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Overwhelmed AF
Why we all need to eliminate the noise and get focused
I can’t believe it, I overslept again! I’m so tired.
I have to make breakfast for the kids.
No, I have to brush my teeth and take a shower first because I was too tired to do that last night. What am I going to wear? I have a big meeting today, and my boss has been on my case. Let me get breakfast ready—but first, coffee. Even though I’m trying to go plant-based for my kids and have them eat more fruits and vegetables, they’ll have to have Eggo’s this morning—I just can’t. Maybe I have time to make celery juice for my wife and turn on the hot water for her tea…
I’m Overwhelmed AF!
Now that breakfast is on the table, and the celery juice is made, I can get the kids dressed.
Wait—what are the Democrats talking about now?
Let me get my four-year-old dressed first so that I can pay more attention to the baby.
“No, honey, I have not seen your keys.”
OK, the four-year-old is dressed now I can go get the baby. Oh God, she’s soaked. I didn’t put the nighttime diaper on her last night; now, I have pee-pee hands. I’ll just peel her clothes off, give her a wipe down, and get her down to breakfast.
Daughter: You put my shirt on backward, daddy!
Me: Ugh, the buttons don’t go in the front? OK, Daddy will change it.
Daughter: Eeeew, your hands are wet?
I’m Overwhelmed AF!
OK, the toddler and the baby are dressed and somewhat clean. I hope nobody calls my kid the pee-pee kid…doing the best I can right now. “Honey, here are your keys, you left them on the kitchen counter.”
What did the Republicans say now? Mike and Steve are DMing me in Messenger about what’s going on in politics again. I can’t believe he kisses his wife with that mouth.
Messenger: You are stupid, Steve!
I can’t expect John to be the voice of reason, either. His opinions are so black and white.
OK, what am I going to wear! I have to impress today. Stacey is always judging me with her judgy eyes. Damn it, Stacey just e-mailed me. The meeting is an hour earlier!
I’m Overwhelmed AF!
OK, now that I’m dressed, let me check on my oldest daughter because I have 30 minutes before I need to get out of here…
“GET OUT OF BED! I woke you up at 6:00; how are you back in bed? I swear to God if you are not ready in 30 minutes, I will KILL YOU!”
“DADDY! DADDY! DADDY! DADDY! DADDY!”
What is wrong with my angels? I need to rush downstairs to see what is going on.
Me: What’s wrong!
Daughter: I’m done! Can I watch the Disney Channel?
Let daddy turn on Disney Channel so you will leave me alone.
Dang, what about screen time? Eh, who has time to calculate screen time?
I am Overwhelmed AF!
OK, kids are fed.
OK, throw some of this in the lunch bag, spread some peanut butter on some bread. Here’s some more unhealthy stuff because I didn’t have time to get freshly cut vegetables—that they would have thrown in the trash anyway. I just need to get this done so I can get out of the house on time. After all, I have to prepare for the meeting; thanks to STACEY, who decided to have the meeting earlier, I have less time to prepare.
Wait, what are the Republicans and Democrat’s saying right now? They are idiots.
Messenger: They are idiots, Mike!
“Kids let’s go!”
Why doesn’t my oldest have on shoes?
Never mind, get in the car!
Oh god, I forgot to take a shower. Do I smell like pee-pee?
OK, the fiasco that is my morning is my fault—only a little because I had so many kids. Just playing.
Actually, it is my fault because I let outside influences take my attention instead of focusing. We tend to think: the morning is overwhelming without the TV, my life is overwhelming without e-mail to my phone, my life is overwhelming without Messenger.
“Informational overload is the collateral damage of an ongoing war for our attention.” (The Power of Agency by Drs. Paul Napper, Psy.D. and Anthony Rao, Ph.D.)
Being Your Best Self
We are often not our best selves, because our attention is all over the place. I must admit I’m guilty of this. Allowing my attention to be scattered means I’m not focusing on what is most important—my family!
When I am out of control, my children pick up on that, and they become out of control too. Sometimes I carry it to work, and the rest of the day is spinning out of control as well.
My advice, focus on the most critical task at hand, which, for me, is getting my kids ready for school in the morning. Eliminate the noise—no TV, no phone, and limited sound except for my screaming children. Also, it wouldn’t hurt me to prep for my morning the previous evening so that everything goes a little bit smoother.
Planning and preparations—thinking ahead—go a long way. It has helped me immensely. I’m sure it will help you too.
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