Lately, when I am at Starbucks the barista or cashier always asks me, "what are you doing today?" It must be a company wide initiative to relate to their customers or some guy on his 5th cup of Jo with so much energy that he can't stop jittering or talking. Nevertheless, they always seem quite genuine and it is nice. When the question is asked, I pause and think, "what am I doing today?" A helpless disorganized mess forms like a cloud of fog in my head as I rapidly search for an answer.
Now that I have 3 kids with distinctly different schedules, I seem to be the chauffeur of the house. So I respond with, "I am driving kids around. You know, I am the momma chauffeur." The young guy behind the counter who is probably knee-deep in college and himself gives a carefree laugh. I laugh too as I realize that he has no idea what I am talking about.
Before kids, I all-knowingly laughed at mothers that spent their days driving kids around. I thought ladies that did that were just unorganized or had too many kids. Why would anyone want to do that with their time? Well, now that i have quickly slipped down that same path this Fall, I must say that a day of driving kids here and there is quite rewarding. Knowing that I am responsible for getting them to school on time, getting them to the doctor when they are sick and the ever-important, getting them picked up on time creates a funny sort-of satisfying feeling. It is a deeply satisfying feeling that I can't entirely explain.
Yes, a big part of the worker in me wishes I had something really important to share with the barista. Something like, "I'm off to catch a flight." or "I have an important deadline to meet." but I guess being responsible for 3 little ones is pretty important too.
And with that, I'm off in the mini to begin my afternoon rounds!
(Yes, I also vowed I would never drive one of those but somehow that changed too!)
