Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Remiss, but Making Amends

Long, long ago....in AUGUST, I received an award from one of my favorite bloggers: AOJ & the Lurchers. August. Did you get that? I am waaaay behind. How on earth am I going to get thru the blog-fest that is NaBloPoMo?

At any rate, MANY THANKS to AOJ & the Lurchers for this sweet award:

It originated with another blogger, RDH Mom. Why did I get this award? HA...b/c I "rant real good."

So, I need to prove I am deserving of the award. The topic: Last Minute-itis. The victim: Me.

Those of you with children will totally understand this. Those of you not blessed with the experience of raising a child, feel free to borrow mine for a taste of adventure.

Last Minute-itis means that somehow, I have to write a check for an insane amount of money, right before the teenager leaves the house for school that morning.

Last Minute-itis means I get a text message, asking if the teenager can run around town with another teenager, five minutes before I was supposed to pick said teenager up.

Last Minute-itis causes the teenager to mention that she needs a specific article of clothing, that is NO WHERE TO BE FOUND in our tiny little town...like at 9PM, the NIGHT BEFORE the event requiring the attire.

Last Minute-itis means that the teenager will need help on a complex subject like Geometry, about 30 minutes before bedtime, and after I have consumed a glass and a half of Pinot Grigio.

I know this is an "on demand" society - with all our fancy devices. I know that part of the fault lies with ME...The Enabler. I also am guilty of eye-rolling and the typical parental response such as, "WHY did you wait until the absolute LAST minute to tell me this?" And such response usually results in a prolonged argument that drives the male parental unit insane.

Is there a cure for Last Minute-itis? If so, could you share it with me?

Since I don't have one, I'm taking my only form of revenge: posting a silly photo of the teenager on my blog. For ALL to see. Hehehehe!

16 comments:

Desert Songbird said...

The only known cure for that affliction is the send said teenager off to military school. I have a nice one all picked out in the Midwest. Oh, and did I mention it's a SINGLE SEX SCHOOL? Mwahahahaha...

Richard Lawry said...

I have the answer, but it's probably not the one you want to hear. I used to have your problem, but it has gone away. Both of my kids are grown and out of the house. Oh, I just remember that it hasn't gone completely away. I'm still married.

An Arkie's Musings

M@ said...

You should beat her. With an isosceles triangle.

Anonymous said...

I'm so glad I'm not the only one doing all the eye-rolling and scolding. I believe all children are, as Bill Cosby pointed out so many years ago, brain damaged.

Anonymous said...

I still have it, so you really shouldn't ask me! I'm what teenage procrastinators morph into.

Jay said...

I do enough procrastinating for everyone so I guess I couldn't ever complain about others waiting until the last second.

bichonpawz said...

Oh! I can SO relate to this post!! You will make it through this...do not ask me how. I can sit here now...wondering how in the hell I made it through my daughter's high school years...but I did it somehow. And you will too! I am insanely, over the top proud of my daughter right now!! At the age of 22, she managed to purchase her very own house...all on her own....boyfriend not included! He's just going to live there....LOL....but I am SO PROUD of her!! It's surprising what they can accomplish after all of years of eye-rolling and scowling!

Tiggerlane said...

desert songbird - I'm betting I would save a lot of money not having to buy black eyeliner, too - b/c they don't allow that kind of stuff at military school, right?

richies - I keep thinking I only have THREE AND A HALF years left...but then? Then, someone told me there is a great possibility that THEY COME BACK. Sigh.

m@ - now THAT was the comeback of the day.

melissa - we are peas in the pod of parenthood. Let's just run away somewhere and eat cupcakes.

anglophilefootballfanatic - I guess this is where I admit that I am also an adult procrastinator...which means I already procrastinate this stuff...and now it is compounded.

jay - I think being a parent gives me complaining rights. But yeah, I'm guilty as charged.

bermudabluez - oh, you give me HOPE that this phase might really come to an end! If only I had a crystal ball - and could SEE that she will not be a homeless bum somewhere at the age of 22...b/c from the looks of her bathroom, she totally can not be trusted to own a house. Ever. Thanks for the encouragement.

Beckie said...

If you find a cure let me know. We have a serious case of last minute-itis going on at our house.

Vinny "Bond" Marini said...

They only cure known to man is murder...but that is not an option...OH how I know about last Minute-itis

Anonymous said...

I think some people are born Last Minute people, and some people are born as Advance Planners. It's hard to turn a Last Minute person into a Planner, but anyone can form new habits, right? Writing things down, so as to plan them out thoroughly, is key for me. And, the busier a person is and the more she has going on, the more of a Planner she becomes.

We have a lot of Last Minute people in my extended family. Nothing is ever on time for those family get-togethers, LOL.

Tiggerlane said...

beckie - maybe we could trade teens? I hear fear of the unknown can really whip people into shape...

bond - I think I might get off for an insanity plea.

kila - I am SUCH a Planner, but also an Easily Distracted...which means, I plan, with my little list, and then BAM! Distraction! And then the Last Minute girl springs to life. Can I join your Last Minute family?

the rotten correspondent said...

You're making me feel better. I just found awards from some time last spring that I totally forgot to put up. And now I'm too embarrassed.

Yeesh.

karisma said...

aha! Its one word NO!

Spellbound said...

My name is Elaine and I am an enable. I have (cringe) set up all night working on a model of the solar system while my 4th grader slept and then apologized that he only got a B on his project. I have made skipped work to make cupcakes for my daughter's fifth grade class because she just mentioned that she needed them as we were getting in the car to drive to school. I have used my lunch hour to find Cliff notes for a book my 10th grade son did not read, but must have a report on by nine tomorrow morning or he will fail his AP English class. You know these are certainly not the only examples I have of ninth hour rescues, but I will give you some encouragement. I have three responsible adult children who go to work every day and pay their bills on time, and the ultimate revenge, I just had my first grandchild. This is going to be such fun.

Tiggerlane said...

the rotten correspondent - put 'em up anyway...after all you've been thru? Girl, NO embarrassment - you're a survivor!

karisma - wish I had read your comment BEFORE placing a last-minute order online for fuzzy leg warmers. That MUST be here by Halloween.

spellbound - I am an enabler, too - and you give me hope that I won't have this child living with me when she is 25. So, it CAN be done? I have renewed faith. Thank you.