Well, I am nearing the end of the first season with my new business up and running. In less then a month the 2 recitals and the Musical/Drama review at the library will be finished. I am more then half way done with the paper work I need to finish by seasons end. All the costumes are purchased and here. The drama class has to do their own for our pirate play, although I do have 2 spares in case there is a last minute issue. For drama we need to do a few things for scenery but nothing that will take more then an afternoon.
Things I have learned so far this season, pre-show:
1. You may plan on getting certain things done by a certain point, but as a mom of 5 plan them to be done much earlier in case the 1st or 2ND time set aside is way laid by unforeseen events.
2. If you want to get things done have at least 2 or 3 plans of how to accomplish your goals in case the first or second plans don't work out
3. Reward those who help you...your kids with hugs, love, candy, or small gifts...husbands with praise and back rubs...friends with cards, calls, and cookies...clients with words of gratitude
4. Sleep is very important...of course I already knew this , but I am more sure of it now...I just wish that flu bugs, and kids nightmares would go away so I could take advantage of this knowledge
5. To be hard and soft on myself...know when to push myself, and when to cut myself some slack
6. A strategic way to clean the house, broken up into small pockets of time on certain days of the week
7. I learned more cues about when my children need various things, and what exactly they need. I also worked on teaching the younger ones to get better at communicating what they needed to me so with the time I have to help them I can give them what they want/need faster. Also, how to help the younger ones to tell the difference between a want and a need , and what is most important.
8. How much I need for my classes of: time to plan, equipment, books, music...this will help me keep in budget and schedule next semester
9. What marketing paths work in my area
10. I now have better lesson plans in place, and I know what works and what doesn't in drama and chorus with different age groups...dance I already had most of that figured out
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Sunday, November 1, 2009
My husband says I need to add this mornings blooper because it illustrates the point I am trying to make in this blog. When you have alot to do and you get tired in the process funny things happen.
Case in point:
This morning I was still a bit groggy when I woke up, even though my sweet husband and older daughters let me go back to bed for a two hour nap at 7:30am (I'd been up with our 4th child since 5:45am, and I am NOT a morning person). I decided to have some applesauce with my bagel (strange breakfast I know). Because I try to be a good mom I get the natural kind. I thought I'd kick it up a notch by adding cinnamon. As I sprinkled said cinnamon all over the top, but before mixing I noticed something was not quite right. The spice color was off and the scent smelled more like... what is it? I was thinking...TACOS. Yes, it was cumin I had sprinkled on my applesauce. Thankfully I hadn't stirred it yet, and managed to get most of it off the top, grab the proper spice from the cabinet and stir it in. I think there was still a bit of cumin left in it, but it was surprisingly good. So, next time maybe I'll add a tinch of it. Who knew? Tiny part cumin, cinnamon, and applesauce. Maybe being to tired can be a good thing at times.
Case in point:
This morning I was still a bit groggy when I woke up, even though my sweet husband and older daughters let me go back to bed for a two hour nap at 7:30am (I'd been up with our 4th child since 5:45am, and I am NOT a morning person). I decided to have some applesauce with my bagel (strange breakfast I know). Because I try to be a good mom I get the natural kind. I thought I'd kick it up a notch by adding cinnamon. As I sprinkled said cinnamon all over the top, but before mixing I noticed something was not quite right. The spice color was off and the scent smelled more like... what is it? I was thinking...TACOS. Yes, it was cumin I had sprinkled on my applesauce. Thankfully I hadn't stirred it yet, and managed to get most of it off the top, grab the proper spice from the cabinet and stir it in. I think there was still a bit of cumin left in it, but it was surprisingly good. So, next time maybe I'll add a tinch of it. Who knew? Tiny part cumin, cinnamon, and applesauce. Maybe being to tired can be a good thing at times.
Never Enough Time in the Day
I may have a list of things to accomplish on any given day, as many of us do. It usually includes things I need to do for my business, things the kids need my help with, things that need to be done around the house, time to talk to my husband, friend time, and like most women I know IF there is enough time something I would like to do for myself (reading/exercising/NAP, etc.)
Many days since I have begun my new business I wake up with the list and schedule in mind. Most days it begins to go as planned. Get the kids ready for school (hopefully there is only one search for lost shoes, although some days it may be 3-4), drop them off. Then I come home most mornings, and if my husband is working from home we pick up the house from the mornings chaos , if he's got a meeting away I do it myself. Then I go to work for a few hours, and after teaching I catch up on email, and prep for the next classes, or next day. Then my youngest come home at lunch time, and I spend a while with them, and the go for a nap or quiet time. Then I either get a chance to talk with my husband, catch up with a friend, or do something for myself.
Next the older kids are picked up, or get home. I catch up with them for a few minutes, and go back to teach a few classes. Next is dinner, and time with the kids. Then they have winding down time with a video or a calming TV show, while the older kids and I pick up the house. After it's saying good night, and hugs and kisses, and the youngest kids go to bed, and I catch up a few more things for work or with a friend for 30-60 min. Lastly, I end the night with time with my husband talking, watching our favorite shows, or planning something out for the future (examples: weekend plans, retirement accounts, future vacation, etc). During this time we usually interupted by the oldest children so they can let us know something that is going on with them, and to say goodnight. Finally between 10-11:45pm I pass out and usually get 5-7 hrs of sleep.
That is a REALLY good day!
However, there are usually few of those because as fate would have it something always comes up! For you too, eh?
Like a child gets sick needing to be picked up, or something forgotten brought to school. A friend calls, and what was going to be a 5 minute phone call turns into an hour (usually because I LOVE to talk!). Something in the house breaks down requiring me to call someone about getting it fixed, or doing it myself. The project I planned to do (clean the fridge, mop the floor) takes more time then expected. I can't find the paper/tool/ pen/piece of clothing needed, and spend a half hour hunting it down. My husband or I need an errand run, and the store we usually get it from is out, and 2 stores later it's found. ETC, ETC, ETC! AHHHH!
One thing varying from the schedule I can handle and the time can easily be made up, like a pilot making up time with a good tail wind. But, dear reader there are 7 people in my house (myself included) and that just increases the odds of many things coming up.
The results: the day is far too short to get the list done or the schedule to go right. This means things get bumped off the list, put onto tomorrow's. Some days if enough of them happen, not much gets done at all. And because that bugs me, what can be done on the list after everyone including my husband is asleep, I do. Which leaks into the next day when I'm tired, and have to work hard at not being cranky.
Is any of this true for you? I bet there are many nodding heads out there in cyberspace.
Many days since I have begun my new business I wake up with the list and schedule in mind. Most days it begins to go as planned. Get the kids ready for school (hopefully there is only one search for lost shoes, although some days it may be 3-4), drop them off. Then I come home most mornings, and if my husband is working from home we pick up the house from the mornings chaos , if he's got a meeting away I do it myself. Then I go to work for a few hours, and after teaching I catch up on email, and prep for the next classes, or next day. Then my youngest come home at lunch time, and I spend a while with them, and the go for a nap or quiet time. Then I either get a chance to talk with my husband, catch up with a friend, or do something for myself.
Next the older kids are picked up, or get home. I catch up with them for a few minutes, and go back to teach a few classes. Next is dinner, and time with the kids. Then they have winding down time with a video or a calming TV show, while the older kids and I pick up the house. After it's saying good night, and hugs and kisses, and the youngest kids go to bed, and I catch up a few more things for work or with a friend for 30-60 min. Lastly, I end the night with time with my husband talking, watching our favorite shows, or planning something out for the future (examples: weekend plans, retirement accounts, future vacation, etc). During this time we usually interupted by the oldest children so they can let us know something that is going on with them, and to say goodnight. Finally between 10-11:45pm I pass out and usually get 5-7 hrs of sleep.
That is a REALLY good day!
However, there are usually few of those because as fate would have it something always comes up! For you too, eh?
Like a child gets sick needing to be picked up, or something forgotten brought to school. A friend calls, and what was going to be a 5 minute phone call turns into an hour (usually because I LOVE to talk!). Something in the house breaks down requiring me to call someone about getting it fixed, or doing it myself. The project I planned to do (clean the fridge, mop the floor) takes more time then expected. I can't find the paper/tool/ pen/piece of clothing needed, and spend a half hour hunting it down. My husband or I need an errand run, and the store we usually get it from is out, and 2 stores later it's found. ETC, ETC, ETC! AHHHH!
One thing varying from the schedule I can handle and the time can easily be made up, like a pilot making up time with a good tail wind. But, dear reader there are 7 people in my house (myself included) and that just increases the odds of many things coming up.
The results: the day is far too short to get the list done or the schedule to go right. This means things get bumped off the list, put onto tomorrow's. Some days if enough of them happen, not much gets done at all. And because that bugs me, what can be done on the list after everyone including my husband is asleep, I do. Which leaks into the next day when I'm tired, and have to work hard at not being cranky.
Is any of this true for you? I bet there are many nodding heads out there in cyberspace.
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