Weeks like this one are few and far between at our house, but still fill my heart with fear when they do happen upon this. Maybe if it happened more often I would fear it less. Some how I doubt that.
What is happening? My husband in off schedule at a conference and I'm off schedule at off site training. Both of these things combine to get the girls off schedule. And life as I know it ceases to exist. Cats and dogs living together. Mass hysteria. Add to that, Bean's Birthday Party is this weekend. Yeah. I'm nuts.
But I'm not weeping yet. While I say this doesn't happen often, I do have to Fly Solo about 4 times a year. Hubby works with the public and the public is not always available from 9am to 5pm. Over the past few years, I've come up with a few coping mechanisms.
- Lower my expectations. There will be no overachieving this week. Many things need to be accomplished, but perfect is synonymous with good enough right now.
- Enforce what routine remains. We have a bedtime routine. Aim to keep it even if it is an hour late. Clothes are picked out and bags packed at bed time. Regardless of when bedtime is this makes getting out the door in the morning so much easier.
- Accept help. Every time I mention an upcoming trial, my best friend immediately offers to come over and lend two more hands. On weeks like this, I make sure to say yes, loud and clear.
- Embrace convenience. The grocery store is full of frozen and prepared foods for a reason. Some of them are very good. Stock up!
This week's menu:
Breakfast:
(Me) Broccoli Cheese Quiche & Blue Machine
(Hubby) Oatmeal, Bananas & OJ
Lunch:
LO Chicken Alphabet Soup
Lunch Meat Sandwiches
Lettuce Salad
Monday: Ham & Cheese Pita Pockets with Carrots
Tuesday: Mac & Cheese with Broccoli
Wednesday: Pita Pizza
Thursday: Out to Panera on the way to Choir Practice
Friday: Out for Bean's Birthday - Chick-Fil-A (her request)
Saturday: Peirogies
Sunday: BBQ Chicken
How do you cope when your usual routine gets turned on its head?
I tend to cope by avoiding housework..... :)
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