The Juggler

I bet you didn't know that parent and juggler are actually synonyms for each other - seriously.  As a juggler though, you get to practice for a while before you take your act in public and if you're not ready right away you can wait to unveil yourself.  And as a juggler if you drop a ball you can figure out some cool, flashy way to scoop it back into the act.  As a parent you do not get these opportunities - someone pulls you out of the crowd, fills your hands with chainsaws and midgets and pushes you into the center ring.  You're on, juggle!  And don't drop anything because chainsaws and midgets don't like to be dropped!

You know what though?  That crowd eating peanuts and watching intently for you to mess up and slice your arm off?  Only a few of the catty ones want you to fail - everyone else is waiting to cheer when you pull it off with everything intact.  And it's not always life threatening things that you have to juggle - when it is, make sure you focus on you and not who's watching - you'll be fine.

But when it's just getting the kids to school, making it to the dentist on time, mailing that package at the post office and picking up some groceries - relax!  Have you ever seen a juggler miss something?  Of course! They're not perfect and neither are you.  Sometimes you have to let one thing fall in order to keep everything else on track.  Don't have time for all that?  Kids have to be at school, dentist is gonna charge you if you don't show up (rude!), someone's waiting for that package and your family has to eat....or you could just order Chinese food or pizza when you get home.  Sometimes, something's gotta give.  Figure out what can go and pocket it for tomorrow!

On the other hand (pun intended), there are a lot of times when you're trying so hard to do everything all at once that when you see something slipping you lunge for it and guess what happens?  Everything tumbles down and you sit down and cry out your woes in front of everyone.  Don't cry! It happens to the best of us.  The solution to that is - don't.  You see something slipping just let it go because you'll set off a chain reaction and it's not the end of the world if the lawn doesn't get mowed or you don't take that dress with mustard on it to the cleaners.  It'll keep.  Try again tomorrow.

Some things cannot fall though - make sure you always keep your promises to your children - very important, even the little ones - because it builds trust.  You said we're getting ice cream - get it.  And always get them where they need to be ON TIME - it is building a foundation of responsibility for them.  It also teaches them that you respect their teachers, coaches, Girl Scout Leaders - whoever and that they should too.  But taking the dog to the groomers?  It can wait!  Getting the car washed?  It can wait too!

Take a good look at a juggler - they start with 3 and add another, and another, and another until you're oohing and aahing over them juggling 9 different things. You start small too - have 3 tasks on your list and some options for adding in, add in if you can - if not, don't.  If something gotta go - it's okay.  Most of the time it will keep until tomorrow.  Just don't juggle chainsaws and midgets at the same time!