Monday, December 15, 2008

Failure to Communicate

Parent-teacher conferences were last week, so one morning we had to get up and ready to leave the house a whole half hour earlier than usual. I knew it would be tough, but I thought with a little planning we could pull it off.

I got up early and pulled on jeans and a sweater so I could feed and walk the dog while my husband took a shower. I didn’t even slow down to get a cup of coffee; I headed straight out the door when she was done wolfing down her breakfast. Usually the dog tries to drag me down the street, but this morning I hauled her around the neighborhood. Yes, today I was walking the dog - not the other way around. None of that dilly-dallying to sniff gross stuff, either. We weren’t going to be late.

I got back in plenty of time to take a shower. I rushed upstairs to find my husband out of the shower and dressed already. I headed for the bathroom door, but something stopped me in my tracks. The shower seemed to be running. Occupied? Confused, I counted heads. Husband and me. One, two. Who was in our shower?

Ah, yes. I forgot that now that he has to share the bathroom with a teenage girl, my son prefers our bathroom. Who can blame him? He used to be afraid of the spiders lurking in the corners of the tub - now he fears being buried alive in beauty care products.

No problem. Resigned to wait my turn, I made good use of the time. I ran downstairs to make the lunches that the kids forgot to make the night before. If I slapped together two PB&J’s, we could still make it.

I ran back upstairs. The shower was free – thank goodness for boys and their uncomplicated grooming requirements! If I took a few shortcuts myself, we’d be outta here in no time. No shaving, no shampoo. I figure it’s okay as long as I smell good, right?

I dressed and hurried downstairs – ready to go! The kids were dressed and ready and sitting in the family room, backpacks packed. They looked up. I looked around.

“Where’s Daddy?” I asked. They stared back at me, a little confused.

“He’s walking the dog.”

So much for planning. On the bright side, the dog did appreciate her second helping of breakfast.

13 comments:

Keri Mikulski said...

Mornings.. Yikes. :)

Suzie said...

Wow! That was some morning

PJ Hoover said...

Isn't it kind of funny/confusing when stuff like that happens!

LW said...

You are too funny…
I love the way you tell a story.

I can’t tell you how many times we have failed to communicate.
We have feed the dog twice,
I have cooked dinner to have my hubby bring home take out and the funniest time of all
was when we both did the grocery shopping without the other one knowing it, double weeks
groceries is not good for the family budget.

Louise

Bish Denham said...

Hee, hee, hee. Ahh, the joys of a hectic morning.

Anonymous said...

Oh-ho! Any glitch in the morning routine and there it goes--right out the window! Bet the dog was glad;)

Kelly Polark said...

Ha! Bonus walk for the dog! I almost always forget things on hectic mornings like that!

Rebecca Ramsey said...

That's so funny! At my house we don't usually double the walking, but the feeding...? Tanner loves those double breakfast days! They come a little too often!

Adrienne said...

Keri - Not our best time of day, I admit.

Suzie - The dog enjoyed it, anyway.

PJ - It's either laugh or go nuts!

LW - That's hilarious! We've doubled up grocery items, but never a whole week's worth!

Bish - Is there any other kind?

Green Girl - Sadly, it's pretty easy to throw me for a loop...

Kelly - I can't tell you how often we have to double back for something.

Becky - How do they always manage to look hungry, too?

Kimbra Kasch said...

My Mom used to always say, "I'd rather laugh than cry."

Rena Jones said...

ROTFLMHO!

I'd blame the dog. He obviously told your husband he was hungry and needed a walk. It's a conspiracy.

Adrienne said...

Kim - Wise woman :)

Rena - Seems like you've met my dog!

Brenda said...

I'm wore out just reading about your morning...grin...