Multi-Tasking

Today I did something I have not done in quite awhile.  I sat down on my couch and read a magazine.  It's the January issue of Good Housekeeping.  Ironically, there is an article in it about how we women like to multi-task. One woman in the article admitted to having a long commute to work and she would use her breast pump, her blackberry to check email and have phone calls ALL AT THE SAME TIME.  Oh yeah, and she was driving too.  I admit I do it quite often and feel proud of myself when I do it, but it's often because of procrastinating that it becomes necessary.  I have cleaned the bathroom sink while blow drying my hair.  I have prepared dinner and helped both girls with homework and piano practice.  If I'm talking to a friend on the phone and I know it's going to be a long conversation, I talk on the cordless and I dust and clean.  I know a woman who used to walk for exercise and found it so boring she would bring a paperback book and read it while walking through the neighborhood. We had company for dinner last night. During the day,  I baked cookies to give to the single airmen in the dorms, prepared last nights dinner and tonight's dinner all at the same time. Of course there was a lot to clean up before our company arrived.  Last night, I was exhausted.   

                                What do you do when you multi-task? 

I have the main "tasks" of getting ready for Christmas finished and I'm thankful for that.  The last big thing is to get boxes mailed.   Of course, I chose to address envelopes and stuff our Christmas letter in them on a car trip we took last month.  Multi-tasking yet again.  One section of the article emphasizes sometimes we don't need to multi-task, but instead enjoy our family more and not worry about everything that needs to be done.   But that is hard for women.  When I sit down and read a magazine, in the back of my head I'm thinking, what SHOULD I be doing right now?

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We have lots to look forward to this weekend.  Our good friend and Ellie's teacher from last year, Mrs. R. is coming to spend the weekend with us!  Saturday we are going to a Church Christmas Program that looks like it will be similar to the Singing Christmas Tree we did in NC.  I'm excited for her to go to church with us on Sunday and have her meet our friends there who have all heard about her.  Sunday night Joe and I have one more Christmas party to attend on the Air Force Base.  It will be nice to go out together and not have to be hosts this time.

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Joe travels tomorrow to PA, and will be attending a class in NJ.  He is most excited about spending time in Philadelphia before flying home on Saturday.  He L O V E S history and has never been to that city.  He can read all the placards he wants and not have the girls and I rushing him in any way.  I thought for the longest time he made up the word placard.  It wasn't until a couple of years ago I read it somewhere and realized he was not.   He LOVED that.   

Comments

[surcie]

Hey, Melene! Just saw your comment. I've seen TH twice lately on TV, and I think he's done a great job. I"ll have to try out the CD on iTunes. BTW, it seems like I'm doing dishes or emptying out the dishwasher whenever I'm on the phone with a long-distance friend or sibling. I probably should just sit and talk! When I watch TV, I always read a magazine or blogs at the same time.

[Perri]

I read blogs while grading school books. I always do stuff during commercials of shows I'm watching - clean dishes, get the next load of laundry moving along, etc.

Right now my multitasking all evolves around sick kids!