Normal is....normal (part 2)

Only a month or so late, we continue the outline of Ma's Day, started lo, two months ago.

When last we checked in, the pre-lunch treadmill time had just passed, with Ma tiredly clumping up the stairs only to be met with an anxious and hungry Ethan, inquiring as to the time of lunch.

Except, I've trained him not to do that anymore.

Instead, I utter a few groans, grab a drink (or a morsel) and plop into my computer chair, hoping the kids will cut me some lunch slack for just 10 or 15 minutes.

Eventually though, it does become apparent that the family should eat. Hopefully before the clock strikes "two."

Lunch is one of those things that sounds simple, but in reality, consists of transferring half of the refrigerator's contents onto the dining room table.

Testing recent probability lessons in math, we see no less than 28 possible combinations are required to keep everyone happy. This includes bread or tortillas, and a multitude of fillings and condiments. If people didn't make their own sandwiches, Ma would indeed go balmy.

Adequate fruit and fiber must also be supplied for people not satisfied with the simplicities of sandwich, chips and a pickle.

"Dessert" is another potential bonus, but not all that exciting since Ma seldom varies between her three standards: cookie bars, brownies....I may have miscounted.

After that it is "time to clear," wherein the children rush to put back all of the things into the refrigerator, all the while nibbling on chips to make the bags less heavy for stowing in the cupboard.

DISH-WASHING time. This is Ma's chore, after every noon meal. It would normally be the lightest dish-washing segment of the day, but I always seem to end up cleaning the bits and pieces that were "too hard" for Trevor, or pans I felt too guilty to give the older kids at last night's supper.

(It is about this time that the three boys race upstairs to partake of their computer game time. I may not hear from them for an hour. Particularly if multi-player games are forbidden)

DISHES done, I finally get to toddle off for my nap, which can cover as much as 90 minutes.

Some of this time is spent sleeping, some spent prioritizing my worries, some spent praying no one ends up in prison, and some is spent with an ear toward the boys room for any "projects" I might be extremely sorry about, later.

By 4:00 or shortly after, I have reluctantly dragged myself out of a warm cocoon and back to the computer, which is visited intermittently throughout the day.

(you just can't let 138 Facebook friends--some of which actually converse with me--wander aimlessly about all day in cyberspace)

However, if spring garden or yard work is required, I have been known to ignore the World Wide Web, the news, and even have Carolyn make supper.

Around 5:00, depending on the complexities of the meal, I start putting a few things together with the intention of having it be capable of inattention while I watch the news.

Six-fifteen or six-thiryish we eat supper, that family together-time lasting as long as 10 or 15 minutes (one of the reasons I don't believe in spending a great deal of time fixing the meal).

After that it is clearing and preparing for a good 4-5 mile stint on the treadmill.

With the knowledge that Carolyn or Ethan will do the dishes, I am left to enjoy a crime show, sometimes followed by a good, stiff, protein drink.

More computer perusal, followed by "ready-for-bed" activities, including reading to the kids, most nights.

Once they are in bed, I am free.....no, wait...I have started writing out Nolan and Trevor's school assignments for the following morning....after which THEN I AM FREE to read on the couch, cruise the Internet, and watch TV, munching my before-bed apple.

The goal is to stay up late enough so that:

1) I can enjoy time by myself, with no one wanting anything of me, and

2) to become so tired that I fall asleep within minutes, usually around 1:00am.

And that's about it.

Pretty boring stuff, but it keeps me out of the bars.
 

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