Feb 22, 2012

Saying No

Some people think I'm a Super-Over-Achiever, some say a masochist, but really it boils down to one simple thing...I have never been any good at getting out the word, "NO!"

I had really been looking forward to getting things a little caught up this weekend. We had the three days and Saturday was without Sleeping Beauty rehearsals or basketball games...or so I thought. It turned out that our Jr. Jazz games were cancelled the previous week for the team I'm coaching. Suddenly we had a Friday night practice and a Saturday morning game with a swim party afterward (arranged by my amazing assistant coach who happens to have a beautiful indoor pool AT HER HOUSE!)

My Calender
So I'm thinking, OK, I still have the rest of Saturday and Monday to get my act together. About Thursday my sweetie suggested that he wanted to visit his mom on Monday and that he needed to help her with some home repairs and the kids wanted to go sledding. So suddenly my Monday was gone. My big projects for the week included getting my stuff together for my tax appointment, helping the Dog Walker finish 4 scholarship applications he's been working on. Make the King costume for the ballet, and make a cake/birthday party for Burrito because all the family was coming over on Sunday.

Suddenly I only had Saturday from about 2:00 until I dropped into bed. That's when the Dog Walker announced that his Young Men's group was going camping from Friday right after school until they got home Saturday evening. Could I please help him get ready?! Oh, and he had to speak in Sacrament meeting at church on Sunday (in front of about 300 people). Could I please help him write his talk? It's on integrity...

To make a long story short, I survived the weekend. I dragged my box of paperwork with me to see my MIL and sorted receipts while visiting. I helped write the talk while my family watched a movie without me and instead of a long overdue nap, I worked on scholarships Sunday after church. After the family all left from the birthday party, I plopped myself down in front of the sewing machine and got the King costume about half made.

Picture Credit:
We got home on Monday about 7:30 and I was feeling like it might work out. My week looked like this. I had half a king costume to finish that I had promised to deliver on Wednesday. I had basketball on Tuesday and Thursday nights, parent/teacher conferences on Wednesday and Thursday after school. Scouts at my house on Friday. Numerous trips to the dance studio, Bossy's having a Park Lane jewelry party at my house Wednesday, my tax appointment is Saturday along with a Tupperware party and early morning pickup of 3200+ boxes of Girl Scout cookies that all need to be delivered.

Drama Queen did Scout's hair to read "Day 100"
Are you tired yet? Sport has Scouts on Wednesday, Crafty has Activity Days and I still have to take my turn with both car pools. Oh, and I promised to help with Hundreds Day on Tuesday in Scout's class. Friday and Saturday have Sleeping Beauty rehearsals that take most of the day and I have a Tupperware party to close and get the order in by midnight on Friday...and it's a pretty big one with lots of replacements that will take me at least an hour to do. And don't forget I still have three scholarship applications with March 1 deadlines. The Blue and Gold Banquet is next Tuesday and since my sweetie is in charge, I'm arranging all the food and entertainment for about 100 people. Our basketball tournament starts next week too, so there is a meeting and schedules to review and buildings to reserve. And we don't even want to talk about laundry or dishes or meals or homework. And of course my awesome blog!

The dress fabric
So Monday night, I'm feeling completely overwhelmed facing this huge and hard week. I get a call from my cute little niece, Araineia. The conversation went like this, "Hi, Aunt Sandy, this is Araineia." I hadn't heard from her in months so I was excited to chat for a minute. Then she asked, "Do you think you could make me a dress for my girls' pref dance?" My heart started to pound. "When do you need it?" She paused for a minute. "The dance is on Saturday," she finally said.


I tried, honestly I did. I started telling her about my crazy schedule, but she was so sweet and understanding that I just couldn't disappoint her. She showed up yesterday and we went to the store for fabric and a pattern.


As Teach always says, "Sleep is over-rated anyway..."



Exhausted!

13 comments:

Dog-Walker said...

How sad.

Marci said...

Oh wow. You are so incredibly busy, I hope you get to sleep sometime soon!

LeAnn said...

Oh my gosh I am totally wipe out after reading this; I think I need a nap.
Hugs to you!

Natalie Ockey said...

Just reading that blog entry makes me tired. You are too nice!

LOVE MELISSA:) said...

Oh no. You are so busy. How do you do it all!! Hugs mama!

Anonymous said...

haha, WOW! You are amazing! What lucky kids to have you for a Mom and Aunt is all I can say :)

Tracie said...

You make me tired just reading this! What a good Mama you are.

Anonymous said...

You want to help your hubby and your kids..you don't spend money to make them happy, you do things most momma's wish they could but cannot working all the time to buy things they think will make their kids happy and never insisting their children have chores, religious training and being involved in their family dynamics..You do all that and more, you are to be commended..Most parents these days with large families don't do much..I see it all the time, they have to have this and that but what their kids really want is love and discipline and a mom and dad who are there for them and raising them not. MTV, movies, cell phones, i-pods and material possessions but no family really, I applaud you and love to read your sweet blog..congrats for being a real wife, mother and sweet person, you are wonderful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Arkansas Patti said...

I need a nap just from reading this. Here I was thinking with all the kids, you would have the older ones to help but there are so many things only a Mom can do. Yikes. If I wore a hat, it would be off to you.

Unknown said...

Oh my goodness, you were busy! You're like Wonder Mom lol. I admire you for everything you accomplish with your family. Good job...now be sure to get caught up on rest ;) hehe I've always had a hard time sayiing "no" as well, I know the feeling!

mCat said...

Love anon's comment, and I too am exhausted just reading this!

Recovering Supermom said...

Wow...you really do an amazing amount of things! I'm curious, do you ever want to say no?

Shell said...

I would be exhausted doing all of that!