On the Run!

I know where my stress comes from, and it is not just from my crazy children (whom I adore just to be correct). It is from the basic fact that my hubby and I are by no question flooded with things to do; things to accomplish. It's our own fault. We know this to be a true and absolute fact. And it is not that we don’t acknowledge it or even try to change it. We have. Many, many, many times. As another fact, this is one of the same “arguments” we have. Why it is, why we do this to ourselves and each other, how to stop and get off this merry-go-round.

I now come to the conclusion that we each get a certain amount of enjoyment of keeping ourselves busy (actually, I’ve come to that conclusion a long time ago. I am just re-acknowledging it). For my own self, I hate sitting still for too long. Either I am occupying myself with life and family tasks or I am sitting and my brain is occupied in a book, writing, or in a discussion with whomever will listen to me. It killed me when I was enormously pregnant and could not literally move to do much of anything. Drove me insane. So as soon as I had my energy back, I did way too much way too soon, in turn giving me a case of Baby Blues that I still deal with.

Anyway, my hubby is the same go-go-go force. We each have huge social circles, and huge families that we so lovingly give our attention to. We LOVE entertaining and putting off a good meal or two (dying for BBQ season!) and love being in touch with people that are important to us. Which is literally, everybody. On top of that, we are organizational nuts. I love to label. I’m sure I’d stick one on your forehead if I thought you needed it… joking (sorta’), and my spouse loves things in “its place” even though half of the time it isn’t. We also love being on the go, taking our kids to places, trying new things, enjoying activities. On top of THAT, we each have hobbies that we struggle to maintain. And now I’m adding a new one to my list BUT I am not relinquishing that one as it has been years I have secretly been addicted to it.

So, we are busy. We both realize that we don’t spend enough time with just the two of us, or even the four of us, doing nothing but enjoying the “quality” time. So it is breeding ground for arguments and tension when we barely rub shoulders with one another and throw a passing “Btw, remember to do….” We have tried many times without success to schedule time for ourselves but always something interferes. ~sigh~

And today was another example.

Glen has been working like crazy the past few months trying to pay back mutuals and pick up OT before the summer, and next month is no different. So TWO months ago we planned for 4 days at the end of March, beginning of April, to spend together. Going nowhere, having no one over. It was going to be a catch up week of time together, a bit of laundry and bill paying, potty training and playing with my new camera. All which could have been done in these 4 days.

Except….

The Grandparents showed up.

We do love them and all. Really. And to be fair, they have called us over the past few weeks trying to schedule some time in to see their grandkids (they live 2 hours away) and we have always had some conflict arise. So they decided they’d just show up. Smart for them, frustrating for us. Now our days have turned into preparing meals on TV trays as we sold our dinette set and are STILL waiting for the delivery of our new one (c’mon Leons!), cleaning dishes, arranging the guest room, splitting up our “quality time” with the kids, and small talk with the in-laws.

So now we literally will not get to spend time together without having something “to do”, until the beginning of May. ~bigger sigh~

April is filled with a Weekend Wedding, dental appts, Dr appts, immunizations, birthdays, Kindermusik, Gymnastics, workshops and other get-togethers. We do love those times (except the dentist), (okay and the shots), but we are dying to spend a few days doing what we need and want to do.

So if ever asked why there is suddenly no answer to phone calls and emails, our house has no lights on, the windows and doors are boarded up and the sound of two yappy weinerschnitzels is missing from the backyard, just assume that we’ve packed our bags and moved to Liechtenstein.

Abschieds!