Dare to be Distracted.

Awaken early, resolving Tuesday will be a productive day. Wrestle 8 year old through morning routine while chugging coffee. Stuff sleeping younger sibling into his coat on the way out the door. Discover that 8 year old is now an expert at the Chicken Dance. Notice that younger siblings do not sleep through a rousing rendition of the Chicken Dance, and they wake up crabby. Make mental note to strangle person who taught 8 year old the Chicken Dance. Deliver 8 year old to school. Pray fervently that he does not spend the day blessing his teacher with the Chicken Dance.

Return home, shower, make beds and begin baking cookies. Set up laptop and paperwork, with plans to complete a couple hours of work on Amazon uploading project. Pause to make a tent in the livingroom for a preschooler. Accomplish 10 items. Get distracted by email. Resolve to remain focused and productive. Return to Amazon. Accomplish 10 more items. Decide a small break is in order. Log into Blogger. And Facebook. And Ebay. Waste 40 minutes. Realize how much time has elapsed. Groan.

Go kneel by couch and cry. Tell God "someone" in the room has the attention span of a barn fly. Acknowledge that the Bible does not mention anything about the Virtuous Woman wasting time on the worldwide web. Ask for His help. Resolve to be productive.

Go back to workspace. Set up coloring books and markers beside laptop for preschooler. Ask preschooler to please play quietly with tent and art supplies while Mommy does some work. Log out of Blogger. Log out of Facebook. Log out of Ebay.

Begin to work diligently on Amazon items. Get engrossed in work and make terrific progress. Pay little attention to preschooler playing quietly beside his Mommy. With markers. Answer "okay, sweetie" on more than one occasion, even though the question did not register on brain. Congratulate self on focus and productivity and continue working.

Gradually become aware that preschooler is discussing how "pretty" Mommy is. Find this odd, as Mommy is hound dog ugly. Turn to discover that coloring the puppy book lost his attention long ago. Realize that preschooler has been using a marker to gently color the ends of Mommy's hair while she was being productive. Examine blue hair. Frown. Grouch at preschooler about the evils of coloring anywhere besides the coloring book. Be informed by preschooler that Mommy said "okay, sweetie" when asked about beautification project. Groan. Bang head on table. Make mental note to listen more carefully to small boys holding markers.

Pick up crying preschooler and apologize for being "berry grumpy." Explain that making blue hair is normally not allowed, but yes, Mommy did give permission this time. Only this time. Assure him that blue is Mommy's favorite color. Praise artistic ability.

Announce plans for another shower. Mentally thank God for invention of washable markers. Give in to begging preschooler and allow him to join Mommy in the shower. Discover budding artist knows the Chicken Dance too. Shampoo 3 feet of yellow (and blue) hair while serenaded by the Chicken Dance. Learn that washable markers are not so washable when used on yellow hair. Wash hair 3 more times. Finally remove blue highlights. Mostly.

Exit shower. Dress preschooler. Mentally thank God the Chicken Dance has finally ended. Decide to blog about colorful experience. Log into Blogger... Log into Facebook...