No matter how organized you are or how much planning you put into scheduling as a single parent, the truth is—there will always be some last minute stuff to attend to. As we get into the “thick” of the holidays, I think we need to remind ourselves that we need to allow for some last minute changes—whether it is stuff that comes up with our kids, relations, or work, chances are we will need to do a little “shucking and jiving” in the next few days.
For the past few weeks, I have been moving along, checking things off my list and making sure that everyone and everything is accounted for. Meanwhile, there are the ordinary, every-day details of life, work and family to be contended with as well. Yesterday, when my son brought in the mail, in the stack of holiday cards there was one from a relative that I KNOW I forgot to send a card to—their address has changed and I hadn’t written the new one into my address book last year, so they didn’t make the list this year. Now, it is not uncommon to get cards from people who are not on my list—but not sending one to this relative would be rude and remembered, so I jotted a “chatty” card and put it into the mail this morning. Last minute. I had checked my cards off my list two weeks ago!
I am sure there will be more things that I have forgotten, as well as the unpredictable. One of my colleagues is currently dealing with a child who came down with strep throat yesterday. She still has to take the gifts and treats for the school party, but she also has a sick child at home to tend to—just in time for the relatives this weekend!
Don’t let yourself get stressed if it feels like things are starting to unravel. Relax and roll with it—after all, we can only plan and schedule so well and then we have to leave the rest up to fate. I’ve written before that flexibility is the single parent’s middle name!