Work? Check. Family? Check. Me? On my to-do list.

I am obsessed with making lists. 

I have Post-It notepads scattered around the house so I can jot down things that I have to do, want to do, and don’t want to do, but need to do.  I should own stock in the Post-It company.

The problem with making lists is that I feel like if I don’t get everything crossed off it in one day, I’ve somehow failed.  The list becomes a nagging splinter in the back of my mind.  And between working full time, taking care of the household stuff, raising the kids, and trying to eke out some time for J (not to mention myself), I’ve felt for quite some time like there’s always something on the list that wasn’t getting done. 

The worst part about it is lately I have felt my family has been an item on the list.   I confess there are some days I go through the routine of work, getting the kids home, making dinner, and taking baths. But my mind isn’t all there.  It’s thinking about the work or list of things I have to do once the kids go down for bed. 

I’m not even sure where my personal needs fall onto the list.  I’m pretty sure dead last.

This realization appalls me. 

My family should not be something I “check off” doing every day.  Spending quality time with the kids and J should be my priority, and something I want to do.  And I should probably be on the list somewhere as well.

I realized I desperately needed some time to decompress, recharge and get caught up.  So this week, I’m using a couple of my precious vacation days for me, to get things crossed off my list. 

Yesterday, I got some of the had-to’s, need-to’s and yes, even some of the want-to’s done:

• Took the car into the shop for a service appointment
• While the car was being fixed, I walked over to the mall and bought a birthday present for J.  We’re both turning 29 (again) this year.
• Washed the car.  I forgot it was actually black under there.
• Monkeyed around on Facebook.
• Went to the grocery store
• Recycled the cans and bottles.  Man, I drink a lot of Bud Light.
• Hunted down all of the baby Tylenol in our house and filled out the recall forms.
• Went to Mattress World to look pick out a new bed.  Our current mattress has two huge valleys in it where J and I sleep.  It seriously looks like Dolly Parton did a face plant on our bed and got stuck there. 
• Did my time and expense report. I told myself I wasn’t going to do any work yesterday, but hey, getting paid is good.
• Washed and folded 3 loads of laundry.
• Put the laundry away.  I only listed this as a separate item because typically, I do the laundry, then it remains by the side of our bed for a week before I get around to putting it away.
• Blog hopped at my first blog party over at the D-List.  There are some fantastic parenting blogs over there!  Finally tore myself away from the computer and…
• Did the dishes.
• Blogged.
• Mindlessly surfed the internet.  Google rocks.
• Paid bills.  After which, I felt a little depressed, so I…
• Dinked around on Twitter for a bit.  That made me feel better.  Somewhat.
• Went to the nursery and picked up some geraniums and petunias.  Hopefully I’ll remember to water them.  (Oh, crap.  Another item for my list)
• Made a home-cooked dinner that did not consist of minute rice or frozen tater tots.  I’d never made sausage stromboli before, but it was pretty tasty.  I cheated a bit and used frozen bread dough.  Who has time to watch yeast rise?

I know there are probably a lot of moms out there who do all of the above and more on a daily basis.  I am not one of them.  On good days, I may get to two or three, max.  OK, four, counting Facebook.

The best part about yesterday? 

When we gathered in the family room after dinner, my kids had my undivided attention.  We took Princess Tiana for a ride in the dumptruck.  We read books.  Bobo chased Booyah around the house and tried to pull her tail.  Chip chased Bobo.  Dad and I took turns chasing Chip. 

I did not have a to-do list on the back of my mind.  It felt good.

I’m going back to work tomorrow, but I’m hoping the new and improved me can stay around a while longer. 

I’ll make sure it goes on the list.