There are few chores that I like less than laundry. It’s not the sorting and washing that I mind. I could do that with my eyes closed – but then they probably wouldn’t be sorted very well. It’s the folding and putting away. I don’t wanna do it!

Why do we have all these clothes anyway? And how is it that every single article of clothing gets dirty every week? How many people live here?!?!?!?

I am worn out. I need to go back to work to recover from this weekend! I spent a large part of this weekend doing laundry from beginning to end. I’m sure that’s how “normal” people do it all the time but normally, I would wash and dry and then leave the clothes in the dryer until somebody else gets motivated to put them away. I couldn’t get away with that this time. There was just too much to do. We’ve had some busy weeks and weekends lately. Not many chores have gotten done but we’ve sure had a lot of fun.

LadyBug turned 21 in August! There were birthday dinners, a kayaking trip, mom/daughter movie night, a trip to a brewery for tacos & music, and lots of presents! Mostly cash because she’s saving up for a trip to New York City. NEW YORK CITY!

She’s also been working at a local pizza place/arcade and was wearing herself out – physically and mentally. It was supposed to be a summer job but it kind of spilled over into her regular job and THAT was just too much. She doesn’t have her own vehicle yet so that meant the mom taxi was in full operation on weekends. It was rough for a little while but she started it so she needed to finish it (unlike the laundry). Fortunately, for everybody she worked her last shift last night. Her upcoming weekends should be a little less hectic. Mine too, hopefully!

The Boy has been pretty restless all weekend. He has exhausted me. He met his daily quota for questions by noon on both days! He’s watched a couple of movies, sent some emails and made a slide show in Google slides. He built a jail, took a dog-shaped balloon as his prisoner and then taught the balloon Kung Fu to help it escape. He turned his bedroom into a dojo and then changed his name to better suit a Kung Fu master. He can’t find his new gray sketchers but he has found every old toy that I sat aside for the give away box (and of course, played with all of them and they are all his favorite). He called a family meeting and held a drawing for a key card pass to his room. He has played every single game we have on the XBox. And I have heard so. many. puns.

The weather has been gloomy so I’m sure that’s part of it but also, I think he’s nervous. He volunteered to perform in his music class tomorrow. He plans to play his guitar and sing The Apology Song from The Book of Life. It’s a great song. Very soulful and a bit of a tear jerker if you’ve seen the movie. I’m sure he thought this would be a great opportunity to show off a little for his friends and I’m sure his music teacher is excited to hear him play this lovely song. There’s only one problem…

He has had exactly ONE guitar lesson.

Basically he knows the names of the strings and the parts of the guitar. Oh and he knows how to hold it. I think the teacher is expecting a little bit more than that, though. I’m trying not to discourage him. We had a long talk about what to do if the class cheers when he finishes (be gracious, say “thank you” and “I’m sure I’ll get better with practice”) and what to do if the class doesn’t cheer when he finishes (be gracious, say “I’m sure I’ll get better with practice”). 

Part of me wants to be supportive. Another part of me wants to make up some lame excuse to pick him up early tomorrow. But he wrote down all the words to the song. He has strummed and strummed and strummed. Never the same chord twice but he has definitely strummed. I have to let him finish this and just be there to cheer if it goes great or buy the ice cream if it goes terribly. That is really hard sometimes.

I’m kind of glad this weekend is almost over. I think this upcoming week will be a little easier for LadyBug, knowing that when she finishes her work week she won’t have to go to a second job. I’m sure The Boy will relax a little once he survives his live performance. Maybe we can begin to get into a groove for this school year with more balance between work/chores/play. I already feel better now that the laundry pile is much, much smaller! Maybe next weekend, I’ll clean The Boy’s room! No, wait, next weekend I’m doing a 5K. Oh well, eventually everything will get done.

For now, I’m gonna go lay out my nice, clean clothes for work tomorrow. Help LadyBug make her plan for the week and get The Boy to bed.  He just walked out of his room and asked me if I would help him make some clothes for his StickBots.

No, Boy. That’s just more laundry!