Monday was a normal evening in my household. I was sitting at my computer getting work done (both personal and professional), answering emails, slipping in and out of Facebook, and supervising the completion of my kids’ homework. Phone calls, text messages, and email notifications from 3 phones and 3 computers kept interrupting any consistent train of thought. Kendall, my 7th grader, was sitting in my office next to me working on a paper due the next day, finishing his math homework, and finalizing a model for his technology class. My 5th grader, Kamden, was flitting in and out of the house with the dog and every 20 minutes or so I was asking him, “Don’t you have any more homework or reading to do?” The answer is always, “No.”
In the middle of what would appear to an outsider to be an exercise in managing mayhem, Kendall announced that he needed to email me his paper so that I could open it up on my computer, load it into my word program, help him format it and print it – all because his PC does not have word on it (another vote for Mac in my mind). Getting an email from my child is still such a little thrill for me, even when he is sitting in the same room….And those moments are only topped by getting an instant message from your kid in the rare moment that you have both snuck onto Facebook when you are supposed to be doing something else, and you chat – one upstairs, one downstairs – until the parent in you comes out and calls an end to it. But, I digress (yes, I juggle thoughts as well as activities).
A frantic, or at least urgent, email came in from a parent at Kamden’s school asking me to immediately send out an email with VERY IMPORTANT information and DEADLINES to the entire 5th grade. As I am the Communications Director for the 5th grade (yup, I gave myself a title), I shoo Kendall away from my computer, open the email communications log that I have set up solely for this 5th grade class, cut and paste the urgent information that needs to go out, hit send, and shoot an email letting the requester know it was done. I am soooo efficient. Turning back to Kendall, I help him format and print out his paper, help Kamden finish up his math, check and sign agendas, sign out of Facebook, close out windows with work stuff still unfinished, and log off. Phew! Another normal evening successfully accomplished.
The next morning, in the middle of what had already been a lengthy conversation, my dear friend, Karen, said to me, “Oh, by the way, I loved Kendall’s paper. I can tell he loved the Truancy series and was influenced by the writing style.”
“What?” I said, looking at her as though she had obviously imbibed one too many diet cokes that morning.
“Kendall’s paper. That’s all I got in the 5th grade email last night – what was I supposed to receive?” Ugh. I am sure my face flushed a bright red. Had I really sent my son’s 7th grade creative writing project to the entire 5th grade? My phone buzzed. An email from my friend, Julie, “How engaging and well written.” An email from the mom for whom I had sent the email and who I do not know well, “Kathleen you did not send out the (correct) email. Can you resend…? Thanks.” Another mom at Kamden’s school was endlessly curious about what grade Kendall was in and commented extensively on his writing.
I was mortified. So much for my self imposed Communications Director title. At this point I felt as though I was wearing a giant scarlet letter “F” – for Failure – with an additional note attached, “Multitasking Doesn’t Work”.
Rushing home in embarrassment and appall at my own task mismanagement, I sent out the awkward “OOPS” email. “Please forgive the last email. May my embarrassment prevent you from multitasking! Doing more than one thing at a time – especially on your computer – can only lead to messing everything up! Here is what was SUPPOSED to be sent. Have a wonderful day doing one thing at a time.”
One thing at a time. One day at a time. One assignment at a time. I could go on, but my phone is ringing, the dog is barking at someone at my door, my email just informed me new mail has come in, and I can’t pay attention to any of it until I am completely done with this ONE THING first.
“Do not wait. The time will never be ‘just right’. Start where you stand, work with whatever tools you may have at your command, and better tools will be found as you go along….There is no substitute for persistence.”
It has been a month full, errrr mouthfull, of oral excitement. Losing the next to last baby tooth (gasp!), braces – with a full range of colors to choose from (who knew pink and black were sooo popular?), and talking back (but that’s another essay).