I want a reset button!!
Has anyone out there ever played the Sims games? Because there are days when I feel like I’m living in a virtual reality that is a Sims game! Like today. Lemme’ explain.
On the game, each Sim has these little green bars that show if his/her needs are being met. So there is a bar for hunger, comfort, hygiene, bladder, energy, fun, social, etc. You have to make sure that your Sim is doing everything they need to do to keep them happy and the little green bars filled up. It can get really difficult to know what to do in what order so that the green doesn’t suddenly run out on one need while they are doing something else to fulfill a different need and suddenly you have a grumpy, temper tantrum throwing Sim on your hands who refuses to cooperate. Anyone see a parallel here to real life?
This morning I’m up at 8:20. I know that I have a friend coming to visit in the evening for supper. The list of things I needed to accomplish before she arrived were:
- shower
- make bed
- style hair
- makeup
- breakfast for kiddos
- do a load of laundry
- wash dishes
- run dishwasher and re-stack with dirty dishes
- lunch for kiddos
- go to bank and mail
- go to store
- make dessert
- make supper
- wash floor
- sweep entrance
I start my day off with my shower. So far so good. Girls are playing quietly in their rooms. Feeling good. I get out of the shower and I start pinning my hair up to blow dry and straighten it. Aidan starts yelling for breakfast about 1/8 of the way into the hairdo. So I go in the kitchen to see what they’d like for breakfast. While I’m in the kitchen I realize I’m thirsty and that the water jug needs to be refilled. Refill jug and halfway back to the bathroom…oh, yeah, breakfast. Okay what do you want to eat? Bread with honey. Good, I can do that. Get them settled with their bread and back to the bedroom. As I walk into the bedroom I see that I still have my suitcase lying on the floor from the weekend. Oops…start putting a few things away, remember flat iron is still on and hair is quickly drying into a weird kinky mess from the pins, back to the bathroom. What did you say, Ella, you want a drink? Okay, I’ll be right there. Just a minute. Finish another round on my hair and pick up the pile of laundry I’ve been collecting and bring it to the laundry room. Yes, I’m getting your drink, hang on. Okay, you want milk? Good. Give girls drinks and head back to the bedroom. I still haven’t made the bed and it’s almost 10:00. Fold up the blanket on the bed and put it in closet remembering my hair is STILL not done as I walk past the bathroom mirror. Back to hair. Manage to finish hair, and clean up bathroom counter. Finish unpacking suitcase and haul it to the back entrance. Aidan, stop running around with sticky hands! Go wash up and go pee while you are in there. Start tidying up breakfast dishes when I remember I was in the middle of making the bed. Back to the bedroom. Bed’s made. And so on.
Anyone see a time management issue here? Sheesh. By the time I made it out the door to go up town to run my errands I had been running around like a chicken with it’s head cut off and barely managed to get anything done (or so it felt) and it was after 11:00. THREE HOURS to shower, make my bed, do my hair and makeup and get the kids fed and clothed.
There are days I’d like to hit reset and start the game over. Save a particularly good day and go back and start from there. But since life isn’t a computer game, I guess maybe I should at least start making a list of things I need to do each day so I can actually feel like I’ve accomplished something when I cross it off. That or just go sit in a corner and rock back and forth humming.
I love playing the Sims, but haven’t in a long time. There are cheat codes that helps you reset all your Sims needs at once and keep all their needs met all the time - now wouldn’t that be good in real life?
I hope you had a pleasant evening with your friend. I’m sure dinner was great.
Comment by Nadine — May 7, 2008 @ 1:01 am
OH yes the joys of little kids! Just wait till they are all in school and they have to be out of the house, fed and lunches made…hence the reason not to look at ME when I drop them off…I don’t ‘get done’..lol!!
Yes a reset button would be awesome at many times in life..sigh…
Comment by Louise — May 7, 2008 @ 7:48 am
My reset button is called “Treehouse and Granola Bars”!
Comment by Jody — May 7, 2008 @ 8:11 am
I could totally picture everything as you were explaining it!
I find I am that way when I’m trying to clean my house. I’ll take something from the living room that doesn’t belong there, and as I’m walking through the kitchen I’ll remember that I wanted to unload the dishwasher, etc etc etc. So now I tell myself that I’m going to start in the front entrance and work my way back through the house ONE ROOM AT A TIME, and it helps keep me focused.
Comment by Andrea — May 7, 2008 @ 9:39 am
I have those days all the time! Letme know if you figure out a solution, ‘kay?
Comment by Kimberly — May 7, 2008 @ 9:44 am
Sounds like just another day to me…lol.
A reset button, or even and undo buttom would be AWESOME!!
Comment by Elin — May 7, 2008 @ 9:48 am
I want to hit the reset button every day . . .
Comment by Val — May 7, 2008 @ 11:16 am
This describes my day……EVERYDAY!!!
Comment by Denise — May 7, 2008 @ 11:21 am
That’s me - every day! Ah, the life of a mom.
BTW, love your blog! Don’t remember how I found it, but you make me laugh every time I read it. Thanks!
Comment by Kacey — May 7, 2008 @ 12:40 pm
ahhh yes. you got many of us nodding our heads.
Comment by Ruth — May 7, 2008 @ 2:51 pm
I hear ya sister! I make to-do lists too when I have to prepare a special dinner or party. And I don’t always get to do everything. The strange thing is, when I was a stay-at-home mom, I was so unorganized. It was when I started working that I got my act together, sort of. Weird, eh?
Comment by Linda — May 7, 2008 @ 5:03 pm
Oh, I hear ya!! I could totally use a reset button most days ~ and great pajamas like yours!
I have a love/hate relationship with lists. I make them all the time and some days they actually work and it feels great, and then the next day, it seems to get sarcastic and mocking me, all the while getting longer and longer!
Comment by ValleyGirl — May 7, 2008 @ 10:32 pm