overscheduled
I always said I wouldn’t be that mom who overscheduled her child.
As a matter of fact, I distinctly recall climbing onto my soapbox and making superior comments like “Too much structure stunts creativity,” and “Let a kid be a kid. What’s the rush?”
This all occurred when I knew everything about raising a child. Which was obviously before I actually had a child.
She’s too tall for gymnastics and too uncoordinated for ballet (she gets it from me). But swimming is her thing!
In any case, I’ve recently found myself mesmerized by mastermind marketers….
“Do you want to lay the groundwork for a good foundation in math? We can help your child. Enroll in Math Club today!”
And so I did.
“Do you want to give your child a competitive edge? Do you want her to swim like a fish? Enroll her in swimming classes today!”
And so I did. (Note: I was so mesmerized with this one I enrolled her twice a week.)
Love the Type-A arrangement of Maya’s art supplies. Parallel and perpendicular. That’s the only way.
“Does your child have hidden drawing talent? We can nurture it! Enroll today!”
And so I did.
“Do you want your child to master strategic thinking and analysis? Chess Club can help. Enroll today!”
And so I did. (Note: I met with a bit of resistance on this one but upon promising to volunteer at Chess Club Maya was on board.)
On Saturday, after a whirlwind of swimming and art, we played Hermes golf at Time Warner Center. It became clear we both need to find time for golf lessons.
I’m thinking that with her current schedule Maya is well on her way to being a well-rounded individual. Or a stressed out basket case.
Not really sure which way things might go.
But it goes without saying that if I find a class entitled, “Knowing When You’ve Asked Mom One Question Too Many,” or “Keeping Toothpaste On Your Toothbrush and Off the Sink 101,” I’d enroll her.
Today.
the most ridiculous post ever
I didn’t get too much done this past week.
This was mostly because I was preoccupied with important things like tracking where a certain someone’s red swimming trunks might turn up next.
Love Instagram…makes all flaws 10 X better.
- Sunday: Ali and Maya go swimming. Clean red swimming trunks make their way from Ali’s closet to the pool. Upon his return they are relegated to the hallway floor.
- Monday: Wet red swimming trunks remain on the hallway floor.
- Tuesday: Housekeeper comes, picks up damp red swimming trunks. Cleans the hallway floor. Puts damp red swimming trunks back on the hallway floor.
In between tracking swimming trunks we lunched at Gramercy Tavern. This restaurant is so overrated…it was kind of absurd.
- Wednesday: Damp red swimming trunks get moved to the bathroom tub. This is only because I said, “Is there any particular reason why your swimming stuff is sitting by the front door? It’s been 3 days.”
- Thursday: Red swimming trunks are finally dry and can now be put in the hamper! But then Ali takes a shower and the swimming trunks get wet again. Back to square one.
- Friday: Damp red swimming trunks turn up in a corner of the bedroom that I rarely frequent. This is because this particular corner is slightly out of my line of vision and thus serves as a dumping ground for things Ali doesn’t know what to do with. Like his damp red swimming trunks.
The sky before and after an amazing storm. I’m from California so these things fascinate me.
On Saturday a mostly dry pair of red swimming trunks turn up under my nightstand. I understandably lose my @#$#.
- Me: “Why are your swimming trunks under my nightstand?”
- Ali: “Because they’re slowly making their way across the room. That’s why.”
So many questions. So little time.
Mostly I’m just fascinated that Ali said the above with complete conviction and a straight face. Fascinated.
some things are not attainable
Whereas I have little interest in doing anything except enjoying some peace and quiet on my birthday (I’m still waiting for that unattainable gift – maybe next year?) I know Ali’s birthday is a big deal to him.
Lunch at Central Park. With the bees.
So last Saturday, as Ali turned 37, Maya and I :
- Bought him a much-needed new robe and some books.
- Made him muffins and tea.
- Took him to Soho for more tea and scones at Harney & Sons.
- And then we took him to his favorite Ruth’s Chris for steak (the name of this place continues to trouble me).
I also gifted my husband a break from my sarcasm and commentary.
Tea at Harney and Sons….not sure an indecisive person (not naming any names here) should be taken to a place with 1,000,000 different tea choices…
Thus, I didn’t mutter a word when Ali said “I hate bees. This is why I am not a park person,” minutes after we arrived at Central Park for the picnic lunch he requested.
I also didn’t say anything about the mountain of gift wrap that sat on the dining table and floor for 3 days until I finally recycled it.
I even gave him a free pass on socks in the living room, dishes in the sink, and tea stains all over the counter.
It was a difficult day for me, as I’m sure you can imagine.
Dinner at Ruth’s Chris : Maya ate salad, a 6 oz. filet, 4 shrimp, mashed potatoes, broccoli, bread, and half of the dessert. Not sure if I should be scared or impressed?
What I failed to do, however, was to spare him from my post this week. But try as I did, I could NOT come up with a topic that didn’t involve Ali.
I guess some gifts will remain unattainable for Ali as well. Maybe next year?
While I'm not going to win Mother/Wife of the Year Award anytime soon, I haven't killed anyone yet or shot myself in the head. And that, my friends, is how I calculate success these days. 
FANCY THAT FANCY THIS 