When did organization become difficult?

There is something I've noticed among many of my friends with children. Lack of organization and chaos. Don't get me wrong. I know freaks of nature do exist. You know the type. The moms who run their children to events in fifty different directions....all at the same time. They do laundry, cook, keep a meticulous house and present you with fresh baked cookies when you stop by unexpectedly! On my road to motherhood I'm quickly discovering that won't be me!!!!!!!!

I used to keep a pretty meticulous house. Of course my husband John would be the first to let my secret out of the bag. I'm a closet slob. If it's lost he'll tell me to look in my closet...... or my car....or my purse. Those are closets too only on a bigger and smaller scale. Anyway, I always took pride in being organized with my home, finances etc....That was until lately.

I'm not quite sure when organized Lori was replaced with unorganized and disheveled Lori. But let me say that the new Lori is taking a little bit of getting used to. It started innocently enough at the beginning of the year. Small piles of mail laying here and there, an occasional unmade bed, or unfolded laundry. My friends would come into my home and through the shock evident by their facial expressions they would ask me "Are you feeling ok?" Yes this was a sight unfamiliar to many of them. Now it has become the norm.

Things got considerably worse throughout summer. The first sign that something was going amiss was the big delay in planting my garden. Now many of you might think this is no big deal. But I'm the person who is normally out in my pajamas every morning checking to see if something sprouted overnight. There is something so rewarding to eat vegetables that have been nurtured from little seeds. I live for planting my garden. I basically did not plant anything until July. Even my friend Dawn said "Wow you weren't kidding, you are behind." And the funny thing is that I don't know how it happened. When did July suddenly sneak up on me? What happened to May and June?

Another curious thing is that I suddenly can't get anywhere on time. It doesn't matter how early I get started but I still end up late. I was always the on-time girl. In fact usually early. Now I find I have to set my alarm clock ahead as if it will trick my brain into forcing me out of bed a little earlier. NOPE.... I just tell myself I've got 5 more minutes.

I've heard that this happens to moms. Could it be that I'm subconsciously preparing for motherhood? Is my brain trying to alleviate the expectant shock to my normally organized world? I've read in my adoption books that many adoptive parents experience similar changes to those families waiting the birth of biological children. Come to think of it I have had cravings and weight gain.......of course my cravings for Fritos and chocolate are more likely the cause of my weight gain:)

Can I use the adoption as my excuse? Today I did! While running an errand on my lunch hour I was pulled over by a Fort Collins patrolman. I anticipated the red flashing lights of the officer behind me long before he actually turned them on. You see.....I'm an outlaw driving with expired registration tags! Yep thats right........I forgot to send in my payment until last week for tags that expired in August. I must have looked at that payment card a thousand times telling myself "Don't forget to pay that." Anyway, thank goodness I had my carbon copy receipt of my check that I had written the week before to the county clerk. Whoooo off the hook for that one!

Then the officer asked for my license and proof of insurance which I promptly handed over. Then he informed me that my proof of insurance card was not a valid date. HMMMMM I know I put the new one in my car somewhere! As I nervously shuffled through papers in my closet disquised as my car and purse, he proceded to call in my license. Of course being the law abiding citizen that I normally am...he realized this was a complete fluke. I did eventually find my new proof of insurance card much to my relief. As we were saying our goodbyes I was suddenly compelled to apologize. And before I knew it I blurted out "I'm sorry I'm so unorganized, I'm adopting!" I wish I could post a picture of his face... I think at that moment he thought he had heard every excuse in the book....until now!

When I got home I told John what had happened. The biggest smirk spread across his face. You see......I constantly give John a hard time about his procrastination, tardiness and lack of organization. He was savoring my little bump in the road. Come to think of it, he is so much more prepared for parenthood then me! He is comfortable in his unorganized skin. For me, this unorganized thing could take some getting used to. I'm sure I'll get plenty of practice.

Lori