Goodbye to "Just" Doing Anything

Parents don't "just" do anything.

I am sure all parents everywhere are nodding in agreement. I "knew" this, but never knew the extent of this until I became one myself. Every piece of my day reinforced this fact, and I just had to write a fun post about it.

9:00 a.m. Talking to mom. I tell her that I am stir crazy, and she asks if we should go swimming today.

10:00 a.m. We confirm that swimming is a good idea.

10:01 a.m. I start packing up Jackson's stuff.

11:00 a.m. Jackson wakes up. I spend the next hour trying to entertain and spend time with him, while packing his things, feeding him, cleaning the house, balancing our budget, and writing an email.

11:45 a.m. Get the fifteen minute warning from my mom.

11:46 a.m. Panic. Get the last of Jackson's things, pack his food with a cold pack, get Jackson changed, dressed and a quick, last-minute feeding.

11:59 a.m. Oh shoot. I am not presentable. Hurry and brush my teeth and run a comb through my hair. Oh well. Everyone will be looking at the baby, right?

12:00 p.m. Go downstairs to meet my mom with the stroller, car seat, Jackson, his food, his toys, his clothes, his diapers, his swimming stuff... Oh right, wallet, keys, cell phone, camera. Phew.

Okay, skip ahead, this could take awhile.

2:00 p.m. It is now a three-generational venture to "just" go swimming.

2:01 p.m.Attempting to get Jackson's diaper changed, and swimming clothes put on.

2:05 p.m. Still attempting...

2:15 p.m. After taking turns getting changed, watching the baby, putting sunscreen on him, setting up the playpen in case he needs a nap, getting his swimming toy blown up... we are ready to "just" swim.

2:30 p.m. We are done swimming.


I could spell out the rest of the day for you, but I will spare you the details. Let's say that it was spent "just" preparing to go away for one night. Harder than it sounds...and way harder than swimming!

To all the people who have now decided not to have children - every bit of today was wonderful. What doesn't get recounted in the details are all the smiles, laughs and new discoveries. Every day, our baby discovers something new about us, about himself, or about our world. Life is so much more exciting with a child! Oh, and just for the record, life would be probably a million times more difficult if the planning and running around didn't happen. I cannot even imagine "just" doing anything without organizing, preparing and being productive for hours ahead of time.

Time to get some sleep. Between now and tomorrow at 11:00 a.m., our house needs to be prepared for showings, just in case, Kyle's stuff packed up, my stuff packed up, and Jackson's stuff packed up. Strange how a tiny baby needs about ten times more than two adults combined.