Or perhaps "Jongleur," which was a minstrel/storyteller in medieval France? Probably the more accurate for me; either way, it requires some skill!
The juggling of course is part of life. Anyone who is employed, in a relationship, and has children becomes a master juggler by the time the children start grade school. In my case I juggle my job, my husband, my four children (two university students, a middle schooler & a fourth grader), working out, managing a household, being a swim mom (for TWO teams part of the year!), singing in the church choir, serving on the altar guild, attending school board functions or events at the boarding school where hubby teaches, AND somehow squeezing in time to see extended family & friends in between all that. Fifteen separate tasks I have to keep aloft, some with supplemental smaller "balls" orbiting them like moons. Then I wonder why I'm so tired every night?!
Fortunately some of the stress seems to be lessening of the stresses as my daughters mature. At this point, the older one is responsible enough to TRY to help with household chores--sometimes, when the mood strikes her! (If you're not a parent, remember yourself in junior high school. You know what I mean.) My biggest effort right now (after forcing myself into sweats, Nikes, & the Y's front door!) is convincing my youngest it's only fair for ME to spend half an hour sweating, while "Miss I Want To Beat Michael Phelps' Record" has already finished her mile and a half of swimming in 90 minutes.
I know--I'll hit the elliptical & juggle while sweating, trying not to let the balls hit my daughter while she's reading on the floor beside me! That'll give me something else to write about--her reaction when the balls all clobbered her. ;)
1 comment:
I guess being a juggler and being tired go hand in hand. I, of course, am a juggling Mom with only one child. However, that being a child with special needs (autism specrum disorder) there are twice the balls in the air for this one than there is for typical children. Then of course there is the Man of the house who, not wanting to be out done by the child in the house has his whole set of dramas (now counting 2 cronic illness and a healthy dose of depresion with a side order of anxiety). Typical juggling routine for me involves my being; Mom, wife, friend (with extra large listening ears), playmate, taxi driver, secretary, coach and referee and cheerleader (all at the same time mind you), counselor and therapist, house keeper, general errand boy, finacial suppervisor, teacher, recreational director and Me. This list doesn't even count in the role that I play at the school where I work as a Paraprofesional with children with special needs. I constantly amaze myself with how many balls I am able to keep in the air at the same time. Just when I think I couldn't possible handle one more ball, God goes and tosses another into the mix.
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