Day in a Life

¶ … Life My morning ritual begins at 7:30 A.M. when I wake up, wash my face, apply fresh make-up, fix my hair, put my clothes on and let the dogs out. This is a weekday ritual that I have performed everyday, except Saturday and Sunday, for seventeen years. I know that it takes me exactly twenty minutes to get myself ready for work.

At 7:50 A.M., I woke up my 4-year-old grandson and dressed him for Daycare, then I gave him his vitamins and fed him his breakfast, which consisted of an apple and apple juice. When he has finished eating, he goes to the restroom. At 8:20 A.M., I let the dogs back into the house and two minutes later my grandson and I walked outside, picked up the newspaper, and headed for Daycare. We arrived at 8:30 A.M.

And after goodbyes, I leave the Daycare and stopped at the Shell station for gas. By 8:35 A.M. I was headed to work. Exactly 30 minutes later, at 9:05 A.M., I have arrived at work. From the time I walk in until 11:30 A.M. I worked on a spreadsheet presentation for a 3:00 P.M. meeting with a very important client. From 11:30 A.M. To 1:15 P.M., I had lunch with my sister and as usual we spent the entire time engaged in meaningless conversation. Then from 1:15 P.M.

To 4:50, I completed the spreadsheet and prepared presentation folders. After 3:00 P.M., I answered emails and returned phone calls. I always try to leave the office everyday by 4:50 P.M. so I will beat some of the rush hour traffic, and today was no exception. I arrived at the Daycare at 5:35 P.M. To pick up my grandson, and because he has started a two-week swim class, I changed him into his bathing suit before we left Daycare because his lessons begin at 5:50 P.M.

We arrived at the Recreation Pool at 5:45 P.M. And from 5:50 P.M. until 6:30 P.M. I watched him take his swimming lessons. Today was his second lesson and he actually went into the pool and let the teacher hold him. I consider this a very good sign. When the lesson is over, I dressed him in his street clothes and we headed to a local restaurant for hamburgers and tater tots because since his lessons began, eating out is faster and easier. We arrived home at 7:30 P.M.

And I spend the next hour dressing him in his pajamas and watching "Bob the Builder," then I read a book before bedtime and listen to his infinite list of reasons why he should stay up "one more minute." From 8:30 P.M. until 9:00 P.M., I lay with him for 30 minutes every night, as he tosses and turn, talks and sometimes cries, because he hates going to bed. I finally slipped out of his room at 9:00 P.M. And then called my mother and talked to her until 10:00 P.M.

Then from 10:00 P.M. To 11:00 P.M., I get on the computer and check my online courses and complete any projects that are due. From 11:00 P.M. until midnight is wind down time for me. This is when I watch television, read a book and play with the dogs. If I'm caught up on my projects then I can spend more time with the dogs. At midnight, I go to bed. I am very aware that I am a routine person.

So much so, that I no longer need to set my alarm clock because I automatically wake up every morning at 7:00 A.M. And spend the next half hour in bed, gathering my thoughts and planning my schedule before I get physically out of bed. Even my dogs know my ritual and when I am completely dressed, they immediately head for the door to go outside and in less than 15 minutes they are scratching at the door to get back in.

When my grandson came to live with me nine months ago, it took an adjustment. I learned that it is easier to dress him while he is still in bed and by the time I have finished, he is awake and ready for breakfast. I have learned that he does not like breakfast that much, so fruit is all he generally wants. And he likes to pick out the color of his vitamins every morning.

When I drop him off at Daycare, he always gives me a big kiss and hug before I leave. This, I have learned, is one of the perks of being a grandmother. Although I was uncertain about my ability to care for him since I had been an "empty nest" mother for several years, I found it much like riding a bicycle, and my mother instincts kicked in like clockwork. We have bonded more like mother and son, rather than grandmother and grandson. He is the joy of my life.

My seventeen-year morning routine is based on the fact that I have worked for the same company for that many years. I have a great relationship with my boss. We treat each other like family. I helped him through a divorce and he helped me through a divorce. He remarried and I remarried. I am good friends with his present wife. I feel more like a partner than an employee. He is aware that his success depends on how I relate and interact with each and every client.

I love my job and am so thankful that I work for a company that I actually enjoy working for everyday. However, since he is the sole proprietor, I also know that he could die or decide to retire, and that I would be out of a job. That is why I went back to school three years ago, hoping someday to be a therapist, with my goal set to attain a masters degree in psychology before I reach 65 years of age. I feel that I am a baby-boomer statistic.

My parents are in their seventies and eighties, my children are grown, and now I am raising another family. And it is a family, with all the routines and interactions that make being a family a positive experience. My biggest concern right now is that my mother will outlive my father and I will be forced to provide care. My father still works and mows lawns on the side, and although my mother is ten years younger, she is thin and weak and walks with a cane.

Moreover, she is an extremely sad and pessimistic.