Working Mom woes

I would really say one of my faults is being too early.  Well, that was a fault before I had kids.  When I first started my sales job 6 years ago, I wasted so much time because I got to every appointment almost an hour early.  I would sit in my car and watch the clock and wonder how early I could be without irritating the doctor or nurse or whoever I was meeting with. 

I don't have that problem anymore.

Every morning is hectic, no question.  But yesterday was one for the scrapbook (that is, if I had a scrapbook.  I gave that up a long time ago on account of that my scrapbook looked like it was made by a fifth-grader.)  Anyway, Munchkin Girl and I got home from our trip at 7pm and the very next morning both kids started their first day of school (They still have the nanny.  Munchkin Girl is starting pre-school and Little Buddy is doing one day of MDO at the same school).  Poor planning, I know. 

After we got the kids to bed, the real work began.  You know what it's like when you get home from a trip.  Bags everywhere.  Dirty laundry.  Plus I had to put the car seat back in the car and read through all the school paperwork.  The school gave precise instructions on what to bring: extra pair of clothes, extra diapers, crib sheets, etc.  Everything had to be marked with their names and all neatly placed in their backpacks.

So the next morning Hubby was able to get off work to help me drop them at school.  Little Buddy was almost too excited for school if you ask me.  I was really worried he would cling to us and cry and cry and I would have to go back and pick him up from school.  Not so much.  He barely glanced back at us before he dove for a ball and started throwing it around the room.  Munchkin Girl did well too.  She kept telling me she didn't want to go to school, but she forgot about her own fears as she put her arm around Little Buddy.

"Don't worry, you'll meet lots of new friends and the teachers will be very nice," she told her little brother.  Definitely a blissful family moment.  Until I looked at my watch.  9:20.  I was due at my customer meeting at 10:30 and it was over an hour drive.  Again, poor planning.

So, I went from doting Mom to sprinting career woman.  I gave Hubby a quick kiss and raced out the car.  No problem.  I should still make it as long as I drove fast.  Don't panic.  Road construction!  Speed reduced to 55.  Damnit!!  Seriously don't panic now.  I tried to tell myself and I needed to give myself a break.  I'm always early.  Usually everyone is late anyway.  I pulled in at 10:25 and ran down the stairs in my heels.  I was panting as I gave the receptionist my name.  And slightly sweating if I'm being honest.  The time was 10:32.  Only two minutes late.  Not bad. 

The lady took me down a hall and gestured toward the room.  At first it looked empty and I sighed in relief.  I walked through the door and was met with a conference table where there were already 10 people sitting.  They had started the meeting without me.  For someone who is ALWAYS early, there is nothing more excruciating than the feeling that you're very, very late.  And everyone is mad at you.  I'm a people pleaser, I can't help it.

The good news is that in the end, no one was mad and we got the sale.  And the kids loved school and Little Buddy even nodded at me when I asked him if he wanted to go back.   Probably couldn't have been a more hectic day, but it turned out fine.  Except for that nightmare I'm sure to have about being late to another meeting. Blog Gadgets