7 a.m. My 6-year-old son, Oliver, wakes me up, insisting it’s time for school. “Just five more minutes,” I groan, burying my head deeper into the pillow.
7:15 a.m. Suddenly, I bolt out of bed, realizing we have only 20 minutes until we need to leave. I rush to make breakfast while frantically checking that Oliver has all his books, folders, lunch, and those crucial papers I should’ve signed yesterday but misplaced. As I dig through the chaos, I find the reminder about Pajama Day — which was yesterday. Great. I glance at Oliver, who is blissfully munching on his cereal, seemingly unaffected by my parenting shortcomings.
7:35 a.m. Just as we’re about to head out, my oldest daughter, Mia, blocks the doorway. “Mom! Don’t forget my game tonight! Can you please wash my uniform?” Ah, yes, it’s Friday again. “Of course, sweetheart, but you could have reminded me sooner. You’ve known about this all week, and washing it was your job.” She rolls her eyes and huffs, “I told you we were out of detergent, and you said you’d handle it!” Yep, this sounds all too familiar. I catch a glimpse of her frustration mixed with anxiety and possibly a touch of resentment. “Right! I’ll make sure it’s ready when you get home,” I promise, kissing the top of her head as I grab Oliver and rush to the car.
8 a.m. After dropping Oliver off, I return home and see Mia’s cheer uniform sitting atop the washing machine. My forehead meets my palm. Why didn’t I stop at the grocery store across from the school? Back to the car I go, but first, I check the fridge. Good thing I did! We’re nearly out of milk, totally out of eggs, and the unopened orange juice carton reminds me I need to bring juice boxes for the boys’ game tomorrow. Proudly, I decide to be “juice mom” for the first game of the season.
Feeling accomplished, I dash to grab a pen to jot down my mental notes. No pen. I try the next drawer. Nope. The one after that? Bingo! I begin writing a list, only to discover the pen is out of ink. I toss it back in and add “pens” to my growing mental list. Time to hop in the shower.
9 a.m. As I blow-dry my hair, I wonder if there’s a faster way to do this. Those salon blowouts take no time at all. Maybe it’s the wattage? I Google “best hair dryer ever” and am stunned by the range of options — some over $300! Maybe a concentrator attachment could help me achieve salon-level results at home. I look those up; they seem more reasonable. I’ll need to order one from Amazon. Scrolling through, I realize I never checked out after adding boys’ baseball pants to my cart. Oh no, we need those for tomorrow! The coach had suggested some affordable places to buy them. I click on my email, and, oh look, Victoria’s Secret has a semi-annual sale ending today. I need to place that order quickly.
11 a.m. It’s now 11 a.m. Good news: I’ll be receiving three gorgeous bras and five new pairs of panties in just a few days. I also stumbled upon a website with excellent cleaning tips that I’m eager to try. But first, I need to sort through my coupons to see if I can score some deals at the grocery store.
12:30 p.m. Yikes! I need to get moving. I didn’t find relevant coupons, but I discovered some great deals at the drugstore combining manufacturer coupons, store coupons, a 25% off coupon, and my loyalty card. If my calculations are correct, I can snag four tubes of toothpaste, an eyeshadow, men’s body wash and deodorant, and disposable razors for about $3.75. Definitely stopping there on my way to the grocery store!
1:30 p.m. Well, that didn’t go as planned. Apparently, the 25% off coupon doesn’t apply to everything, and the 2-for-1 toothpaste deal expired yesterday. Still, I got everything for just under $10, which isn’t too shabby! Next stop: baseball pants.
2 p.m. Success! I was in and out quickly. The boys will be properly outfitted for their game tomorrow, and I’m on my way to grab the needed juice boxes, ensuring there won’t be any embarrassing last-minute runs to the convenience store.
2:30 p.m. I step into the grocery store, heading straight for the juice boxes. I feel proud, and I know my husband will appreciate my preparedness. I mentally recall items on my grocery list and successfully gather eggs, milk, and even the pens. I also grab a magnetic notepad with a pen attached for future list-making. Walking out, I feel accomplished and free from the anxiety of being unprepared. Wow, this is what “normal” feels like. I could get used to this.
3:15 p.m. I pull into the garage just before the rest of my family arrives. Carrying in my bags from all the stops, I feel organized and accomplished enough to even grab the empty coffee cup that I would have otherwise left in the car. I skip into the house, only to be met by the cheer uniform still sitting on the washer.
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In summary, a mom’s day with ADD is a whirlwind of tasks, reminders, and the occasional distraction. Despite the chaos, there are moments of accomplishment and readiness that make the effort worthwhile.