The Price of Punctuality

My friends all know that I am time management impaired. Hopefully, they love me anyway. Oh yes, it is well-known amongst family and friends that I will arrive at least fifteen minutes later than the designated time. (That's actually a gracious estimation...sometimes it's more like thirty minutes, but who's counting?) God is working on me in this area.

Last year, my job required me to arrive ten to fifteen minutes earlier than my scheduled time, because of a co-worker who arrived early. Now, I was doing pretty good at getting to work on time or on time plus one minute...but early was a little bit of a stretch for me. O.K., it was totally out of my league. I'm flying by the seat of my pants everywhere I go. I see other multi-tasking mamas that just seem to have it all together. They don't miss appointments. They're on time. They have all that they need for the day. Prepared, punctual, and put-together. The elusive three P's.

Most days, I feel like a bit of a mess. Was everyone created to juggle so many things with ease? Why can't I focus on kids, work, household duties, the ministry, friends, etc. without forgetting things,leaving things out or messing things up?

Well, back to last year and my quest to achieve the three P's. One day, I arrived at work really early, and we had everything we needed. No one missed the bus or forgot their lunch money. All the homework had been checked and papers signed. Life was good. I was smiling all morning, basking in the glow of my victory. See, I can do this. I can juggle with the best of the multi-tasking mamas. Bring it.

It was mid-morning and I was walking down the hallway, feeling pretty satisfied with myself, when I looked down and noticed that something wasn't quite right. I was wearing two completely different shoes! They were at least the same color of brown, but two different shoes, nonetheless! There I stood in the middle of the hallway, with my pant legs pulled up...laughing hysterically, when one of the teachers (who had mastered the three P's)walked by. I was laughing so hard, I could barely get the words out. I just pointed at my shoes. Being a multi-tasking mama, she didn't need an explanation. There was a two inch height difference between the heels of the shoes. How could I not notice that at some point in the day? So much for the three P's.More like the three M's - mismatch, mishap, Miss Mess!

Girls, the moral to this story is...there is a price to pay for punctuality. It may come in the form of mismatched shoes...or socks...or earrings. I've even had one-earring days (this usually occurs from the chronic interruptions that pop-up in the morning from those little people who live here. You know, you put one earring in and some dire catastrophe requires your immediate attention...something like, "Mom, where's my glove?" or "I missed the bus, again.") Sometimes, you just can't have it all. I could be punctual and prepared, but not put together. Maybe put together, but not punctual...Something has to give. Limitless possibilities for mishaps abound. Beware, and count the cost!