For 10 out of 12 months last year I was an independent contractor. Now it's tax time and I have extra work to do to find receipts that might provide expenses to offset some of my income. The "dump everything in a drawer" method of accounting that I employed has not proven very effective.
I'm doing the taxes myself, using TurboTax. In addition to the screen time I'm putting in for the taxes, I have a mountain of grading to complete, all on-line. There are study guide questions, drafts of oral presentations, discussion board postings, e-mails, graduate school recommendations for students and more.
Enter little boys. It's still quite cold outside and it's very muddy. The perfect recipe for the 10 minute "go outside clean and dry and return quickly cold and wet" scenario. Mud all over the back room floor, kitchen floor and the TV stand. The TV stand?
Of course, because there is a direct line from outside to the TV (forget passing by the bathroom to wash up). It seems that I have no idea what to do with these boys except drive them outside or let them watch TV. Too much TV.
Enter big boys. We're arguing about cell phone usage after 9:30 p.m. The oldest is playing in the pit band for the Spring musical and this week they will practice until 8 p.m. every night. Extra trips to town. Food to provide for the band. Performances this weekend (if I can fly from work to the Sat. night performance I might catch one).
I'm desperate to finish the taxes and grading.
It seem that I'm too tired to think of craft projects, reading stories or fun outings. Their room is a disaster. This morning I slept right through waking up to get the older boys on the bus. In fact, it would seem that I'm too tired to even plan meals.
It's a fever. A sickness.
I wish for the cure of a kind neighbor with children who would invite the boys over to play. Or an aunt or uncle, or grandparent who would have them over for lunch or an overnight. Quite frankly, I'd probably even leave them with a stranger at this point if he/she could provide an alternative to my "too much screen time mother guilt."
God give me strength.
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