They say what comes around goes around.
Yep. Here I am...the mom taxi.
Between catechism classes, the array of sports for two kids, and the endless social pick-ups/drop-offs, I'm in my mom-mobile a lot. Yesterday I enjoyed five tween boys who were singing it up--or screaming it up--on the way home from baseball practice. Yeah, we've already started baseball practice. Indoors, thank goodness!
I don't mind being the mom-taxi most days. When there's a wait, I get to read. Or journal. Or stare out of a coffee shop while sipping coffee. Who doesn't like that?
The days I do mind are when I have a headache, when the roads are bad, when I'm missing a good football game on TV, or when we have three things to get to in a row.
A few things I do to keep my sanity intact:
- Pack a bag to take with me. I always include my journal, a book, a magazine, and a bottle of water.
- Do an Internet search of the route first if I'm not familiar with the area.
- Figure out how long between drop-off and pick-up and decide if I'll find a coffee shop to wait it out or go back home.
- Make sure my cell phone is charged.
- Never think about what I could be doing. That kind of thinking leads to resentment. My kids are growing so fast, I'm glad to be able to be the mom taxi!
So what has come around that went around when you were younger?
Have a terrific day!!
Never thought I'd be the chief cook and bottle washer, but here I am.
ReplyDeleteHa, ha! Yes, here you are. Crazy!!
DeleteLOL! I am mom taxi too...oh yes. And the other thing that came around for me was my poor mental state. Speaking and ***poof*** the word is gone. Walk into a room, no idea why. Yep. I am a certified space cadet!
ReplyDeleteI do the same thing! We try to keep track of too much!!
DeleteMom Taxi...LOL. I had a little bit of that as the oldest kid in our family. Once I could drive, I hauled my younger siblings around a fair amount. :)
ReplyDeleteI used to make fun of disorganized people. I would always be like, "seriously, what's so hard about keeping track of your schedule, prioritizing and following through on your commitments? It's called using a dayplanner, folks!" Um yeah...I feel like I become more disheveled and disorganized with each year that goes by. Guess the jokes on me!
Ugh, I know!! I think we juggle too much, don't you??
DeleteHi, Jill! Great post. I was more the mom taxi when my oldest was in middle/high school, before he drove himself. Track/Cross-Country practices, meets, spaghetti dinners, etc. Then there was going to the movies, a friend's house, and juggling the whole with the youngest's soccer practices/games, and so on. But when I was prepared it was fine, and I got to know my children's peer group and their interests that way. It's funny how, even though they know you're right there, they talk pretty freely...
ReplyDeleteI agree--they're very open, and I love it. It's so great to know their friends and to spend time with them. I wouldn't trade it for anything!
DeleteLooking back at the years our son was growing up, I didn't realize I would be his nurse every other summer (on average) when he had surgery. But now those are just part of my memories,
ReplyDeleteI think we have an idea of what it will be like when the kids are older, but reality always is different than our expectations. Your son was blessed to have you as a nurse. :)
DeleteI can look at an vehicle and tell you how many hockey bags will fit in it.
ReplyDeleteI'm a SIVM.
Stay in Van Mom.
I used to drive a wee little 2 door hatch back, now I bet I could drive a transport truck!
But the goes around comes around thing? My mom used to say "when I finish my tea". Now I drive my kids INSANE with that!!
Ha! I am sooo with you on this! And my mom would say, "we have pop at home" when we were going through a drive-thru. I do that too. It's pathetic!!
DeleteI'm the Mom Taxi too! I use the wait time to play Words with Friends. :)
ReplyDelete