A Simple Little Roadtrip

My sister reminded me recently that it's been a long time -- years, in fact -- since I visited her and her family in Indianapolis. It has been so long that I tallied a master's degree, two kids and two job changes since I had last visited her. Life had clearly gotten in the way. A little planning between two busy families, and I packed up our crew for a weekend visit to the Crossroads of America.

We arrived yesterday to a full lunch spread -- sliced fruit, crudite, and a curried chicken salad that will join our regular rotation. The kids played, the grownups... grownupped. We ate, drank and played our way through the weekend. It was a great chance to reconnect with my only sister, whom I seldom visit.

When it came time to drive home this afternoon, I found myself in a panic. I depend on the weekends to get our home and family "reset" for the upcoming work and school week -- loads of laundry, dishes, and all that goes into meal prep for the week. I suddenly found myself parked in traffic on Interstate 70 East wondering how I would get it done this weekend before Monday crept back into view.

As it was, we arrived home just before dinner. The kids were grumpy from the car ride, dinner wasn't ready and I had a whole car to unpack. The weekly chores never saw their due and I'm staring at my bed, the sound of a limp white flag waving somewhere in the distance. I know what this means -- that we will spend this entire week wearing our second-string wardrobe and eating expensive takeout before I get another chance to reset our lives next Saturday... a very long six days away.

Between career, two kids and a dog, it is boggling to think that I can barely squeak in a weekend road trip without suffering some major operational consequences. I have a house cleaner, I have babysitters, and yet there has to be a better way.

For now, the white flag waves in surrender, and I'll hope for clean underwear in the morning.

#chores #reset #roadtrip #laundry #dishes #mealprep