Wow, last night was awful!  I couldn’t quiet my mind to save my life.  I had a huge project I was finishing up (20 page book with 50 pictures – each on needing retouching and the album to be designed) and my back hurt from sitting at the computer for so long.  Actually I have been sitting at my desk so much that just to sit at my computer starts to make my back hurt.  I definitely need a new chair!!!  And it’s also that time of year.  I’m sure things will settle down a bit in the next few weeks.

But as I worked last night, I felt the pinch of the season.  Having a huge project like this is not unusual, but I had to put it out in half the time, which was stressful.  When you do an album; you want it to be perfect; because any imperfection will be there forever and you DON’T want that to happen.  So I find myself literally zooming in on every picture examining it in 1 inch rows all the way down the page, because you would be surprised at what gets by if you aren’t paying attention.

So as I finished the book last night, I sent the proof over and I decided to go to bed.  Hubby was already asleep; he tends to pass out before me with these late hours.  I came in and brushed my teeth. Then I realized that I never turned off the lights downstairs or locked the doors so I did that.  Then I climbed into bed and realized I need to send some stuff off to print; so I got up and wrote that down.  Then I remembered I had a senior page to finish, so I got up and wrote that down.  Then I remembered something else so I got up and took care of that and on and on and on.  I got in and out of bed so many times that I woke hubby up and he asked what was wrong.  I felt bad, because I HATE getting woken up, but I knew if I didn’t write it down I would forget!!!  (that is the problem with getting texts of verbal okay while you are out and about.  They never get put to paper unless you remember to do it when you get home, which I rarely do).  But the pressure of the season has  my brain working at a whole different level and it’s driving me nuts!!!

Last night as I was turning off the lights, I remembered my dad.  I remember the lectures he would give every time he flicked off and ‘unused’ light.  I remember him locking up the house and keeping us safe.  I remember the time that the Night Stalker was running loose in the 80’s my dad came in and told me to make sure my window was locked so this creep wouldn’t come in.

As I think back to growing up and how many sleepless nights I have; I wonder how my parents did it with five kids.  I know there were times that things were tight, but they somehow made things happen for us.

I’m sure my sleepless nights and my stress are just following in the footsteps of my parents.  And when I go through things like this, I can’t help but wonder what they would say!  I could ask my mom, but I never think about it when I see her.

I do remember when I was pregnant with my second child I was nervous as all get out.  I looked at my mother in law and asked her; “How do you manage two kids?”  And the look on her face said it all.  In the second before she answered me I could see she was flashing back but didn’t have a real good answer for me other than, “Oh….you just do!”  And then Avery came, and I survived.

Even though my back hurts and my nights are pretty sleepless, somehow I will muddle through.  I’m not the first to go through this and I won’t be the last.  The reward is in the happy client and that means a lot to me.  It’s a hard time of year for my family, because they don’t see me as much, but they have months where I’m doing nothing and they get my full attention.  It all balances out in the end!!!  And somehow we all get through.

Happy Monday!