Even if there were 25 hours in a day there still wouldn’t be enough time to do the things I want to get done – never mind the things that need to get done.
This morning took the cake. Cupcakes actually. My three children are currently at two schools – the middle school and the elementary school. Each school has its own set of activities and fundraisers, and I feel compelled to help when I can. Isn’t that what good parents do? Correction. Isn’t that what good moms do? As a mom who works full-time outside of the home, I’ve been able to take advantage of my flexible hours and home office to get some in-school volunteer opportunities, but on the whole I’m a shoe-in if you need a case of water for a luncheon.
This morning I thought I was delivering in order two dozen cupcakes for 8th grade cupcake day by 8:30 a.m., assorted baked goods individually wrapped for the 5th grade bake sale anytime after noon, and 200 napkins and a loaf of crusty french bread for the middle school teacher dinner after 3 p.m.
Today is not cupcake day.
All I could hear in my head after Peter came back from grabbing the orange-frosted cupcakes from Bethany (who was red-faced after her dad walked into band to free her from babysitting cupcakes all day) was Jesus:
“Martha, Martha. You are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed – or indeed only one. Mary has chosen better and it will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:41, 42 TNIV
I want my kids to know that I care about them and their school – cupcakes, assorted baked goods individually wrapped, napkins and crusty french bread kind of care for them. I need to feel connected to what is going on at the place where my kids spend most of their waking hours. I want to do what I can when I can because I already know the dates on the calendar where my roles collide.
But on this morning I was reminded that today is not cupcake day. I am worried and upset about many things – the laundry, the e-mails, the phone calls, the mess in the family room/kitchen/bedroom.
How on this morning will I sit and choose the better thing?
Please tell me that you are not also sewing three Halloween costumes 🙂
wow! I can barely manage the few things I have to do for 1 child… for pre-school! I’m the type of parent your probably annoyed at whose always late, forgetful & brings the wrong thing consistently. Don’t worry, people get over it. 🙂 I like the grace your having on yourself.
Ladies, you make me laugh!
Lisa, no this year I am not sewing three Halloween costumes though I have done such crazy things in the past. If Emma ever wants to be Yoda, Darth Vader/Anakin Skywalker, Princess Leia or a girl from the Victorian era let me know.
Grace, you are not the type of parent I’m annoyed at because I’m always late, forgetful, bring the wrong thing at the wrong time and amusingly scatterbrained. 😉
And just for the record. Today was cupcake day and I used store-bought frosting on the box-mix cupcakes. Too bad there weren’t any extras 🙁