standing in this spot?  
That's how it's felt, this past little while.  I am behind on almost everything, missing or doing a haphazard job on many things.  Like last week.
We missed not one, but BOTH of Olive's new ballet classes.
I failed to take Clover to her "meet your teacher" meeting and gave the school the wrong bag of school supplies from the trunk.  I've since given them the correct one, but still have yet to recover whatever mystery items I dropped off.  Do they have my cheddar?  Or an orange spool of thread?  Don't know.
I even forgot about a guest post for dear, sweet Sachiko.  She was gracious about it and promised to have me another time.  Sheesh.
So, I'm repositioning myself on the branch.  Regrouping, re-planning my strategy.  We've got lots going on, but really, who doesn't.  But what isn't working right now for us has got to change.
I have some projects going on I can't wait to share, but wait I must, wait I will.  
Meanwhile, we accomplished another couple of birthdays with smiles.  We've got ourselves a tween (how did I get that old?) and a sweet 8-year-old who is mischievous, but such a delight.  What an enigma.
Also, we learned something new (remember, our school motto?) that when you make your own pinãta, don't give the children the iron rod for bashing.  The poor pinãta won't have a chance for the rest of the waiting brood.

Hey, speaking of trees, and a serendipitous fyi, do you remember one of my favorite books I shared on the first chapter of Once Upon a Thread, A Tree is Nice?  It's on sale here, or get an invitation here first.

17 comments:

  1. Sometimes you just need to create a "new normal"!

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  2. oh some days (weeks) are like that. forgotten lunches and missed classes...it will work itself out. Hoping for some equilibrium for you!

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  3. I felt exactly the same way after #5... I think we all have our own thresholds and that was mine! It took me over a year to find a new normal and get my groove back!

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  4. Katy, my dear, you have SIX beautiful and wonderful children ... you are doing a wonderful job! I only had three kids and still had all the jumbled-up-ness!!! I think it's quite normal, as much as life can be normal!

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  5. Oh girl, I feel the same way these days! It's SO HARD to try to remember everything - and I'm pretty sure we've missed the registration deadline for Em's ballet class too. I'm scared to even check. Is it just the time of year - adjusting to routines and change and the fact that their new grade level means they're really "growing up?" Anyway, best of luck adjusting and getting your feet back on the ground. Take care.

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  6. I've been reading your blog for some time now but I've never commented...until now. I have had such an admiration for you and all that you've been able to accomplish with your day. I, at the time of finding your blog, only had 2 children and told myself, "if she can do it with 5, surely I can do it with 2". You are truly an inspiration to other mothers! Those days happen, but as soon as they come they also leave.
    I've been having those days recently now that I've transitioned with our third and moved to a different state. Routine will come. Routine that works.
    Good luck to you and conquering that tree that is troubling you.

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  7. I was on the tree for a while too. Then I fell off completely. It is so much better to regroup and find a new branch than to fall off the damn thing. Trust me :-)

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  8. Happy birthdays Olive and Divine! Hope you figure out what works for you and your family. :) It seems like as soon as I get something figured out, something else needs adjusting but I guess that's life.

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  9. You Are A: wife, Best Friend to Husband, mother of 6, designer, seamstress, chef, housekeeper, gardner, neighbor, friend, religious worker, school helper, tutor, listener, problem solver, laundress, chauffeur, shopper, nurse, reader, blogger, event planner, etc. etc. etc.

    Are you being too hard on yourself. I think so.
    Love you.

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  10. Oh, I am in the SAME SPACE right now. Missing payments, late to places, forgetting things, dirty dishes in the sink CONSTANTLY, not having filtered water b/c I need to clean the reserve tanks & the sink is never empty enough to do that...I wrote a blog post on it last summer. I refer you to it just to know you are not alone, not to plug my blog (which I stopped writing in this June.) I love the visual of reaching for the branch w/ bark getting in your eyes - I can *feel* it. "Hang" in there - things will balance eventually. http://seanandsabrinastwinsandwich.blogspot.com/2011/07/heavy-artillery.html

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  11. Hang in there mama. You have a lot on your plate, and that tree has lots of branches - and you have only two arms. Keep reaching and looking up.

    p.s. we love that book, too. one of our faves.

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  12. When my children were little and things weren't going so well, my husband would say, "when you're a grandpa (or grandma) you'll forget all about it." Katy,when you're a grandma you'll forget all about it!
    Truly, some restlessness is from God...it's a good thing to forget some stuff every once in a while to make space in your brain for the important things He wants to show you. BTW, you are an excellent writer;)

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  13. thank you thank you thank you..although a million miles away,,,i dont feel so alone in my climbing and sticking...big hugs coming your way xx

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  14. love this, and the comments. I think laughter is a good medicine for these moments, and then again so is rest! Wishing you lots of both this weekend.

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  15. I read your "You've Got Your Hands Full" post before I read this one, so let me begin by saying, "Wow! You are LOVING all those kids so well!" You really, really are. Their smiles in the photos are proof enough. Managing is not your most important job - loving IS. Bumps in the new managing routine are hard and frustrating, and getting into your new routine will be such a relief. But in the mean time, love you kids and accept the grace that that is your most important task to check off your list.

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  16. It was so nice to read this post, and know that someone I admire so much has these same problems as I.

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  17. i didn't know olive was another in this birthday shuffle! phew! no wonder somethings went wayside.

    (is that a term?)

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