Ugh. I’m not feeling it. Enticing start eh?
We’re all allowed to feel off aren’t we? I’m no different from anyone else.
I’m the sort of person that can very easily be impacted by how a day is started. If the day starts rough, it usually continues in the same vein. And if that day happens to be a Monday, well then it sets the tone for the week. And if it’s the first day of the month, it sets the tone for the month. And if it’s the first day of the year… you get the picture.
Monday wasn’t the greatest of starts.
The weekend itself was a bit pants. But not in an obvious way. Nothing bad happened. At least I can’t remember it being the case. However, I pulled a muscle in my neck last week, which meant sleeping has been a pain. Literally. One night I couldn’t even turn over. Instead I had to sit up to turn. Which doesn’t seem like much – but in the middle of the night it’s a lot.
So yeah, although not quite as bad, the neck pain continued into the weekend which left me on edge. I’m certain I wasn’t much fun to be around, which then results in me feeling guilty for not being the always-fun dad from Bluey 100% of the time.
On top of that, the OddSon is/was also suffering from a bug. He’s mostly himself still, just a little more grizzly. Though he’s sleeping a lot more. On the one hand it’s amazing that he falls asleep so quickly at night as it leaves me with more time to waste.
On the other hand, it pains me to see him struggling and coughing through the night.
So, back to Monday morning. The plan was simple:
- Wake up – get ready
- Wake the OddSon
- Get the OddSon ready
- Drive the OddSon to nursery
- Drive to the train station
- Get my train to London for work
This is no irregular routine – in fact it’s a very routine routine for us.
What transpired was slightly altered. I woke up later due to my own struggles, I then woke the OddSon. He was not impressed. Getting him ready involved more tantrums. He wanted to pour the toothpaste, he wanted to take his clothes off, he wanted to pick his clothes for the day.
All the while, time was ticking.
Eventually, we got there. I tend to be the sort of person to plan for contingency so there was still time even though I was still in my pyjamas as I left the house with the OddSon. It’s ok, his nursery is only 5 mins away, I have enough time to get back, shower, and leave again for my train.
Road closures.
I had to turn around and go the alternative way. Which was precisely what hundreds of other drivers were trying to do. I checked on Google Maps and the time to the nursery stated 14 mins!
At this point I was panicking. I drove somewhere else entirely, where I had the option of doing a 10 minute walk to the nursery through a park.
I was still in my pyjamas. It was drizzling. I had no jacket for myself or the OddSon. I had no umbrella. I also left the pushchair in the other car. So I had to carry the OddSon and run with an already sore neck.
I finally dropped him off, ran back to the car, parked up at home… and realised there was no way I was ever going to make my train.
Well, shit.
I booked a cheaper train for lunch time and decided to work from home that morning.
And since then the week has just felt a bit meh. I don’t know what I expect to happen, or change.
Life just feels really busy. I’m a little overwhelmed with jobs that need to be done to prepare for the arrival of the OddBaby, whilst also trying to juggle the day to day home life, whilst also trying to juggle a pretty demanding role at work.
Maybe it’s all in the neck? Maybe I’m carrying this around with me and as soon as this settles, so will my mindset. Maybe.
Or maybe I’m just tired, a little overwhelmed, and trying to do too much at once.
Either way, I’m hoping next week starts a little better.
