Mission: Get Both Teens on Their Buses Before the Sun’s Up
One teen 6am bus departure for Busch Gardens Band Trip. Second teen 6:50 am bus departure for Track Meet. Why wouldn’t both of them be ready to leave at the same time especially when their schools are next door to each other? Doesn’t it make so much more sense to drop one off, come back home and get the second one? Why couldn’t we take two cars and take both at the same time you ask? Because we didn’t want a visit from CPS regarding why we left an 8 year old and a 5 year old home alone. Even for an hour, it wasn’t worth the risk.🙃
Navigating the world of multiple children, different age groups can be stressful but I often remind myself that this too shall pass and this phase of crazy won’t last forever. That seems to carry me through to the next batch of crazy. A margarita and an episode of “The Rookie,” are also helpful ways to restore a sense of peace & calm too.😁
Seriously though, I try to navigate the crazy busy times with peace in my heart, maybe not at the forefront of my mind, but it’s in there somewhere. Three things that help to make the different schedules, demands and activities flow:
Keeping my digital and written calendars updated. I try to make time to sit with my calendars and update them with each of the activities and activity needs of the 4 Sibs, the Hubs & I and the law practice for the upcoming week. It adds way more stress and strain when we keep all of the things in our heads. Also, writing things on the calendar actually helps me to make a mental note of things and hopefully to plan better.
Making time to gather, purchase, order all of the “stuff” for the upcoming week’s events and activities. We all know that kid’s events and activities always require some element of “stuff.” Poster board, glue, snacks for 25+kids, etc., etc. If I’m placing an order for toilet paper, I will try to include the snack for the track meet in the same order so that I can cross two things off of my never ending to do list.
We empower our children to know what they need, to get their stuff together and to plan ahead for what’s ultimately their event or activity anyway. It doesn’t always work out, but we are at least encouraging them to get in the habit of planning and preparing for themselves.
What do you do to manage and get through the crazy of your parent journey?
