Jill Smokler, AKA Scary Mommy
Latest posts by Jill Smokler, AKA Scary Mommy (see all)
- Taking Back What’s Ours - June 19, 2013
- Dear Judgy Mothers on My Website… - June 15, 2013
- 10 Skills Every Mother Should Possess - June 10, 2013
I’ve spent a good deal of my life frustrated with other people: People who constantly run late, while I’m inevitably early. People who neglect to RSVP to parties, while I always do within a few days. People who mail things weeks later than they promised, while I make a point out of getting to the post office way too frequently. People who don’t write thank you notes while I addressed mine before the wedding or the babies even arrived. People who simply don’t don’t show up to appointments, while I never forget a commitment. You know, like, 99% of the population.
Well, it seems that I have finally become this person. The person I so despise.
A few weeks ago, my refrigerator was plastered with party invitations. I kept meaning to respond, but just hadn’t found the time. When I finally sat down to do it, I saw that the parties had passed weeks ago.
I finally began utilizing my voicemail last week. Before that, I’d used an old school answering machine, not realizing that calls received when I was on the phone were automatically passed to voicemail. When I set it up, I already had 257 unheard messages. Many were from doctors and dentists whose appointments I’d unknowingly blown off.
Last week I never showed up to a play-date, simply forgetting all about it.
The week before, I had a bowl that I’d sold on E-bay sit in my car for a week before I remembered to ship it, resulting in my first negative ever review.
{Whoops.}
I finally understand how the rest of the world lives. And, I’ll admit, it’s a hell of a lot easier joining ‘em than beating ‘em.
I’m just a tad bit late to the game.
{ 59 comments… read them below or add one }
All it means is you are normal! Welcome to the real world where we all run late and forget RSVPs!
I can’t believe you’ve done so well for so long with three kids. I haven’t been on time to anything since my son was born 18 months ago!
.-= T Rex Mom´s last blog ..Happy Father’s Day =-.
I know- it’s pretty impressive that I lasted as long as I did. It was bound to end eventually.
I have a fridge calendar, a paper back-up, a calendar in my phone and still another on my computer….you’d think I’d have my shit together but no – that would be too easy.
.-= Futureblackmail´s last blog ..MATCHING TWINKIES =-.
So do I– I just ignore them all these days!
You have three kids, it is summer, and it is hot. You have an excuse.
Kind of. I too am always on time, always rsvp, and have my thank-you notes in the mail the day after I receive the gift. But don’t ask me to mail you anything. That will take MONTHS.
.-= courtney´s last blog ..I’ve got the fever…. =-.
Hahaha! At least you’ve finally joined the rest of us in being forgetful. I’m not as forgetful as most, but ohhh, I’ve been there, done that.
And Courtney, you’re not alone in the mail thing. I’m HORRIBLE about getting to the post office. Especially since it’s so far away form us now!
Welcome to the land of having a kid – and you have three!
I was always on time, rsvp’ed quickly, etc too…now I also have loads of unheard messages in my voicemail and I need reminders to respond to evites even. UGH. I tell you what, I do give other people a break now…now that I’ve joined them too!
.-= christy´s last blog ..The week of the NON-COMPLAINING CHRISTY =-.
Better late than never!!! :)
And that’s why everyone should email instead of calling….. because most people have crackberries these day.
.-= Cookie Crums´s last blog ..Who’s your daddy? =-.
Thank you notes are my kryptonite. I NEVER get them out in a timely manner. And by the time I get around to it I’m almost too embarrassed to send them.
.-= Jennifer´s last blog ..He thinks he’s so big… =-.
I used to get so mad at people who ran late and than I became a mom…I think 10 years ago was the last time I was on time for something! I feel like I am constantly trying to get ahead!
this is me…110%. i totally get it.
.-= Bridget´s last blog ..Brother’s Day =-.
I’m good about remembering things… most of the time. Since we started homeschooling I’ve kind of retuned my brain to slow down and mellow out. The problem is, somewhere in there the switch for “actually remember shit” got turned to the off position. I pretty much write everything down, leave myself notes, mark the calendar… and forget EVERYTHING.
.-= Jasie VanGesen´s last blog ..Finally getting into some outfits again. =-.
Yeah, I have to write everything down on a calendar so I don’t forget any little thing. My brain is too full of mundane chores and work to remember the fun stuff like parties and girls night outs and dentists appts….
We received 4 or 5 graduation announcements and have been so busy that we didn’t even send a card. There is just too much to do sometimes. And my ears are burning.
.-= James (SeattleDad)´s last blog ..A Decent Man =-.
I have to laugh because this post was in a reader folder with one other post – all about how easy it is to just pick up the phone and respond to an invitation. Ha! Maybe she was talking about you…
I get it – I blow things off all the time. I don’t mean to, but I’m scatterbrained.
.-= LZ´s last blog ..Just do what you need to do =-.
I’ve been terrible lately too! I’m the secretary for a church related mission group. The rally was the week before my son’s graduation on May6th. The notes still sit in my husbands laptop waiting to be sent in. oops… Every time I think of it, I’m in the car, or too busy to do anything about it. I think they hate me…
The graduation party wiped me out and now, 2 months later, I still don’t have my sh@! together.
.-= Val´s last blog ..Pillowcase fight! =-.
Add me to the list of previously “on time” people. I’ve gone to the darkside! I’m now perpetually on time or 5 min late…
.-= Roxane´s last blog ..Maybeline Monday! & Not Me Monday :) =-.
I think it’s impressive you managed to keep all that up for as long as you did. I gave up on mailing things on time before I even left high school, and it’s been getting progressively worse ever since lol.
And it took you three kids! I am impressed!
:)
.-= Robin´s last blog ..Musical Monday: Rainy Day Women =-.
I’m with ^Sarah on this one. I’ve never been good at mailing things on time, but being punctual is KEY! Nothing worse than a notoriously late person(like my mother in law!)
I hated having to join this group, but, alas, I did a while ago. It’s hard to be on top of everything with 3 children underfoot. And, it gets harder as they get older too!
Being a Type-A myself, I find making mistakes like that horrible, but then I realize that once in a while is not a crime. As long as you don’t become a habitual truant! :)
NO! You must resist! That’s what your iPhone is for! Plug in your appointments, set the reminder, and let technology do the rest. Let the rest of the world dissolve into Cheeto-eating, sweat pant & slipper-wearing, Mountain dew-slurping cretins, but you Scary Mommy, you must remain the shining beacon to the rest of us.
Although no one is perfect, do you know how much it makes my day when I get a thank you note? When someone RSVP’s in a timely manner? When an appointment is promptly kept? It gives me HOPE. It makes me think the world is still a good and happy place, where the birds will continue to sing, the sun will continue to shine, and the a-hole who cut me off on the freeway while doing 90, talking on his cell phone using his douchebag headset, and slurping a Venti triple-caf WILL be pulled over tomorrow.
.-= Amy´s last blog ..Fab Friday: June 19 =-.
Kids! Its all because of the kids. I never used to be like this until they showed up, especially my last ones….
.-= Jen, buried with children´s last blog ..Maybe I Should Get It While Its Hot? =-.
I NEVER wanted to be one of “those” people either… then life happened, and I had kids. And now that you mention it, there’s a package in my trunk that should have been mailed 3 weeks ago. And that baby shower invite on my fridge that I forgot to RSVP to? Was in MAY. (BTW, the baby is now almost a month old… oops).
.-= Kay´s last blog ..Violence Unsilenced – Holy Water =-.
too funny – you just reminded me that i forgot to send out a few thank you’s for neva’s b-day. the worst part about being one of “those” people is the nagging feeling of an endless list of to dos….. ick!
I, too, used to be really anal and good at responding right away to party invites, and mailing in reply cards, etc. on time. And thank you notes were written after my wedding/before my honeymoon. I went to a wedding once where the couple never send out thank you cards. I can’t imagine the bride just FORGOT – I mean, I know them, they do not have lives that are THAT busy – and they don’t have children – no excuse! But yes, sometimes, (like right now, I’m staring at 2 baby shower invites that I have NOT RSVP’d for) I forget to do the things I used to be anal about.
.-= Loukia´s last blog ..A few of our favourite books… at least, for right now! =-.
Welcome to the Dark Side. It’s nice and well-populated over here. Plus, we have cocktails.
.-= Texan Mama´s last blog ..Tell Your Santa Story =-.
I try very hard to be the person who responds promptly, isn’t late, and sends thank your cards within a reasonable time frame. But I’m really not that person. Or maybe I used to be. Now, with two kids I barely remember what day it is let alone appointments or parties or whatever. So I’m impressed you manage to reply to anyone at all!
.-= Lady Mama´s last blog ..How to throw a birthday party for your toddler =-.
It’s ok Jill..once you have kids all bets of being on time are off! :)
You’re usually early? I strive always be ON TIME. :) I’m usually good at too. Unless my husband is involved. He’s always late. :)
.-= angie´s last blog ..Tuesday’s Tribute-Musical Education =-.
Stuff happens!
.-= Lola´s last blog ..tag, I’m it! =-.
it’s all to do with how many kids you have. more kids, less onto it typing of living hehe – stay with it!
.-= scrappysue´s last blog ..my page 3 girl (in the wholesome non-tabloidee kinda way!) =-.
Awww, SweetPea! Welcome to the world of the Prematurely Senile!
(See, I called you SweetPea because I already forgot your name.)
I’ve found that when you explain to people that you have a ‘condition**’ that just isn’t responding to ‘treatment##’, they respond much more favorably.
Sisters with CRS**, UNITE!!
**CRS = Can’t Remember Shit…
##Vodka
.-= Ri´s last blog ..Liam & Leah =-.
Welcome to the club. Take a seat, put your feet up and relax.
.-= DCUrbanDad´s last blog ..They say the first step is just admitting it….. =-.
I think I like you MUCH better this way Scary!
Welcome…
JENNY
x
I loved reading your blog! I can’t wait for a day that I have nothing to day (ha ha ha) and can read some past blogs!
I don’t forget appointments but I am chronically late. Always. Even when I leave early then I remember that I need to stop somewhere first, or that I left the car on “E” or some retard gets in front of me and does 10 below the speed limit.
Not that I’m blaming anyone but me…
.-= brandy´s last blog ..More Cookout Conversations… =-.
come sit next to me…I’m a pro in this club! LOL
.-= georgie´s last blog ..Vacation Days 1&2 =-.
Oh, God, this has become my life. What’s worse is that since Oscar was born, I have become POPULAR (shudder). Not me, of course, but my status as Oscar’s mom (it’s like marrying Brad Pitt). Oh! The invitations! Mommy groups, play groups, book clubs, etc. I try, I try to go to these, or at least acknowledge them, but I am pathologically shy, and have a nasty case of social phobia. Of course, it’s a little easier now that I have Oscar’s sweet head to hide behind.
Don’t even get me started on the running late everywhere. Yep, I too, have become the people I used to hate. Sigh…
I was going to comment on your post but I forgot what I wanted to say and it’s getting late…so I am just going to blow you off.:)
I may be late, but by golly I still RSVP! :)
I meant to post this comment 32 comments earlier, but I’m late.
Sadly, I’m the person that you’ve become. And so is my wife. The thank you card and the RSVPs and stuff I’m terrible with.
It’s never intentional, but I know how it looks on the back end.
oh thank God its not just ME!!! :) I can totally relate to this! its called Mommy Brain.
you know what? You can’t do everything all the time. I am amazed by what you DO get done :) – Techno_Mom
I am always ranting about this myself. I’ve been waiting months for blog prizes that I would have had in the mail the next day! Maybe I need to go your route and join the slackers too. It would be so much easier than being uber responsible like I am now. I think I would find it refreshing and to think how much time I’d free up in the process! Thanks for the suggestion ;-)
.-= carma´s last blog ..Times are Getting Desperate =-.
I used to be early… I joined them too! Sad day. :( Oh well.
.-= Amber´s last blog ..Down the Rabbit Hole… =-.
I used to be the one on time or early for everything…until I gained a husband and a child…then all bets were off. ;)
.-= Stacy (the Random Cool Chick)´s last blog ..Random Tuesday Thoughts – Here Kitty, Kitty, Kitty! =-.
I used to be early for everything. Just yesterday, I completely forgot my daughter had an orthodontist appointment. The phone rang. I saw the caller ID, and of course DIDN’T ANSWER. Then my cell phone rang. Again, didn’t answer. And today – completely forgot to reschedule. What have I become?
I hate doing “stuff”. If it wasn’t for my Blackberry (non-paid shoutout) I’d forget most of my life.
The post office is my big hang up. Why do I hate that place so much? Could be the lackluster employees. Or the rude and impatient people in line. Maybe the way it smells of disgruntle and mundane. Yeah, not a fan.
.-= LizzB´s last blog ..Fat….a Farewell =-.
I too have become the dreaded unreliable mom recently. You know, the one I vowed I’d never be. I actually called a kid’s house this school year and asked for directions to the party that happened the weekend before. Funny how #1′s party invitation level was WAY down this year.
I have to admit – I’m bad about RSVPing and also guilty of a few of these other bad habits. Nice to have you in the club!
Have a good day – Kellan
.-= Kellan´s last blog ..Cool =-.
hee hee – this is what happens when we have a 3rd child! I swear!! I used to be so prompt and NOW – I am ALWAYS late!
OMG! I’m so that person you despise.
I cant help it Im flakey. I feel bad about it- and I try— I really do… but Im forever flaking out. Im pretty good about the thank you’s and RSVPS… and I am getting better at the appointment thing– but being late?? forget it.. there’s no hope.
Can we still be friends??? ;)
I’m not mad at you for blowing off pulling my name in the earrings give-a-way – Now I understand, you probably just didn’t get my voicemail.
lol
Welcome to my world! I become that person right after my second was born!
Checking out your blog for the first time. Corine @complicatedmama left you as a blogger she admires on mine :) I see why!
.-= Barb´s last blog ..Bloggers I Admire =-.
In other words you are human just like the rest of us. Kids will do that to you. I swear you lose brain cells every time you hear a knock knock joke from your 5 year old for the 10th time in a row.
.-= passions and soapboxes´s last blog ..Another Day Of Lines… =-.
Noooooooooooooooooooooooo, don’t join that population of those who don’t respond to RSVP’s. They kill me, those people, and I love you. So, you CAN NOT become them.
I know– it’s horrible. I do think that was a fluke thought- I cannot accept that I am *that* person.