Why do I always have so many lists?

Ok so I am getting older – aren’t we all? But my poor brain is getting so full that things often slip out of it, how do I solve this problem? I make a list! The only problem is these are getting slightly out of hand I now have so many lists I need a list to keep track of them.

I have a list in my kitchen for shopping, things I’ve run out of, things the children have asked for to have for dinner, things I’ve seen on TV and think I fancy trying that.

Then there’s my to do list - phones calls, housework (how can I forget to do that?), letters to answer, emails to reply to, birthdays and bills to pay.

I also have a Caroline’s Creations list – orders to make, ideas to try and things to buy (you all know about my ice cube tray obsession!)

Then there’s the list I have at work well actually I usually have two lists, things I really must do today and things I really must do soon.

Oh and I nearly forgot, sometimes I have one by my bed for things that keep me awake, I lie there worrying I’ll have forgotten them by the morning so I write them down.

Some of them are written on the back of an old bill or letter but some of them have their own little note pads, some plain but one is really pretty!

I googled list making obsession and the results were varied including it’s an ok thing to do to I have OCD – lol! Anyone who knows me will not believe that!

But I think I should try and calm my list making but how? Maybe I should make a list of suggestions?

Help me please!

Mrs Bath

Crafting With Children

Having two young children - 4 and 3 years - it is difficult to find the time to get some sewing done. I love sewing on the daytime due to the natural day light and the fact that I am not as tired as once the kids are in bed. But finding the time to do it is like guessing the winning lottery numbers!

If the children are at preschool it is great, I can get it done then, but I still have to get it all packed away before I pick them up. Or if Daddy is off and home and they are all playing together I can get on then. I get about 5 minutes of sewing in peace before either one or both of them come in to

A) complain that the other one is being horrible to them

B) Want something to eat, despite having only just eaten a big meal

C) See what I am doing as they are missing me!

Once they are in my sewing room aka the dining room/their playroom they are suddenly fascinated in all my stuff, my 4 year old son wanting to know what everything does, what it is called, if it is dangerous and what I am making whilst my 3 year daughter is asking if I am making her anything, if not is it for friends and then diving head first into my fabric boxes to see what "beautiful fabric for my babies" I have and then starts pulling it out and telling me that I need to use that to make something for her babies.

By this time I have steam coming out of my ears and am practically shouting "DON'T TOUCH, DON'T TOUCH, GET YOUR HANDS OFF, NOOOOOOOOO" whilst my husband is still oblivious to the fact that the children are hassling me and daring to touch my equipment!

If I do manage to get more than 5 minutes to sew I then start to get the inevitable 'mummy guilt', despite the fact that the children are happy and occupied with what they are doing I still feel guilty that I am not entertaining them and doing stuff with them, despite them and me knowing that I am working to pay for their treats and days out as well as contributing towards the household bills!

So once I have finished the nightly marathon of getting them into bed and making them stay there (bedtime has completely gone out of the window thanks to the Olympics and the summer holidays!), been on Facebook AGAIN to do my networking it is far too late to get the machine out as I am far too tired and the light is not great. So I will definitely find that hour to do it tomorrow... Maybe give the children a bowl of fruit and tell them there is there food, play nicely and I will give lots of cuddles when I am done.... Could work, stranger things have happened!

Mrs Fabric