Embrace the Chaos

Embrace the chaos. It’s so much easier said than done. It’s especially difficult during this end-of-summer run that is colliding with the start of school, plus double doses of extra-curricular activities. I have just started writing this post and I am already tired. Four kids, two dogs, a part-time job, and trying to stay 100% present in my family’s life can spread me thin, but it is also completely worth it.

Full house full hearts is a big motto in my home. I probably say this once a week to random strangers and good friends who see me looking like a hot mess as I corral my family all over the tri-state area. Sometimes all of the running and gunning gets me down, but the majority of the time I would not have it any other way. Because there is no other way. A big household means more commitments, more duties, and less time in the day. I can complain or I can embrace it. Some days I definitely do one more than the other, but on the whole I am happy in this hectic life.

The Day to Day Busy

I like being busy, which is a great thing considering all of my household chaos. We recently rescued an abandoned pooch because our faithful Jack Russell Terrier is getting up there in years. I know this move got a lot of eye rolls from friends and extended family. I get it. Does my family of six need to also own two dogs? Maybe no, but it seems to be working out fine.

The new dog is young enough to wrestle and fetch with my children, and it also gives me more of a push to walk and exercise outdoors. Sure, my house is a bit messier and my morning coffee intake has increased, but all in all the hustle and bustle suits us. It is difficult to describe, but the dogs and kids bring an energy to my life that I know never existed in my early 20’s.

The Extra-Curricular Busy

My husband and I try to help with after-school activities whenever we can. We definitely say no at times, but I feel we are reliable in heeding the call to assist when necessary. I would love to say we do this because we are supreme athletes or musical savants, in addition to being award-winning scholars. However, nothing could be further from the truth. We help with extra-curriculars because we are greedy for time with our children. I want to hang out with them while they are still under the foolish impression that I am cool and fun.

Volunteering is an opportunity to sneak in more one-on-one sessions with my sons and daughters. It also helps my husband and I get to know their peers and other parents better. My spouse works a lot of hours, so if he is not jetting off to practice with my oldest or helping with carpool, then he is probably not seeing one or more of our kids that day. The discussions that can be had on a seven minute commute to softball or music practice should never be overrated.

I also jump at the chance to carpool and conquer. Both of my boys are under the age of five and need my attention every second of every day. This means quality time with my daughters usually comes in the form of taxi driver, sideline coach, overly intense fan, or helpless tutor because the new way they learn math is so hard (but also super cool, we are creating geniuses! I love new math!).

Beyond the Busy

If I am not running and gunning, then I am losing steam. Constant chaos definitely has a downside, which can lead me to being “hangry” (hungry+angry) and tired. It is hard to maintain a consistent parenting A-game when seasonal allergies, misplaced water bottles, and never ending questions regarding why I get Diet Coke and my preschooler does not occurs on the daily.

Some days, chaos wins. For example: I ordered window blinds a few weeks ago, but they have not arrived. It is irritating, especially since taking measurements and pouring over wood samples took up valuable time. (Why are there so many versions of oak wood?) It was when I finally got mad enough to call and complain that I looked back at my order and saw my online shopping cart was still full. Note to self, when ordering window treatments, be sure to take a moment and actually press the “place order” button.

The hectic pace can also get to me on the sidelines. Wrangling restless siblings in an attempt to watch my oldest serve a volleyball or see my other daughter attempt a goal kick can bring me to the brink of sanity. I am still cringing at myself for getting peeved when a volunteer parent line judge called a ball out of bounds that I thought hit the line. My kid was not even serving, seriously Kelly CHILL OUT.

Embrace the Busy

So yes, the chaos can get to me. But again why fight it, when it is inevitable? I am a lot of annoying things, but procrastinator is never going to be one of them. These years with my young children are skyrocketing. I will have plenty of down time in the decades to come to read Ken Follett’s Century Triology and get beyond the pilot episode of The Walking Dead (I sure hope the main character made it out of the tank!).

Therefore,I will try to coach my daughter in sports (or volunteer my husband for the job) and yes, I will try to stop by the classroom when needed or drive a direction of carpool. I am even game to be an audience of one for my aspiring clarinetist. There are only so many minutes in the day, and I can handle them being rushed if I am rushing for the right reasons: My family.