Our New Old Schedule

I lifted my head and, with one eye open, peeked at the clock.

7:15 AM

I put my head back down and began to do the kind of math I learned as a parent.

Backward Math.

Okay, her soccer game starts at 9:15 AM.  She needs to be there at 8:30. It is an hour and a half away, so we need to leave by 7.  I did change this clock ahead last night, so that’s done. I did, right?  This clock is 30 minutes early, so subtract that and….

“Catelyn!!!”

I shot up in bed and ran to her room.

“You may or may not have to be in the car ready to go in the next 15 minutes.  I have to go check my math.  Just get up!”

A puffy face sat up and opened one eye.

I ran down the stairs and looked through all the clocks.  Half of the clocks changed themselves, and the other half relied on me to change their time for Daylight Savings.

I danced from foot to foot and stared at the stove. 

5:47 AM.  Is that right?  Add an hour and – oh no!

PHONE!  Phone, phone – where’s my phone! That one automatically updates!

 I shuffled through the pile of charging wires. I ransacked my computer area.  I dumped out my purse.

PHONE!

6:49 AM.

Oh no!!!

“Catelyn!” I yelled as I ran up the stairs, “We have 10 minutes to get into the car!”

I stopped by her room to see her standing, one soccer sock on, one in her hand, her back slumped over, hoping to fall back into bed.

“You suck,” she finally whispered.

“I do,” I agreed, “We can joke about it later.  Just get whatever you need and take it to the car.  You can get ready on the ride down.”

I don’t ever use an alarm.  When I know I have to get up early, my internal clock starts the clock peek every ten minutes from 3 AM until it is time to rise.

I had no issue doing the same wake-up and backward math for Saturday’s games.  And although I *thought* I had everything figured out for Sunday, I was just a little off.

Daylight Savings Time – 1, Robyn – 0.

Determined not to make the same mistake again, I decided to use my alarm Monday morning to ensure I would have the big kids up, dressed, and fed in time to take their 7 AM bus for school.

My internal clock was able to reset itself.  I began the “clock peek and toss” as scheduled, starting at 3 AM. The actual alarm was not necessary.

Fed, dressed, and AWAKE kids were on their bus going to school.

Daylight Savings Time – 1, Robyn – 1.

One year ago, the world shut down.  The kids were sent home from school, and we prepared for a 14-day quarantine.  Our grocery store shelves were empty as we all prepared. 

I didn’t really have to worry about getting up early for school because it wasn’t school anymore.  “Zoom school” started later.

Until now.  This week my big kids aren’t just going to school on Mondays and Wednesdays, they are back four full days a week.

Could my internal clock handle TWO days of early wake-ups in a row after a year of a little more extra sleep?

Yep!

Daylight Savings Time – 1, Robyn – 2.

TAKE THAT, DST!

For the first Tuesday IN FOREVER, the house was quiet.  There was no one asking for or making food in the kitchen that never closed.  No one needed help with a zoom, or with the WiFi, or with homework for a class. No one needed to be videotaped performing some activity for credit. No one needed to use the printer, or markers, or help with some project. I cleaned the house, and it STAYED CLEAN.  It was so – NEW.

The kids have remarked how “weird” school is as well, although they are happy to see friends again. 64% of our district students committed to going back to school for in-person instruction, while 36% committed to zoom from home.  At 64%, my kids say the school is “packed.”

The schools have prepared for students’ influx and have taken necessary safety precautions to keep kids socially distanced or separated with a plexiglass barricade.

Tomorrow is another day of in-school learning.  I am hopeful I have adjusted to DST, and there will be no issue with waking up on time to get the kids prepped and out the door.  We are back on the school routine and schedule.

Which leaves me.  Who was I, pre-COVID?  If I remember correctly, I never had enough time. I was always on the run. What did I do with my time and schedule? 

I can’t wait to find out.