Be forewarned. I've only got one pretty picture this post.
That's my big girl all buttoned up and cheetah printed out for her first day of kindergarten. Last night she was telling me all about her first visit to art class. Mrs. M. (that's what the kids call her, because her name is too long to remember) spelled her whole name out in bubble letters: E-L-N-O-R-A, and she got to sit by her friend Donovan (also in green above). . . and then she says to me in a very matter-of-fact and enamored tone, "And she is very organized!" Apparently Mrs. M. keeps the erasers by the pencils, and the markers and crayons all have their own containers.
So, I'm wondering, what is it that makes this quality so admirable to my little one? She can often be found lining up her little people, sorting her animals by color or species, or making containers for just about every little collection under her bed. I suppose she's learned this from me--constantly making lists, trying to find a place for everything and put everything in its place in this tiny house and hollering for her to clean up her "pile" on the ottoman every night, put her clothes in the hamper, stop messing up the pillows on the couch.
But as we move into the time of year when everyone is scrawling out the new schedule on the family calendar, regulating bed times and lining book bags up on the mud room bench, I'm feeling more scattered than ever. I used to do the fly lady routine, for Pete's sake. What has happened?
Today felt all wrong from the start. We slept in too long and watched network TV in the morning. I didn't have a plan--other than starting a new apron once Nora was in school. Now at the end of the day, I've got a sink full of dishes that will have to wait till tomorrow night and a mind full of regrets: shoulda put those towels in the dryer sooner, shoulda washed the dishes while I was cooking dinner instead of ripping out that seam, shoulda put that apron to rest and played more after school. . .
Tonight I'm thinking about that woman in Proverbs. Maybe my next list should look a little more like hers:
- get up while it is still dark
- make bed
- clothe yourself in fine linen
- set about work vigorously
- provide food for family
- extend hands to the needy
- make linen garments and sell them
- speak with wisdom
- laugh
- do not let lamp go out at night
