Brain dead

My friend Catherine (who just had a second set of twins) asked sleep deprived mothers to share some brain dead moments.  In the past few months, I have definitely had too many - this was one at the end of August.  Sometimes you wonder if you will ever get a handle on things.  

Aug. 20, 2009 

Last Friday I was in a tizzy trying to get settled in after a vacation and doing my best to get the kids ready to start school. After loading all 4 kids in the car – 8, 5, 2, and 2 months – I actually made it to our first destination with a bit of sanity still intact. I turned around upon stopping, and my 2 year old hopped right out of his seat and was ready to go. I was puzzled as to how he could have managed to get out by himself but thought – “wow! That saved me ONE step.” After a little more thought, however, I realized that in my effort to get the baby in and shoo everyone else into the car, I had never even buckled him in!

So later that day, I had a babysitter come over so I could grocery shop – I was rushing through the store trying to get everything I needed and very much enjoying the fact that I was there alone. (She planned on calling me when the baby awoke and then I would rush home.) Well, I missed all of her calls because I had accidentally silenced my phone and taken it off vibrate. Anyway, expecting a call at any moment, I hurriedly loaded the groceries – LOTS – and proceeded to drive home. I couldn't understand why people were honking at me and then saw the car next to me point to the back of my van. In my hurried and sleepless state I forgot to close the back of the minivan! I jumped out in the middle of the street to shut it, and thanked the Lord that all my groceries had not tumbled out leaving a trail behind me.

I then got home, fed the baby, begged the babysitter to unload the groceries and took my 2 older kids and the baby to “meet the teacher” before school started on Monday. We get there and I am surprised how few cars there are, we try the front door of the school and it is locked. I think, “Hmmm, that is strange, I guess they are having everyone use another entrance” – duh! Who thinks that? So we walk around in the 100 degree heat to the back of the school and still can’t get in. I see a teacher leaving and ask her about the event – she tells me it ended an hour ago!! I had written down the time wrong and despite all my begging to at least see the classroom so my poor little kindergarten wouldn’t be shell-shocked on the first day – they said “NO!” Needless to say, I went home bawling and wondered if I would ever get my act/brain together again. Still waiting on that one – but still somehow making it through the days on just a few hours of sleep.

Oh, and when I am really tired and I hear a noise coming from the monitor, I always find myself thinking – “what's that cat noise!” – Yes, I really think that and we don’t even have a cat! Shouldn't I remember that I have a BABY!