oh the routine of it all

Every morning since taking an "out of the home" job (let's face it; staying home is a job too, only you don't get paid weekly or monthly!) I have established certain routines.  Wake, shower, get dressed, clean up doggie presents (ugh), feed animals, feed me, fix lunch if I haven't prepared it the night before, blog, check emails or Fb (if time allows), get in car and go to work.  Repeat.  What has NOT been a routine has been once I return home.  Well, I shouldn't say that; my routine is to flop on the couch or easy chair and sit in a vegetative state staring at a big black box that transports me to others' lives.  I can laugh at the shenanigans of the Pritchett and Dumfy families on Modern Family; or relate (too much to my liking) of the Heck Family (The Middle).  All in all, I know they are created families and usually by the end of the episode-- resolution.  Not so much in real life.  My routine continues in the morning, but my afternoons and evenings are complete wasted time.

Don't get me wrong: I WANT to do better, but my mind and body are not cooperating right now.  Maybe it is because deep down I think "I'll have time" to get my act together.  I'm still fairly young, I can do it.  But what if this is my "act."  What if I'm going to continue to be a slug from 4:45- 10:00 pm? 

I have been playing a mind game with myself.  In my 40's I thought "I have time."  Now that I'm in my 50's I still keep telling myself "I have time."  Each morning I resolve to do better with my time and each afternoon I think "screw it!"

This past Monday I decided to take my library classes by the horns.  These poor kids have not had any routine in this library since the former librarian retired.  They had a substitute for one month and then they had me (the "permanent" substitute) who had no idea what she was doing.  Since taking the job, we have had "practice" state testing, "for real" state testing, spring break, Easter break, half-days, events that turn my scheduling upside down--like the time I had prepared the library for usual 2nd grade time, only to see the 5th graders standing at the door.  Never a dull moment and one to keep the blood pressure on a high!  For the past 2 days I have had a heart to heart talk with the students and told them from now on this is where we will sit and this is what you can expect each time you come to the library.  Unfortunately I had to follow through with a threat I have given-- I sent a kid to the office!  I felt bad for a second and then told the next class, I felt bad but now I'm a pro.  Don't push me!!!  (LOL)

So let's hear it for routines.  They are our friends. And don't forget to follow through.  May you have a routine kind of day, Grainiacs!