OVERWHELMED

If there is one thing that all women "get" is the universally understood concept of being "OVERwhelmed". I think this understanding comes from the experience gleaned from a mother's roll in manipulating so many occupations. They include (but are NOT limited to...):

~ Chauffeur- which ultimately includes games, hangouts, and the awkward dates that you have to chaperone.

~ Travel agent-not only getting to plan the itinerary, but also funding the expenses!

~ Secretary-If you don't file it, it will never be seen again....Also, not to mention the tasks of taking phone messages! EEEKK! For teenagers, this is a nightmare!

~ Personal assistant- keeping them on schedule with dates and appointments. It takes a computer, dry-erase board and an "assistant for the assistant" to manage.

~ Tutor- who remembers how to do Algebra 15 years after you had the class? Or Calculus, Probability & Statistics (I am 100% sure that I will get every answer wrong! That's not a probability, but a definite fact!), or Physics (anything that combines math AND science is just inhumane!).

~ Drill sergeant- Sounding the morning reveille and making sure everyone gets their daily exercise (Let me have one more pushup!).

~ Beautician- How many hair-styles and "face cleansers" must we purchase and try before we get the correct "look?" I think I should have stock in AUSSIE with all the hair supplies my girls used growing up!...

~ Stylist- How many ways can we say, "That outfit is not appropriate!" In a sweet, convincing manner?

~ Nurse maid- kissing "boo-boos" and drying tears...loving the rocking chair moments that these events provide.

~ Chef- How many ways can I make potatoes for dinner tonight? Timmy likes mashed, Bobby likes baked, Suzie likes fried and Pa likes scalloped!:) And I like french fries! :)

~ Seer- visually helping the little ones predict their future? Yeah, right!

~ Decorator- keeping a teenager's room color-coordinated? All I know is that it all looks "multi-hued" with dirty laundry, smelly shoes and eclectic memorabilia

~ Merry maid:)- isn't that an oxymoron? The only way I can "psych" myself up to being "happy" about cleaning is to crank the stereo up and "whistle while I work"....mind over matter....have to picture myself on vacation somewhere......Now if company is coming, I can break into it at warp speed!

~ Referee- breaking up squabbles, calling fouls and penalizing (Five more minutes in the chair, young lady! You are grounded til you are 35!)

~ Event planner- from first birthday parties, high school graduations, engagement parties, weddings, and repeat (for then you must do the same for the grand-kids!).

~ Psychiatrist- giving the "listening ear", dolling out advise, trying to share your sanity when it feels you are loosing your own!

~ Financial adviser- seems like a one sided job for the first 25 years at least...money going out, none coming in on deposit.

~Laundry attendant- wash, dry, dry-clean, hand-wash, repeat...

This list is definitely not all inclusive. We can laugh when we see these "jobs'" listed in such a manner, but when we are trying to accomplish them all at once, "OVERWHELMED" takes on a whole new perspective.

Emily Dickinson wrote a neat poem that embodies many ideas of this feeling:

I felt a cleavage in my mind

As if my brain had split;

I tried to match it, seam by seam

But could not make them fit.

The thought behind I strove to join

Unto the thought before,

But sequence ravelled out of reach

Like balls upon the floor.

Yes, we may be scatterbrained, discombobulated, shaken, distracted and sometimes "testy", but many times it is with good reason. The song keeps coming to my mind, "She's come undone....". Please realize today that you are not alone, "WE" are in this together....a society of happy moms, sometimes crazy but ultimately joyful with the chance to try our best to be "all things to our kids".......no small fete for sure! But sure worth the effort!....:)

You MUST take the time to hear the MOM's OVERTURE on YouTube...here' the link

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7R9SFBLvIk .... the song itself is a real task!