This was always one of my favorite games as a kid, Run Yourself Ragged. We had it at our condo in Marco Island and in the evenings, after hours of jumping waves, blistered by the sun, we would play until bedtime. When I think back to that time I am pretty certain we would yell at each other, "Let me play...I want to play Run Yourself Ragged!" Ahh, the irony...what was once a game now becomes a real life drama. The Hunger Games of motherhood.
Basketball season is a busy time for us. Ron is a dedicated coach to the high school's JV and varsity teams. From November to March they practice and compete 5-6 days a week. His team is doing well, 15-5 with a few games remaining. He leaves work early to go straight to practice and often coaches Trey or Auburn's teams after the high school practice. During this time I play "Pick Up Sticks," the "sticks" being whatever tends to be neglected in the midst of a busy schedule. Typically I am a sleuth, hunting down shoes, permission slips, birth certificates, homework assignments, clean uniforms, and water bottles with the apparent ease of Sherlock Holmes. Like magic, what can not be found by ordinary beings, is quickly unearthed by the natural instinct of my momsense....Momsense is very different from nonsense!
This past weekend I believe we did run ourselves ragged! Our daughter stayed home sick Friday, so in between clients I did my best to make her comfortable. Ron picked up Trey early from school to attend a game an hour away in Watertown. The team won with ease and they were home around 11pm, delayed due to snowy weather conditions. The boys were up and out of the house by 7am Saturday to play in a youth basketball tournament. Exciting games in Sussex, Wisconsin, excellent 4th grade competition. Auburn stayed in bed all day and when the boys returned at 4pm they decided to attend the team party later that evening. By Sunday Auburn was on the mend but unable to participate in her own basketball tourny due to weakness and congestion. We were expecting 25 people that evening for a Super Bowl gathering so I continued my chores as head domestic goddess...toilets, floors, garbage baskets, you know, the glamorous stuff.
Super Bowl party with the East basketball team plus parents was literally "super." I baked 8 Papa Murphy double-stuffed pizzas and by half-time they had vanished. In addition parents brought hot pizza dip, seafood meatballs (in honor of New Orleans), and cupcakes. Not necessarily a health-food junkie's dream but it was a fun evening. Auburn and I stayed upstairs, segregated by choice from the mancave. Monday morning, following our smorgasbord, Auburn was moaning of a stomach ache. Trey went to school, high school basketball practice, and scrimmaged a 6th grade team until 8:30pm. By Tuesday he was exhausted and missed school due to a sore throat and body aches. Tuesday evening, however, Ron and Trey had tickets for the Germantown vs. Wisconsin Lutheran game in Milwaukee. This was a showdown of area high school powerhouses (no ordinary game! ;). Momsense says this is nonsense. Children don't miss school due to illness yet still attend an evening basketball game 40 minutes away in sub-zero temperatures. But I kept my opinions to myself. When Ron texted, "Tell Trey to get ready, we are going to the game" I held my tongue; practically bit it in half. Needless to say, when the boys came home at 9:30 p.m. and Ron said, "Wow, Trey is really sick" I was speechless...my tongue was still in recovery.
So, it was one of those nights of feeding a feverish child ibuprofen wondering how soon until we can visit the doctor. At 7:40am I told Ron to get out of the shower as Trey could hardly breathe and he was barking like a seal. Ron had him to the clinic before the doors even opened at 8am. Two nebulizer treatments, chest x-ray, and approximately 3 hours later, they returned home to rest and recuperate.
Thank you to my mat class friends for understanding my need to cancel class this morning. In the 3 years of Home Training mat classes it is the first time I can recall a cancellation. But it made sense...momsense...as in the midst of so much activity, even fun activities like Pilates, basketball games, and parties, we still must honor our priorities.
Priorities should be clear....long ago I made a decision that my priorities are God, health, family, and education. Over the years my priorities have become hazy, perhaps influenced by what others deem as priority. When other activities muddle our priorities it might be appropriate to step away from the game....turn off the timer...put the marble down....stop running yourself ragged... before you lose it. Game Over.
Thank you for reading!
Thank you to my mat class friends for understanding my need to cancel class this morning. In the 3 years of Home Training mat classes it is the first time I can recall a cancellation. But it made sense...momsense...as in the midst of so much activity, even fun activities like Pilates, basketball games, and parties, we still must honor our priorities.
Priorities should be clear....long ago I made a decision that my priorities are God, health, family, and education. Over the years my priorities have become hazy, perhaps influenced by what others deem as priority. When other activities muddle our priorities it might be appropriate to step away from the game....turn off the timer...put the marble down....stop running yourself ragged... before you lose it. Game Over.
Thank you for reading!
RSS Feed