Excuse me while I go nucking futs
“I’m so goddamn crazy.”
This was all I could think to call myself, as I made phone calls with one hand and with the other navigated between web pages, booking parking lots, re-organizing cancelled flights, shooting off emails, and creating work contracts through Facebook and Skype chat.
I was sprouting 8 arms and 5 brains.
Goddamn nucking futs.
It was Thursday. The night before, Craig and I decided to organize a get-together with his friends the following weekend for his 40th. We’d hire a room at the Mantra with beautiful views. The next day, we’d get his family to come over for a relaxing lunch. But, before that we’d organize a meet up with blogging friends on Saturday night in the Gold Coast.
We were flying up in the evening to attend the Problogger conference. Suddenly, I became faster and more manic than any stock broker could ever hope to become on Wall Street. Craig manned the Skype call with our designer to go over our upcoming ebook design. I hit the phones, chatting to his friends and nailing them down, on short notice, to come for his 40th in the space of about 20 mins. Messages were sent to the family and confirmed.
After a quick search online and a shout out to our community, I found a venue for his Gold Coast drinks and created an event in Facebook. Bang, bang. bang. Tasks fired off one after the other
- final notes for Problogger conference organized
- emails answered
- posts semi-organized for our absence
- car parking and Sydney airport hotel organized
- deals done online
- a little prepration for #yTravelOz trip
- a bit of book writing done
- shopping
- bags packed
- children cooked and loved for
- late night departure for the hotel
Nucking futs.
I don’t know why I do this to myself. I have wires all messed up in my brain that says do all life changing events at the same time.
We leave on our road trip in 2 weeks. Before today, we didn’t even have a camper trailer. The house is nowhere near packed up. I’ve got birthdays and parties coming out of every orifice. I’ve got to shop for 2 parties. I’m organizing Kalyra to move to Distance education, I’ve got a massive launch for our ebook to prepare, plus finish the final edits and design. AND, we’re madly organizing sponsorships and creative campaigns for our #yTravelOz trip.
We’ve just decided it might be best if we hire a cleaner before we leave because fucked if I am going to spend a day doing it right now. We still have to purchase heaps of supplies for our trip and mismanaged deals have now left us scrambling last minute to get shit done.
And now it looks like Craig has to drive to Melbourne and back next week to pick up the camper trailer. FAAAARRRRKKKK–single motherhood for 4 days…. during school holidays!
And that’s not even scratching the surface of my normal motherly, housewife, business tasks.
I’m going nucking futs and feel as if I won’t make it out of here alive.
Any tips on stopping yourself from going nucking futs? Do you have a magic wand to make everything just work out?
Comments
Vanessa
You’ll drop what’s not important.
Guess what – places you stay have washing machines. So long as it’s not crusty & stinky, who cares if you pack a few dirty clothes. Find similar ways to drop the tiny overwhelming tasks. Take half an hour and cook a big meal that you can reheat for a few days so you don’t have to think about food when you’re hungry.
Can you hire a local teenager to babysit for a few hours during your few days of single motherhood to let you have some working time? Or just head clearing time!
Hiring a cleaner is a great idea – remove the pesky tasks when you can and let someone who can do it faster and efficiently do it for you.
And above all else, think about the feeling you’re going to have as you pull out of the driveway onto the road for the official start of your trip!!
Caz Makepeace
GREAT tips Vanessa!! I’m certainly focused on those feelings of finally leaving!! I think I’ll be tracking down a baby sitter and a cleaner for sure!
Wanderlust
If you can do all that, you can survive single motherhood. Trust me. You know the old adage, ‘If you want something done, give it to a busy person’. So true!
Caz Makepeace
That sure is true. You just kick into overdrive and then you wonder what you’ve been doing with your time before to achieve so much in so little time
Megan
Phew, the next time I feel overwhelmed (tomorrow) I’m going to remember this post. You got this!
Caz Makepeace
Let’s hope so Megan. I felt like a cigarette this afternoon and I don’t even smoke!!!
Kathy
You are making me tired just reading Caz – you poor thing – you absolutely must get a cleaner and some babysitting or holiday care. I know you’ll try to keep up the meditation and hope that helps. You know my story about our crazy period in between adopting a baby from China and packing and organising everything to live in Canada for a year – if I can do that, you’ll power through. Not sure if there is anything I could possibly do to help, but if there is, shout out.
Caz Makepeace
I contacted someone for a cleaning quote today and it felt immensely good. I just hope we can make it work. Thank you so much for your support and reassurance. It’s keeping me upright
Anne Maree Peachey
Holiday Child Activity Care-check your Library, they always have kids Activity during School Holidays, couple hours free time for Mummy. Yes Hire a Cleaner, make a list and prioritise tasks for them to do-the skankier ones like windows etc (my pet hate is windows! ). Shop online for supplies where possible with Home Delivery! Most important-at least 30 minutes morning and night-Caz time! Make it a special feet up, liquid in hand, no lists, no computer, no blog, no packing, child free Caz time, and no ciggies!!!!!!!!!!
Caz Makepeace
Yes no ciggies! I’m resisting the temptation 🙂 Great tips Annie. I think it was when I looked at the windows that I decided a cleaner would be the way to go!! Love the library idea
Kylah
Ah ha ha! Love it. Great post. Totally know what this feels like even though I have never achieved what you did. Don’t forget to take a little time out for yourself (even if you feel like there is zero time left – it truly will help) and maybe don’t cook the children 😉 x
Caz Makepeace
I won’t cook them yet!! Looking forward to time out under the gum tree in a week when we leave