Would You Forget Your Head If It Wasn’t Attached?

Oh my goodness! We forgot the diaper bag – again. Now, you’d think after having four kids this would be second nature. But nooooooo. Here we are driving around looking for this music store (Pork Chop needs some cork repair on his clarinet) when we realize that we didn’t bring the bag. Horror! What if someone poops! Gross. And with two in diapers, that’s a very likely scenario. Luckily, it all worked out fine. And we bought a stash to just keep in the van so this doesn’t keep happening. It made me feel like a rookie parent again.

I remember with my first one, I had dropped him off with my mother. I was nursing at the time so I kept forgetting to pack bottles. This particular day, I was so proud of myself because I KNEW I packed those darn things. I finally remembered. Only to pick him up later and discover that I had forgotten to pack the nipples. Yikes! She had tried to feed him and milk just poured out of the bottle. He was not happy. And neither was my mom.

I don’t have a bad memory. Really. It is just that sometimes I have way to much to remember. When I was a single mom, my apartment was covered with little sticky notes in strategic places, reminding me of important things that needed to be done. There was one time, in my haste to get to class I forgot to drop Pork Chop off at the babysitter. There I am tearing down the road when I hear a giggle. I look up in the rear-view mirror and there he is! Sitting in his car seat laughing at me! Groan. I had to turn around.

And he still laughs at me when I forget. I went through a bout of forgetting my cell phone all the time. I even tried the post it note trick. It didn’t work this time. Figures. I’d get all the way out to the van and have to come back in the house. And every time, there’s Pork Chop, “Did you forget your phone again, Mom?” Har har.

I have all kinds of strategies to help me remember. The sticky note works most of the time. There’s also the family calendar in the kitchen. Then I have a personal planner. I also send emails to myself and post things on my home page. I leave notes on the kitchen table. Usually, everything works out as planned. But sometimes I really come across a block (like the cell phone and the bottle). Then the trick is to try to find the trigger so that I can use it to help me remember.

I only forget the silly things. I’ve never forgotten to pick the kids up (just drop them off – do you think it could be subconsciously not wanting to leave them?) I’ve never forgotten to feed them, or bathe them, or dress them. I’ve never forgotten to give them love and attention. I’ve never forgotten to keep them healthy and safe.  I remember how to use knives and scissors.  I remember how to cook and clean.  I remember how to sew and repair clothes.

See! I’m brilliant.

I think I can remember to do that!