Wake to squirming babe under crook of arm and girl in nightgown entering room. Babe nurses. Girl jumps on bed and sings songs (loudly). Go downstairs with babe in arm and girl in hand. Make tea. Make breakfast. Listen to music (loudly). Make block castle (while sipping tea). Nurse again. Put basket of diapers in machine. Go back to block castle (and tea). Dance party!
Get babe, girl and self dressed. Get teeth brushed. Get hats/boots/mittens/scarves on girl. Kiss and wave goodbye to girl as she heads out the door to school. Nurse babe so sleep. Open up computer. Read letter from prison inmate in response to a story of yours. Choke back tears and read again. Read emails from students. Respond. Start planning this weekend's teaching. Take a break to write thank you cards for the preschool you're on the board of. Respond to emails regarding the town store you are trying to help turn into a community owned cooperative. Read email from an editor regarding an essay of yours that needs work. Baby's awake!
Change baby's diaper. Dress baby. Drive up the road to your recording studio where your husband sits waiting for his bandmate. Set baby on floor and pick up guitar and start learning the chords to the song you're about to record. Learn the chords. Record (pressing the buttons yourself because your husband had to take the yodeling baby outside). Nurse baby. Practice the vocals. Record a take. Nurse the baby. Hand the baby shakers and rattles and old CDs. Record the baby yodeling. Record a few more takes. Say, "That's good!" Nurse baby. Put some peanut butter on a cracker and call it lunch.
Put baby in car and go pick up your daughter from preschool. Try not to think about the letter from the inmate, your students, or what the editor had to say while driving and talking to your daughter. Get home. Hang up diapers. Make a snack. Check to make sure there are enough leftovers in the fridge for dinner. (Phew!) Write a letter with your daughter. Nurse the baby. Wave to your husband coming through the door. Dance party! Head out the door, computer in hand, for two hours. Whatever you do, Don't get distracted by blogging.
xx
R
Oh the joys of motherhood - I feel quite exhausted just reading your schedule! I love where you say 'trying not to think about..' all those other things while you're on kid time, sometimes that's the hardest thing, all that zoning out and zoning in again.. Sounds like you're doing a great job though, so well done you! :)
ReplyDeleteI actually feel energized by it all (right now)...it's keeping the winter blues at bay. And yes...zoning in and zoning out...
DeleteHa ha, and get the blog writing in there! Reading this makes me think of all the time I waste. xo
ReplyDeleteSomething tells me you've got plenty on your plate as well, Desha Dear.
DeleteI have so many questions about your day–what story?, an essay?, and how's the teaching going?–and if you weren't so damn busy singing and dancing around the house, I'd stroll up for a cup of hot tea or some smooth red.
ReplyDeleteWouldn't that be nice. Late next week (after I'm done responding to packets--ha)?
DeleteDearest,
ReplyDeleteThis is perfect. And it reminded me of exactly why I love your writing. So much about the cracker and the dance party and celebrating the whole ride.
I am putting your guest post up tomorrow. I will let you know. xo S