This is me: a master of multitasking, often accomplishing few complete jobs, but having the best of intentions. Maybe you’ll relate? All I can say is my struggle is real.
I have a fifteen page grad school paper due in one week. So, I sit down to begin focused work. I must finish that assignment.
It’s rather late in the evening (who can do any extra work until Little One is asleep, right?), and I need a cup of coffee. So, I head to the kitchen.
The coffee carousel isn’t full, so while I wait for the water to heat in the Keurig, I go to the pantry, get a new box of K-cups and refill our supply.
I empty the box of K-cups, so I tear it apart and put it in recycling. (Mental note made: I need to deep clean the recycling bin.)
My coffee starts to brew. While I’m waiting I see dirty dishes in the kitchen sink. I attempt to load those dishes, but the clean ones haven’t yet been unloaded. So, I unload the clean ones and then load the dirty ones.
As I finish loading the dishes, I look for a paper towel to wipe the countertop. We’re out of paper towels (because – big surprise – whichever kid used the last paper towel didn’t go get a fresh roll). Back to the pantry I go. Paper towels are stored next to toilet paper, so as I grab a roll of paper towels, I grab a pack of toilet paper. I bet bathrooms need some rolls of toilet paper.
Dropping the roll of paper towels by the kitchen sink, I then make my way to the bathrooms to replenish the toilet paper reserves.
As I leave the guest bathroom, I notice an unfolded blanket in the guest bedroom. I fold it and realize the lighting is poor in that room. I need a lamp in this room. I have one in the other room that we aren’t using, so I go get it and place the lamp next to a chair. Perfect.
In the master bathroom, I dispense the final rolls of toilet paper. Then, I notice that a laundry basket is full, so I carry that to the laundry room and sort. The washing machine is empty, so it’s easy to start a load of clothes … which, of course, I do.
As I walk out of the laundry room, I see an empty box. That would be perfect to pack those jars I need to return to a friend. So I pick up the box and find where I had stacked the jars. I carefully wrap each jar and place it in the box.
As I walk to put the box of jars close to the door (so I don’t forget to bring them to work tomorrow), I pass by my school bag where I had stuffed my raincoat. I need to hang that up. So, I take the raincoat to my closet and hang it. Wow, there’s a lot of empty hangers in here. I need to collect those.
I carry the hangers to the laundry room, passing by the kitchen. I see my cup of coffee. That reminds me…
I have a fifteen page grad school paper due in one week. I must finish that assignment.
But, first – I need a cup of coffee.
This is such an excellent example of parts of the days for mothers. Just walking into another room or part of the house sparks multiple more “to do’s” and signals reminders immediately. Multitasking is not for wimps! Ha! This is why you do it so well. So glad you finished the paper (had no doubt you would) and I hope you can pause (for a brief moment) and can do something for yourself as well!