Friday, August 1, 2008

Further Proof I Need My Head Examined

Just a few days ago I wrote a post about being overwhelmed. I was tired, cranky (hormonal) and I just didn't think I could deal with having a toddler who didn't nap. So my mom took Bunny for a few hours on Wednesday and then again on Thursdays like she normally does. This gave me a chance to recharge my batteries, to get some things done without a toddler hanging all over me and apparently to lose my ever-loving mind.

It all happened so simply. On Wednesday after dropping Bunny at my mom's, I went and had coffee. Then I went to get the oil changed on my car. I waited in line for a while and by the time I got in, I was bored. I sat there playing Tetris on my phone when all of a sudden the phone rang. It was my friend Janet.

We hadn't talked in a while so we caught up. She works for the Alliance Francaies and was telling me all about the Bastille Days festival she had helped work on. Blah blah blah, yadda yadda yadda. And then she hit me. She said they were putting together a committee for their Beaujolais Nouveau release party in November and she wanted to know if I'd be on it. There'd be meetings, planning, organizing, finding donors for the auction and helping get new people to the event.

It sounded like fun. Something I totally would have done pre-Bunny. So I said yes and then immediately regretted it. How can I give up my time? I don't have any time. But then I talked myself back into it, I'd be meeting new people, spending time away from Bunny with adults, there was wine involved. So it was a good thing. Right?

Which lead me to my second and slightly larger problem. I had already decided to do some volunteerinig for the Obama campaign. I used to be involved in politics right after college and loved it. I feel passionately about Obama and wanted to do something about it. So on Saturday I went out on a voter registration canvass. At first I didn't want to do it but ended up having so much fun.

When I got back to the office, they asked me if I would become involved in a team. The team would be responsible for one aldermanic ward, canvassing, phoning and general organizing. The ward was in my neighborhood so I said yes.

Yesterday I went in to the office to find out further details. It would be about 10 hours a week starting in late August. The time would be flexible around your schedule. The more we talked, the more I thought I can do this. And then he asked if I would be the team leader. He said you are a mom, you're used to dealing with "difficult" people, I think you can do this. By the way it would be an extra 15 hours a week. I almost said yes. But then I thought better of it and said I'd think about it.

So in 4 days I went from feeling like I had no time to get anything done to volunteering my non-existant time to two organizations. I need to get my head examined.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

You don't need your head examined, you need adult contact....Which is entirely normal when you're a stay at home mom. Every friend that I've ever had that was a stay at home mom has always said that that was the one thing that they missed the most in staying home, the contact with other adults....You'll find that somehow you have time for everything that needs to be done and keep your sanity in the process.

anymommy said...

I know this feeling. I feel overcommitted quite a bit too - and I don't even have a job! Then, when I cut back, I feel like I'll go crazy talking to little kids all day. Keep what you enjoy the most if you can, you need time for things you just love.

Anonymous said...

I always feel like this...then I decided to start a blog. That really didn't help. So something has to go. I'm thinking housework. Probably because I've already ceased to keep up with it anyway.

Z said...

While I totally hear the "I have no time, why did I volunteer to do MORE?!?!" , I must say, the things you just volunteered for sound pretty amazing, and I am sure you'll have a great time doing them!

EatPlayLove said...

Hmmm..I know who I can ask for a favor when I need one! Tee hee... It may seem overwhelming, but both of them seem like great opportunities.