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| My granddaughter can be a little obstinate! She was about two in this photo. |
This summer has been a whirlwind of grandchildren from morning until night. July is always the busiest but this year I began tutoring a grandson two days a week so there will not be a change until fall. I like the routine and have fallen into it easily.
I like returning to a small part of my work life before retirement. When I was in the classroom, I could keep as a dozen all in the air. Multi-tasking was not a problem in that place. Every child in that classroom knew that if they asked me for something, even though they may have to wait, I would remember them and give them the help they needed. My grandson is learning that he can trust me. It is good.
HOWEVER, when I was a young mother I did not work because it would have been either-or! I only worked part of time as a substitute teacher. If it had been full time, one job would have gone undone and I am thinking it would have been the mothering job that was left to do itself. My husband worked 24/7 so he was not up for doing 1/2 of that job.
I remember one especially challenging week when it seemed as though the walls would cave in on us. Teens here and there, school function for my husband, I was substitute teaching for the school district. Then there was food. Who was going to cook? I was at the end of my rope.
Someone mentioned Kentucky Fried Chicken. I could not make it to the car fast enough and we all piled in and set out to get an order of extra crispy. Mashed potatoes and coleslaw were ordered as sides and I took out my checkbook to pay. That was when I wrote the check out to Colonel Sanders.
See, multi-tasking can be a challenge for me. And believe it or not, the cashier took my check. It is probably hanging in someone's office right now because I won the award for the doofiest woman ever to cross their threshold. Sigh!
The day in the life of a retiree can be fun. Let's hope that I can keep all the balls in the air for about 6 more weeks. I am betting on me but who knows.
How's your summer going?
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Wow - you have energy to spare! Your grandchildren are so fortunate to have you in their lives as such a solid and stable presence! My grandmother was that for me and I hope to be that for my grandgirl. Your Colonel Sanders story made me laugh out loud!
ReplyDeleteWell, my children were in shock and rolled their eyes. As for me I just pretended like it was something everyone did. Sigh.
DeleteCute story. Yes, we Working Mothers have been through some craziness. I'm keeping one grand child this summer and we have done quite a bit of reading and writing in preparation for first grade. I look forward the next school years to hear if she can tell it made any difference.
ReplyDeleteI have a pillow that has the words I live by. It says...IF I HAD KNOWN THAT GRANDCHILDREN WERE THIS MUCH, I WOULD HAVE HAD THEM FIRST! So very, very true!
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