Busy is as busy does

I often joke that p-man is the UNITASKER!

I think it's catching.

We are still really reeling form the duo parenting when I figure we should have managed some upper-hand. Turning over the challenges this morning I think it is the unitasker thing. Girl Friday was always a great sleeper, for example, so we tend to put stuff on until the child-free minutes. Nowadays, many days can pass without child-free minutes. We have to find a way to do more stuff with the kids around. Besides they ain't gonna nap forever.

So far I have found they are reasonably helpful harmless when it comes to:
Doing Laundry
Sweeping
Vacuuming
Washing/Chopping veggies
Gardening

We need more suggestions though as we drown in our chores to 12 midnight a few days a week.

The other big mistake I am sure we are making is doing too much stuff together. I really hate this one. I like to do things together. But I think having two parents on deck at bathtime, for example, just isn't done, is it? We should be splitting up more to do dishes while the other does bedtime and stuff like that right?

When we got ready for #2 I was worried about stuff being 'too hard'. I always found some solace in the advice that my family was expanding. The addition should be seen as a plus not a minus. This advice has proved true in every area save household managment. God what I wouldn't give for an effective, and cheap, cleaning service. Where are you nutritious frozen foods? Whither be reliable babysitters and helpful relatives? I concede the two-hour houseclean days are over but cut me some slack on the personal hygine at least! I am happy as hell that 'skirt season' is over, such as it is. Have I washed my hair today this week?

Let this be a lesson to all of you how about two people.

Abduction?

Last month we took a vacation to smaller town BC. But this smaller town is not without its mega-stores. Whilst visiting mega-store, also known as Canadian Tire!, in an effort to replace the rapidly deflating air matress Miss Fancy was camping out on I think I might have intervened in a child abduction attempt. (Whoa, few things forgive such a run-on sentence as that sentiment, n'est ce pas?)

I was in the 'toy section' and could hear a conversation in the next aisle. A man and little girl.
Man: What? Who are you here with?
Girl: Sob sob..
Man: What were they wearing? What do they look like. Do they have a cell phone?
[This sounds all well and good. Child doesn't need my help, I think to myself.]
Man: Listen, do you want to go to the park with me and they will find us there.

WHAT???!>#>@??!!! Did I just hear that?.. I whip around the corner to view the two in their aisle.

Man sees me and now says... Listen I think we should go to the front of the store and they can find us there. He heads that way with her. I follow. En route the family intersects with the pair and tearful child is reunited with family party. Man quickly says 'there you go' and heads in another direction.

I walk away, pretty much. I wander a moment or two. Wonder what I should do. If I heard what I thought I heard this ain't a case of no harm no foul. I look for him. Where is he? What would I do if I found him anyway? The fierce mama-bear in me wants to find him and have a confrontation. The mouse in me thinks my-word-against his. I wonder should I have said something to the family. Will the little girl? Does the store need to know?

The moments slip away and my husband stops circling the van with our two sleeping kids. I am picked up.

I do nothing else. Feel pretty wretched about it still.