Summer, Summer, Summer Time….

(It may not be the coolest thing to admit, but on the first few days of summer, I find it ridiculously refreshing to drive around with my windows down blasting a little Fresh Prince.)  (Anyone else?)  (Bueller?)

As we inch toward summer time for all of us (even though SOME of us are already there, complete with fruity cocktail…), and we shed that not-so-fresh feeling that comes along with the end of the school year, we begin to feel (yet again) as if we could take on the world.

AAAAANNNNNNDDDDD…..Cue the never-ending To Do List.

Seriously.  It’s like our incredible super power (the ability to multi-task the PANTS off anyone) which is used only for good between the months of September and June, turns to evil as soon as it hits July.  We get all, “Of COURSE I’m going to clean out all my closets, volunteer at the animal shelter, organize that pile of pictures into gorgeous albums AND have time left over for pleasure reading before I tackle writing that new social studies unit and tweaking those math lessons for next year.

Um, really?

What about resting?  Relaxing?  Recharging?  Are those on your list?

I feel as if I am an expert on the topic of over-committing myself when I have a moment of free time. I have suffered from Over Commitment Syndrome (or OCS) for many, many agonizing years now.

An example. I just had a baby, right?  I should be resting every moment I possibly can, right?  I should be lounging as I recover from my labor, right?

W.R.O.N.G.

Instead, every time Mini Mimi lays her gorgeous head down for a snooze, I turn into a whirlwind of activity.

Dishwasher emptied?  Check!
Latest chapter book for the Reading Extravaganza read?  Check!
Ten ho-jillionth thank you note written?  Check!
Fresh load of baby related laundry in the wash?  Check!
Cat fed? Check!
Emails answered? Check!

Me rested?  (What’s the opposite of check?  Un-check?)  Well, then, UN-CHECK!

Am I happy?  I think that is the most sick part of OCS.  It makes me happy.  I am at my happiest when I have a full list to tackle and approximately one more task than I can comfortably handle on my plate.  (That is until the very delicate balance tips and I find myself in a puddle….of tears.)  (Mr. Mimi loves that about me.) (Not.)

So take these last couple of days worth of posts…take them and learn from them. Think about them.  Do not replicate them.  Find a way to enjoy your summer.  Don’t over commit and keep those To Do Lists (as glorious as they are) in CHECK!

(Two posts in a row!  Take THAT!)

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8 Comments
  • I think your Mr. Mimi and my Hubby need to meet up for drinks!

    Does he tire of being the only non-teacher at dinner parties? Does he tire of the constant torrent of teaching-related woes that greet him after the obligatory, "How was your day?"

    AND!!!! I too have a jumbonormous to-do list. Have I gotten anything done yet?

    Only one, and that was to get a sunburn.

    June 23, 2010 at 1:10 am
  • I have OCS and I'm okay with it. Some people are just workers and we get stuff done. The world needs more people who get stuff done.

    June 23, 2010 at 1:10 am
  • I'm glad to know there's a name for the disorder that I have had for my whole life (seriously, my pediatrician thought I was a "good candidate for an ulcer"…at 5.

    June 23, 2010 at 1:10 am
  • LOVE the new avatar! A real peek at Mini Mimi would be even better. 😉

    June 23, 2010 at 1:10 am
  • Is there somewhere I can go to print out the top 100 lists? I'd like to use them in a class I'm teaching. Thanks.

    June 23, 2010 at 1:10 am
  • jwg- you can go to the school library journal website. That's where I found the lists…I have links in some of my earlier top 100 posts but some aren't working quite right. Hope this helps. Let me know if you still can't find them.

    June 23, 2010 at 1:14 am
  • So no on the becoming bilingual, learning how to reupholster vintage furniture, and writing another book in July?

    June 23, 2010 at 7:46 pm
  • jwg, here's a link to Betsy Bird's Top 100 Children's Novels poll. http://blog.schoollibraryjournal.com/afuse8production/2010/04/13/the-top-100-childrens-novels-poll-1-100/
    Email me if you want a printable PDF.
    You can also find my Animoto of the books here: http://animoto.com/play/o4OtTZ2vhGusUe0cqz39cA

    Mimi, I am a fellow mom, teacher and crazy overdoer of things. I think I will love reading your blog. =)

    June 24, 2010 at 3:26 pm

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