17 November 2008

Monday: A Stereotype (EDITED)

Yelled at Riley for no real reason (unless you consider not wanting to eat breakfast a reason).

Left the house late.

Forgot to take the kids to the doctor for their scheduled 9:00 a.m. flu shot.

Found out that my daycare is closed for the holidays during the week of Christmas, not the week of New Year's. Guess when I planned our trip to Oregon? Guess who has no vacation time to spare? Why did I not ask about this? Have I learned nothing about assumptions?

Can I go back to bed?

EDITED: I did not get to go back to bed, but my day got better and I've had lots of comments and e-mails that have given me some great ideas about Christmas. In any case, my day was put in perspective when I found out that a close friend's father died this morning of a heart attack. Am going into "take care of the grieving" mode, stat.

31 comments:

Ian Newbold said...

I think you should, and hopefully all of that may have been a dream.

Gald to read - on your other posts - that the twins are better.

Susan said...

Well this won't make you feel better, but just last week I forgot about sport physicals - no biggee, right. NOT. They had to have physical in order to try out. Ugh!!!! Major running to get it accomplished. I very much dislike Monday's!! The day will get better.

SEC

Anonymous said...

Ouch, that sucks!
Our daycare is doing the following week. If I was off, I'd do it for you in a heartbeat.

Mama Nabi said...

Holy crap. We had the same Monday. Well, divide by two. And we already got our flu shots but I forgot the date of a birthday party this weekend... Stellar. OH NO. Do you have sick days? Call in *cough* *cough* sick...?

HUGS! Here's to less stressful, less yelling, and more tranquil rest of the week!!

Snickollet said...

SPD:

Yes, the kids are MUCH better! I'm very glad that I'm dealing with this Monday's Monday in a well-rested state.

-snick

Anonymous said...

what a bummer - that's the week I'll be away or I'd offer to watch them for you! ughhh. Do you want me to check with Noa's daycare to see if they have any extra room that week?

Anonymous said...

Crappy day alright. Hang in there, Snick! It definitely happens to the best of us.
-Jessica

moo said...

oy! now THAT is a monday for you!

hope the rest of the week gets better ...

Anonymous said...

That capital s Sucks. Any chance you can take some Benadryl and head back to bed yourself??

(funny- my word verification looks an awful lot like 'hassle'...)

Anonymous said...

Does this mean (minor daycare problem aside) that you can have an ultra low key Christmas at home, and use those tickets for a later vacation?

Snickollet said...

Anon:

To be honest, that's an option I hadn't even considered. I haven't put in for the vacay time at work, so maybe I could just see if the airline will credit me the $$ spent on the Christmas tickets towards a future trip and spend the holiday at home, relaxing . . .

That's really worth considering. My only thought was "How the hell am I going to find childcare for December 22, 23, and 24?" Your solution is quite genius.

-snick

Anonymous said...

Perhaps this is God's way of telling you that this Christmas should be spent at home rather than flying cross-country with two toddlers to visit people you don't necessarily want to be with 24/7 on a holiday you feel ambivalent about.

Cozy up and stay home! The perfect excuse has just been delivered on a silver platter... ;)

Mama Mama Quite Contrary said...

Hope your week gets better! Good luck trying to change airline tickets if that is what you decide to do.

watercolordaisy said...

They are closed the whole week of Christmas???? Who gets vacations off like that?? Good heavens.

Jen said...

wait.. what... when are they closed?

Snickollet said...

Jen:

They are closed 22-26 December (Monday - Friday). They are open 29, 30, and 31 December (Mon-Wed of the following week), closed Thursday for New Year's Day, and open Friday 2 Jan 2009.

I leave Christmas Day and come back on Monday 5 Jan. Ugh.

-snick

Anonymous said...

This is anon #1. Ah, yes. pure genius. You perhaps take fewer vacation days. You take them the week of Christmas. You chill, you spend lovely days at home with the twins, you create whatever special holiday activities arise to begin to form Maddie and Riley's ideas of "Christmas." Perhaps a tradition chooses you this year, perhaps not.

You get a credit from the airline. You probably pay a small fee and have some travel restrictions. Poo poo. No matter. When you've accumulated vacation again, you take a spontaneous trip to Oregon sometime. Or perhaps somewhere with a beach.

I know from reading your blog that you DO want to see your family, and enjoy being with them 24/7. But this solution does sound nice, doesn't it? Ahh, I can feel the relaxation already.

Anonymous said...

Hi Snick... I'm in agreement with the other posters who seem to be saying: this little "mishap" may indeed be a gift in disguise!

Ah, home sweet home... :)
Hugs,
Melissa

Anonymous said...

no wonder you're not looking forward to christmas, you're going to be traveling the whole day! i agree with most...i'd stay home and cozy up with the kids. relax and maybe have some friends over christmas eve cocktails or something. maybe your family could come to you???

Sadia said...

It will be okay. When you and your kids look back at your holiday photos in 20 years, you won't remember the travel timing, or the vacation time issue. And you CERTAINLY won't remember the missed flu shots ... unless you re-read your blog.

Anonymous said...

Hi Snick... me again -- so, so sorry to hear about your friend's dad dying suddenly of a heart attack. As a heart attack survivor, I'm incredibly saddened when I hear about a heart attack claiming yet another life.

That's why I'm a vegan now. Eliminating all dietary animal protein gives you the lowest cardiac risk profile possible (sorry, lacto-ovo veggers don't get the cardiac benefit, nor do they get the strong cancer protection either -- dairy foods are especially dangerous). It's all part of my commitment to never set foot in a cardiac care unit again (a week of absolute hell-on-earth and a place I *affectionately* refer to as "Auschwitz").

My deepest sympathies to your friend,
Hugs,
m

OTRgirl said...

Glad the Benadryl helped!

Catching up after time away, in response to your Christmas post: my parents acknowledged the stories and legends around holidays without ever telling us it was The Story. Of course, we did grow up believing the Jesus/Shepherds/Wise Men elements. We had books about St. Nicholas, Kwanza, Hanaukkah. We went to see Santa at the mall if we asked to do that. Went to see the trains and the lights on people's houses. It was good, cause I never ran around telling people to stop believing in SC, was just comfortable with the spectrum of Christmas celebrations across different times and cultures.

Aimee said...

I used to handle travel arrangements at my last job (pre-baby). You can change tickets, but there is a "change fee."

Also, you would have to pay the difference between the price you paid for your tickets and the new ticket. That would be true if you changed the tickets to be in Oregon while the kids' daycare was closed or if you changed the trip for some time next year.

If you are a member of the airline's frequent flier program, you can get a lot of help through their conceirge/help desk.

The sooner you make the changes, the better, as holiday travel books quickly and is usually more expensive.

Good luck! If I could, I'd handle this for you. :-)

(Have you ever thought about a personal assistant? Might sound crazy, but it might just help!)

Anonymous said...

Reminds me of the day 22 years ago when I threw away a grocery bag that instead of trash contained my daughter's Lemon Meringue doll, my Canon SLR camera, both daughters' Easter dresses and patent leather Mary Janes.

Indeed, some days are better than others. I finally got my now 26-year-old a Lemon Meringue on e-Bay!

Sherry (not really anonymous, just too lazy to set up an ID)

Anonymous said...

So, can you tell us how to take care of the grieving? In baby instructions. I am one of those who falls short because I think that I will say do the wrong thing. My heart is in the right place, but that means nothing if I can't turn it into action. I would try very hard to put into practice any advice I got.

Anonymous said...

There are probably lots of teenage girls or two (or boys, always liked the boy babysitters, more relaxed I think) who are off that week for Christmas making looking for some extra cash?

Does your church or daycare have a referral? How about one of their fav workers there coming to your home for the week?

I know I hired my daycare ladies kids to watch my kids numerous times.

Sorry about your friends Father.

Good luck!

-Michelle

Luckygirl said...

To Anon @ 14:56
Oregon has a beach! And it's gorgeous, albeit cold...

Green said...

I have always found that Christmas is a great time for me, as someone who is jewish and does not celebrate Christmas, to pick up babysitting jobs. Last Christmas is the first one I can recall not working in about ten years.

Threeundertwo said...

I hate days like that! So sorry to hear about your friend's father!.

Anonymous said...

Gee Snick,

When are you going to have "the conversation" with your mattress buddy?

amber said...

i don't have much to add except that the suggestion of having a mellow Christmas at home may be just what you guys need. hope you're able to work it all out in the least stressful manner possible.