Soul Flung Open: Mad May Disease Prevention

Alas, I am far too late to save myself THIS year.....

NOTE TO SELF.. READ and HEED THE FOLLOWING

beginning JANUARY 1, 2012

(and every year after that until Keira graduates from high school)!!!

January 1 - Make a list of every teacher, dance instructor, gymnastics coach, Girl Scout leader, carpool partner, Sunday school leader, babysitter and graduating senior you know.

January 2 - Take the list to the mall and buy them all gifts at after Christmas sales. This will save you a TON of money and even though getting into those stores AGAIN so soon after the holidays is a total beat down, you will be thrilled come May that your shopping is done for all of those wonderful people who bring so much to your children's lives. (This will free up funds for extra therapy sessions or might even pay for a new straight jacket).

January 5 - Speaking of analysis, go ahead and get back into a schedule with your therapist so that when the MADNESS of May hits, you'll be prepared (that nervous tick you've developed this year is starting to freak people out). While you are at it, start that savings account for your children's future psychotherapy.

January 7 - Begin taking your allergy meds NOW. Sure, there may be snow (or ice) on the ground, but if you make a habit of it now, maybe you won't be scratching your eyes out of your head come spring and just maybe you won't feel like you have pneumonia from all the sneezing, hacking and coughing fits you suffer as things bloom.

January 8 - Book appointments for haircut and color and a massage for April 15. You're locks will reflect the REAL you (instead of the gray and tired looking creature currently seen in the mirror) at all of the end of year festivities, recitals and musical performances. The massage might prevent you from looking like Igor (which is how you look today with your stress-filled shoulders hunched up around your ears).

January 12 - Begin spring cleaning and garden planning. Plan to complete all closet organizing, garage purging and extensive yard work by the END of April and do NOT touch big projects again until June. This way, you won't be caught with piles of clothes and underwear strewn all over the place when the termite people come to fumigate your house and take all of your money.

January 18 - Stock up on Sudoko and other brain power puzzles. Start these right away and by May, hopefully, you will prevent your brain from turning to a pre-dimentia mush (like it was in 2011).

January 19 - Start putting twenties in a jar for all the gas money you are going to need in May as your driving children, their friends and their gear to and fro will quadruple. Might even be time for a Prius.

January 25 - Start practicing saying the word, "No." Get comfortable with it. Say it now, slowly, ...."Noooooo." The more you practice, the easier it will become. Cut out life sized photographs of your children and say it to them over and over. You might need to do the same with a picture of the room mom.

January 31 - Remember to LAUGH but also remember that YOU -- and ALL of the many things you are doing as the school year comes to an end -- are in God's loving hands. Don't forget He's with you through it all. Ask for His hand on your heart and all will be well..... whether it gets done or not!