I'm overworked and underpaid

Never in my life has so much happened in a two week period.  I have been living hour to hour every day, and next week will continue to be crazy.  I've had so many awesome experiences though, and there have been many funny moments in all the chaos.  Today, however, I had an embarrassing story that I must record.

When I say I've been running around like a mad woman, I'm not far off from being literal.  This morning I was up before 6, and have been going nonstop all day.  After I got the oldest three kids off to school, I jumped in the shower but realized I didn't have time to do a full "get ready."  I didn't wash my hair, but hoped I would have some time to apply a little make-up.  Then I ran around the house picking up all the messes because I had a large Young Women meeting here later in the day.  By 9:00, the house looked presentable, but I still did not.  I was out of time, so had to throw some clothes on Logan and rush us out the door to his last day of preschool party.  His preschool is taught by the teenagers at the high school, so I have to walk through the whole school to get him to class.  I stopped to chat with several people I saw, and then headed to the preschool room, where I spent a while talking to each of his teenager teachers. 

I rushed out of the building to get to the Middle School, where I had a meeting about Brevan.  The school counselor had called a few weeks previously and asked if I could come to the school at 10 o'clock today to access Brevan's school year.  She may have given me more info, but I don't remember and only wrote "Middle School meeting at 10" on the calendar.  I meet with her periodically, so I wasn't too concerned or rushed to get there.  That is code for "I was running late," which is usually the case in my life.  I got there about 10:10, and walked into her office.  She informed me that we were meeting with other people in a large classroom at the back of the building.  Classes were out at the time, so I saw many students I know and maneuvered my way through the crowded hallways.  When I walked in the classroom, there were about 10 people seated at a table, waiting for me.  I apologized for being late, and then felt completely embarrassed when I realized this was an IEP meeting for Brevan, so all of his past teachers were in attendance, as well as some of the administration from the Junior High, where he will be attending school next year.  The first words out of my mouth were, "Oh, I'm so glad you are all here!  If I'd remembered this was an IEP meeting, I might have even made myself half-way presentable today! Hahaha!"  I tried to act normal, but inside I couldn't believe that I hadn't come with a list of my questions, expectations and concerns, like I always have done in the past.  I didn't even have so much as a pen or piece of paper.  I tried to act engaged and intelligent for the next 45 minutes, but felt incredible insecure in front of these professional men and women.  Add to that the fact that many of Brevan's teachers are young and super cute.  By the time I left, I was sweating like crazy and tried to quickly work my way through the halls so I could laugh at myself in my car.  I started driving home quickly (since the YW leaders were already arriving at my house for our meeting) and decided to check the rear view mirror to see just how old and frumpy I looked today.  To my HORROR, there was a HUGE glob of cover-up on the tip of my nose, which I must have put there this morning to cover up a zit and forgotten to rub in before I rushed off.  I was mortified!  Not only did I look absolutely AWFUL to be meeting several people for the first time as well as needing to be a confident advocate for Brevan's needs, but everyone I spoke to had been staring at a huge glob of make-up every time I spoke!  Oh my word, how did any of them take me seriously at all?  I'm sure they were thinking I was just a silly, old housewife who was trying to act important.  Good heavens, I yelled at myself the rest of the way home and then have been laughing the rest of the day in an effort to stop loathing myself!  Hahaha!!

And now I'm off again to make dinner and get my brood out the door to the church for youth night.  I will definitely make sure I look presentable before I leave the house this time!