This week I don’t have school but my kids do. I always look forward these weeks (I get two a year) as a time to get caught up. But I also always end up leaving things for the precious days away from work, and then don’t have enough time to actually get everything done.
This week I only have four days because my kids were off yesterday too. Of course they still have school so the mornings and afternoons will spent just as they always are. I have about 6-7 hours on Tuesday through Friday to get shit done.
Knowing that I would probably try to get more done than was possible, I took some time last week and weekend to schedule my days in my teacher planner. Already it’s clear the hours won’t stretch in the ways I want them too, but it’s better to know that now so I can prioritize what is most important, or what needs longer stretches of daytime hours.
So where does all the beautiful, no-kid, no-work time go?
TUESDAY
- QT with son before/during drop off
- Work out (work on spring carnival + write this post on elliptical)
- Lunch with mom and friends (for one friend’s birthday)
- Call Amazon about both my kids’ Kindles being repaired/replaced
- Pick up kids a little earlier than usual for park + library
WEDNESDAY
- Drive to work area to do the next three bullets (which means I also have to drive home)
- Get new phone (ugh, can’t put if off any longer)
- Teeth cleaning
- Stamp envelopes for spring carnival at work (where I have more desk space)
- Martial arts for me and kids in afternoon/evening
THURSDAY
- Drive to work area again!
- Grade papers / organize room
- Make copies for carnival
- Stamp more envelopes (so many envelopes!)
- Eye appointment and well visit with daughter
FRIDAY
- Do both drop offs because my husband is leaving early Friday morning for a trip
- Volunteer 1-2 hours at son’s school
- Volunteer 1-2 hours at daughter’s school
- Enjoy an hour or two of down time??
- Pack kids for overnight with my parents
- Return to daughter’s school to help with African American Heritage Night
I originally planned to create my Spanish 2 recommendation form this week, but I realized I could work on that during my 8-hour professional development on Saturday (that is why my kids are going to my parents’ house Friday evening). It is easy to do work on the sly on my computer at those things and it will give me something to do to pass the time. I also hope to plan for the coming week at that point.
I’m glad I took the time to plan out my week, because I had to drastically reduce my expectations for what would actually get done. I know wrenches could still be thrown into this whole thing, but here’s hoping I get to check these things off my list.
YOUR DAYS ARE SO VERY FULL!!!!
Really glad for you that you laid it out in planner. I can see so easily how otherwise anyone would have false ideas about how much could be accomplished in these days. It is like actually timing how long it really takes to do things and making lists of things that can be done in the home in under 2 mins and also under 5 mins and keeping the lists visible. REALLY VALUABLE.
Unhappy for you that you are doing ‘envelope stamping.’ Seems like a huge time sink and not a good use of YOUR time which is needed on higher level activities I would think. Could you have teachers ask each student to stamp 1 or 2 envelopes (I am thinking this is addresses) (I am not sure what/why they are used and how many are needed) and then it would take FAR less of your time? OR am I totally off track. Or are you putting postage stamps on envelopes … could you have the Post Office run them through machine? But, I do not know enough; am simply concerned for your time availability. HOW MUCH LONGER are you sole support, officer, of this PTA function? I keep waiting for this’ hard labor imprisonment sentence’ to be over.
Absolute best wishes to you!!!!!