First day at new school for daughter no 1; first day of term for me and daughter no 2. Husband at home (lecturer) all day.
Alarm goes off at 6.30. I get up, wake girls. Get washed and dressed myself. Go downstairs, clear table, set table, make breakfasts, make packed lunch for self & daughter no 2.
Husband comes down in time for breakfast.
Eat breakfast, go and straighten daughter no 1's hair.
Husband watches TV - but does put daughter no 2's hair in pony tail.
Write letter for daughter 1 to explain lack of tie (office closed when I got there yesterday). Check both daughters have all they need for day.
7.30 am leave with daughters. Husband starts playing games on computer.
Pick up daughter 1's friend from her house, take both to new school, go to own & daughter 2's school.
Set up interactive whiteboard, meet new pupil, make labels for new pupil's drawer and find new planner.
Teach all day (class OK; some nice kids, but 9 girls to 16 boys - argh!)
Hear from daughter no 2's teacher that she has been upset. Worry why daughter no 1 has not returned (was supposed to catch bus to our school.) realise she couldn't phone me cos my phone is out of charge - argh! Start to talk to daughter no 2 and then daughter no 1 arrives & bursts into tears on me. Turns out they were told wrong bus, she had to walk from other end of village and got lost 3 times today and has 3 homeworks already. Comfort her. Try to talk to daughter no 2 who goes silent on me (has a habit of making mountains out of molehills. Eventually get out of her that she hadn't finished her work (tell her that is OK as have agreed with teacher she will finish draft with me at home as she is a very slow writer when anxious). Parent of a new pupil who has been a pain all day arrives to talk to me and agree strategy - very supportive and we agree what we will do and lay down the law to him. By now it is 4.30. FInish talking to and calming down daughters. Collect belongings, head to car. On way daughter 2 pours out her woes but at least daughter 1 is OK now!
Get home; husband playing on computer. Try to tell him about day while he plays. Daughter 1 makes me a cup of tea (bless!). I find her some books to help with homework, then do daughter 2's unfinished work with her. Husband still playingon computer. He tells me he managed to finish writing a paper (for conference tomorrow) today. Whoopee! I check email on computer then go to swim at gym.
Come home; husband still playing on computer. one of his friends is coming to stay overnight for conference. I clear breakfast things from table, load up dishwasher, empty bins, suggest to daughter 2 where she can find PE kit, empty lunch bags, remind daughter 1 to do cello practice, remind daughter 2 to do saxophone practice. Start taking bins out (collection day tomorrow). Husband calls my name. I tell him I am emptying the bins (was probably a bit "short" with him - can't think why). He says, "Fine, I'll help" in a cross voice. I take bin and 5 recycling sacks to collection point , put wet washing in dryer and put new load of washing in machine. He unpacks shopping from yesterday. I go to sit in lounge and start school work on laptop; he comes in and asks if I want computer. I say no cos I have work to do; he stands there looking pained. I ask "Did you want to watch TV" and he says yes he did so I get up and come to computer.
Some questions:
Is my sense of frustration justified?
Why do I feel angry with myself?
Why couldn't I be more assertive and ask him to help?
Why couldn't he have done some of this in the day?
Could this possibly have naything to do with my exhaustion and depression?
Does anyone care?
Caroline
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