Guest post by my blogger buddy Mignon, from Intellectual Soul!
I’ve always considered myself to be a very punctual person.
Then I had kids and everything changed.
Now, I can barely manage to get the kids in bed on time let alone get somewhere that requires for me to leave the house.
I’m 25. Married with three kids. I’ve been doing this mothering thing for nearly 8 years now. I should have myself together by now, right?
Wrong.
It’s an ongoing process with my punctuality. And it seems the older I get, the later I become. I’m pretty much late everywhere I go. To church, family cookouts – you name it, I’m probably late. It’s pretty embarrassing to admit that aloud, but it’s my reality.
Making sure little mouths are fed, that bodies are clothed in garments that have actually touched an iron and that I’ve have remembered the other five-hundred-fifty-million things they need just to leave the house for five minutes can easily make a Mommy late.
I don’t know what it is about having kids that screws up your sense of time. It’s like as soon as you pop the kid out, you start running on a clock that’s 25 minutes slower than the childless population.
My husband can pretty much be found frowning upon my punctuality issues regularly. If I tell him I’ll be somewhere by a certain time, he’s learned to expect me at least 20 minutes later.
Being an Army Drill Sergeant he’s conditioned to get where he needs to be at least 15 minutes ahead. He tries to enforce this mentality with family outings, but to no avail. It’s a shame really. Especially since I get up an hour or two before we need to leave and still manage to get places 15 minutes late.
Although my punctuality is a challenge for me, I’m learning how to overcome it. There’s a small battle won everyday when I actually make it someplace on schedule. And for that, I am thankful.
In addition to getting up early, I’m figuring out how to use my time effectively. With a 7-year-old, a 5-year-old and a 2-year-old there is always something that needs to happen before we leave the house.
But by mapping out in my head, and sometimes on paper, how much time it will take to do everything I need and get out of the door, we’re actually getting closer to living our life from the childless population’s clock.
*cue the sparkly confetti*
Being more organized is proving to be key ingredient for timeliness. Tasks that once made me late (like having to do a quick change because someone spilled oatmeal on themselves) are being worked into the routine in such a way that leaves me even a few minutes to throw on some eyeliner before I greet the world in the morning.
Imagine that.
I still fall short sometimes in my attempts at being on time. But see, the thing about learning to be an overcomer is knowing that most times it won’t happen overnight.
And honestly, I’m okay with that.
How do you other young mommies make sure you and your children are on time? Do you have a special routine? Are you late like me no matter what you do? If you have some tips that work wonders for you, I’d love to hear them!
I’m 26, married 8 years, mother of 5 children ages 1-9… let me tell you one thing EVERYONE knows about me: I will not EVER, under ANY circumstance, be on time (or early) for ANYTHING if it begins prior to noon and requires that I actually get DRESSED. I sing in the choir at church and they’ve normally sung 1-2 songs before I make it in the door LOL When I was working outside the home (I now work at home) I would get to work anywhere from 15-45 minutes late depending on how my morning went. With 5 kids in tow, I will get there when I get there.
That being said, if it begins after noon, I’m good. I’ll usually be there on the double
Notice I did say usually!
@Kat — That is hilarious! I am usually good if whatever it is starts after noon but yea, if it’s in the morning, you can kiss me being on time goodbye.
Good to know I’m not alone in my punctuality issues!!
I’m 26 {newly! Sept 4 was my birthday} and I have two girls, 3 and 2 and it PAINS me that we can’t get out of the house on time. My dad is a military man and if you walk in the door when something is just beginning, you were late. Early means 15-20 minutes before the event starts. I want to instill in my children the importance of being punctual because I really believe that is representative of your character. My husband is the late one in our family and I’m usually at the door, the girls dressed and ready, and he’s the one traipsing around the house looking for his left shoe!
@Michelle – Happy belated birthday! Hope you did something fun!
Yes, being on time is important but dang it if I can’t make it to work on time without waking up at 4:30 in the morning. It’s a struggle to get up, dressed, everyone else dressed and fed and run out the door without leaving my purse, keycard, keys, lunch or something of vital importance on the counter.
I’m late on this one(just as I am for everything also), but no matter what I do or how extra early I wake up/try and prepare I’m still running back in the house or leave something. I’ve become better at preparing the night before, especially now with my son starting school. But I’m not just late, I take forever to pick anything out from getting dressed to items at the store…I see it as not rushing, making sure I am satisfied with my choice while others see it as a taking forever and unnecessary. Just let me be!!!
i’m going to delve a little deeper and pose a few questions rather than suggestions. How do you feel when you have an appointment or time scheduled and the other person is late? Why does having children give people license to be late? It all goes back to how you run your household and who really is the person in authority. are u running a hotel or day care centre or a family? do your children set the rules and boundaries or do you? Personally I really cant stand ppl who are chronically late. I think it’s symptomatic of a person who is insecure and lost a sense of self and control.it is wide known in the pyschological field that people who are chronically late unconsciously have a need to control things, including making other people wait. Set an alarm and tell your kids to get over it.Or better yet, tell people when you say a time it really means a later time. and remember, One day at a time. Mothers need to stop doing everything for everyone.
I guess i will be the only one that says that it burns me up when i am late for something. LOL. I have 4 kids 10,9,5,and 1 and i make them lay out their clothes the night before and when i get the 5yr old up and started in the bathroom the older 2 are getting dressed and then they swap which i seem to find very helpful. The 1 yr old is always last because she is the easiest to me. My other half on the other hand needs to get up the night before to get ready for something and still be hours late. LOL
@Qiana – I don’t like being late, but I have learned to roll with whatever our situation may be that day. It’s about perserving my sanity! LOL.