I was interested in the responses to my post yesterday that talked about how well I operated under the Stress of the Leech. I have never thought about it before, but goddamn it, if you’re under pressure I reckon I would be a fine woman to be holding hands with.
Here are some of the things going on in my world right now:
- I’m on deadline to get the magazine I produce for work out the door by 18 October and the printer has stuffed up the flysheets.
- I’m putting together the most complicated Rainbow Party in the history of the world for Saturday afternoon and it may or may not involve (depending on whether I can pull it off) ‘that Whisk Kid cake’.
- It’s also my husbie’s birthday on Saturday and we’re having 16 adults and 57** children to dinner after the Rainbow Party – haven’t shopped, don’t know what I’m cooking.
- The school hit ‘publish’ on the website I’m working on for them and it’s only half ready and everyone knows it’s me who is working on it so I’m receiving about 5 emails a minute with the subject line ‘why didn’t you’ and ‘where’s my’.
- I am also co-ordinating a cast of thousands to produce the school’s annual magazine and nobody has the slightest idea what they’re doing.
- My daughter has ripped her hand to shreds doing the monkey bars.
- I need to somehow get to the post office tomorrow to collect the flat packed chicken coop that we bought on eBay and LOML is going to put together before Sunday morning.
- It’s hair wash night for the kids.
I don’t think I’m stressed yet. The hair washes might finish me off and I also just remembered that both school kids need new shoes and I like school shoe shopping about as much as I like leeches. Sometimes it’s best not to have a ‘To Do’ list, I think…
* No idea why I called this post this. I don’t know what it means either.
** Surely an exaggeration. Probably more like 56.
[Image from here]
Miss Mandy says
I think there are a few mums having melt downs at the moment, it’s the time of the year, we need a break. I went to a rainbow party last weekend and my girlfriend made that cake. however she ended up just using frosting. How easy is that thought. make the cakes and use premade frosting to assemble. And don’t forget to add to your list a blog post to debrief the party, we’re all very keen to see. No pressure!
Just Martha says
Yep. I’m hearing you. Role conflict abound. Now I’ve run out of milk too! I think the milk, like your hair wash, could be the final straw… Deep breath. Let’s soldier on… Maybe you could bake a leg of ham and provide bread rolls and chutney for a sort of self- service with a terrific dessert and nibbles prior. Went to a dinner once where this was serviced and it was fabulous. And the hosts could mingle to their hearts galore…. Good luck!
Ms Kate says
I have to ask, not having a go, just curious, why is hair washing night such a big deal?
shine little light* says
Coz you are up to your earballs that’s why! Goshamey, I have a stupidly long list too, but not much of it has a deadline nor does any of it involve small children! hehe! For your dinner party “make” a pavlova. Always impresses everyone and you just by the meringue from coles. 🙂 *s*
Posie Patchwork says
Yes, this used to be me, i did it like a maniac for a decade & have happily resigned from almost every position other than wife & mother. I know where you’re coming from, you can do it, it’s easy, you’re so capable, it’s fun, it’s just a lot, all at once. I’m using high school as my excuse for everything & this year will be my last on a P&C, air fist pumps. It was fun but i simply don’t do other people’s politics & agendas, plus it’s Canberra, everyone on the P&C is employed by the government & they invent red tape, so we housewives don’t stand a chance. That reminds me to wrap up the teatowel fundraiser, pay for my trays of mangoes & get the picture plates sorted before we go back to school on Monday. It will all happen, eventually. Love Posie
Miss Pink says
I don’t even know where to begin with my list.
Right now i’m just focusing on being ready for, and looking as stunning as possible, my birthday party Saturday night. Surely once that’s over I will be able to handle everything a little better.
That is, if people actually come to my party, if they don’t I will feel like a right tool come Sunday morning.
Sally Davies says
The sad thing for me is my list is just as long and I just as freaked out but I don’t even have my own kids yet! I can’t even imagine what it’s going to be like, I guess learning to say no is something that no one is good at but we all need to get better at.
little love says
You’ll be fine with the cake, I made t last week for Pip’s party! And @Miss Mandy, it wasn’t premade frosting! I made that damn frosting! 🙂
Flaming Nora says
I was with you right up until the end, yes yes yes thats normal I thought, I could do that. But then you threw in the hair washing….
Bam! its tipped me over the edge, I’m stressed and I’m only reading it.
Good luck!
therhythmmethod says
I take a deep breath, look at your to do list, and then feel immediately better about my own. 😉
Good luck. Your time starts … now x
Cherie @ 'a baby called Max' says
Dear GOD woman.
You would be an AMAZING nurse 🙂
xx
Caz (The Truth About Mummy) says
Thank you 🙂 My life now seems totally under control and do-able. May God grant you the strength to get thru the weekend lovely Maxabella!
ally says
Fingers crossed for you that there are
* no surprise leeches in the hair (happened to a friend once – yeeeuch!)
* there’s no shoe-box diorama of space due tomorrow that you just got told about now
*friends with gin (or bubbles) at the end of the rainbow.
xx
Daisy, Roo and Two says
Good luck with the cake! It sounds like you need a personal assistant. And no, I am not offering my services. I can’t even assist MY person.
emma @ frog, goose and bear says
Oh Lordy – you certainly are up to your earballs!!! Breathing usually helps for me. Big deep breaths, slowly in and slowly out. All the best for the weekend – You’ll pull it off fine!
LionessLady says
You can do it Bron!!! You are amazing and wouldn’t be a mum if you weren’t juggling 75,000 things at once!
Good luck with the cake – cant wait to see the finished product!
Crystal says
Oh my god! Where do you find the time?! To say I’m impressed would be somewhat of an understatement. Superwoman! ps I loooovvvvveee that cake! Send me a slice!! x
Tas says
When I feel the pressure rising, I read posts like this one and get reminded of how easy I have it really.
(Sorry no help at all but 57…er, 56 kids? Really? I don’t know that many children)
Mrs Bok - The Bok Flock says
I know! Argh! But it is true – if you want something done, give it to a busy person. Somehow…it does all get done…magically…
You are a busy woman maxabella but you are also a superhero with the ability to bend time and space so do not stress, but don’t make lists! Just becomes freaky to see it there in print before your eyes! EEK!
Mama Mogantosh says
JAYSUS. I’m with Martha up there – slow cooked lamb, shred it and have a big platter of salad, tabbouli maybe, some flatbreads, some hommous and dippy action, everybody’s happy. Hope all the parties go well. x
Rachel {Little Bits of Lovely} says
You are truly amazing for keeping it together while this is all going on – and not being stressed out yet? I salute you. Remember to breathe and that no one is dying, that normally gets me through crazy stressful times! xx
Brenda @ Mira Narnie says
OMG – I know how you feel….right now..
I’m president at the Kinder…..our teacher is retiring…I have to employ a new one, we don’t have enough enrolments to meet our requirements…now i can’t afford to hire a new teacher….so i have to re-model the whole program….while working night shift….while looking after my family….while renovating an apartment….
phew…good luck with those school shoes!
xx
rex says
I am all good now! If you had of asked me a month and a half ago things would of been very different.
We were making that pizza oven for my husbands BIG birthday to feed 80 people, organizing Marquee, the band the fire sculptures, the food, the everything! Also September is his birthday, his 2 daughters birthday, his mothers birthday, his ex wifes birthday….
So you see right now I am sitting pretty…….. Though I freaked the other day seeing God damn Xmas decorations in the supermarket!!!!!! Enough already!
Coal Valley View says
You have made my night – just visualising you in this frantic headspace but managing to calmly sit down to write your list up in a blog post brings a smile to my face. I don’t know why. Maybe cos I know you’ll be fine.
You will feel sooooo good Sunday night after you’ve pulled it all off so focus on that.
Me? I have so much on that I had to consolidate my lists into a List of my current ‘to do’ lists. I’ll be posting this soon.
Look forward to hearing about your fabulous weekend.
Mel x
Mum on the Run says
Woooaaah!
Best of luck with it ALL.
Don’t you love how life and all these things we sign up for can snowball into such a monster of a week!!
If you’re like me you’ll never learn either!
To be honest, a big part of me thrives in the madness!
Right at this moment, I’m alternating between three screens full of school work, my diary, choosing between tile samples and talking on the phone and ogling Four Weddings on tv!!!
Jack of all – master of none.
Have a fabulous weekend.
Can’t wait to hear.
🙂
Kylie says
It’s official! You are nuts! But aren’t we all? It’s the 56 kids that got me. I would give up with that many around. I jugglings uni marking, school planning, 2 kids and designing a home. To manage the stress I have started to blog! Told you… nuts!
http://www.beingallthings.com
Toni says
OMG I would die facing all that. Die.
You make Superwoman look like a pussy.
Mama of 2 boys says
Well, I thought that I had stresses in my life, but after reading your list, I’m now feeling decidedly lighter. Thank you for that xo
Rainbow party sounds unreal!
Heather @ we.are.the.holdens says
this made my heart race as I read it..girl you have a lot on your plate. Breathe..exhale, inhale. And the hair wash night made me laugh. It’s the same way in our house…i hate head wash night. 🙂
tara says
AHHH Feeling your pain.Stopping to take some breaths and live in the moment today 😉
Marion Williams-Bennett says
You sound so NOT stressed, it’s wonderful and maybe just a bit foolish :)!
Seriously, I love how you are just taking it all in stride, prefect way to be. Think I need to give it a try!
Have a wonderful weekend,good luck with all and happy birthday!
Sarah says
I like taking things in stride as well. In fact I thrive under pressure. Your list however has made me feel better about the things on mine. It is nowhere near as long and doesn’t involve a rainbow cake. Thank God! Hope it all goes well Bron and that the party is a great one. All the very best with the website, the magazine and hope your daughter’s hand heals. I recommend fixamol x
Veggie Mama says
Oh man, if I know anything, it’s the pressures of deadlines and trying to please everybody with publications. “Why didn’t you” and “We missed out” and all that other crap. And having to cover for other people’s mistakes… urg.
I’m thinking I need to get more organised now that I have to juggle a baby with everything else I ever have to do. It’s been an interesting journey and I’ve let everything go… but now things are starting to really need my attention more and I’ve really got to figure out a plan.
Hairwash night would totally send me over the edge, though xo
A Keeper says
Meltdown city baby :/ You, me and a whole boat load of espresso martini’s sweetness. Good luck xxx
Mags says
I hear you! There always seems to be soooo many things on my to do list – I never get to the end of it, in fact it keeps growing and growing these days!
Misty Boston says
I know!
I know!
its because you were trying to say you were feeling the “to-do’s” all the way up to your eyeballs/ears! 😀
::proud of self::
katiecrackernuts says
This post made me laugh out loud, in that kind of nervous response laugh. I am right there with you. My life is manic at the moment. I am working, Saturday night and then again tomorrow, and then all of next week. I am reading Google Reader like it was a newspaper and I was keeping up with the outside world. Insane.
Partly Sunny says
I do not know how you keep up with all of this stuff. I’ve always thought you were some kind of crazy super woman. As for me, I’m actually afraid to write a list because I may have a nervous breakdown. The list in my head seems bad enough.
Although, maybe if I got all the post-its that are lying around the house, reminding me to do things, and consolidated them, I wouldn’t have such a fit whenever I forgot to do things. Since I never ever remember anything unless I write it down.
Kymmie says
Superwoman move aside. We have a new hero.
Gosh, I am so exhausted just reading this list. And the 56 children? What did you end up feeding them?
You are amazeballs Bron.
It’s the crazy time of year when I stop blogging and drop half the things that I decide don’t really need to be done. That’s how I cope.
But don’t worry, I hosted dinner the other day and one the way home from work thought about the menu. They were going to be there in less than an hour!
Why the hell do we do it to ourselves? xx
Zoey @ Good Googs says
I do much better under a bit of pressure really. Always did better at exams than assignments for that reason. But sometimes when there’s too much pressure it backfires on me!
You are incredible. If I was dealing with that list I’d probably be in the fetal position by now.