Over the past five years, people have told me stories of "mythical children," who run around like the Energizer Bunny. In all of these stories, the child in question has more energy than anyone else on the planet. He (or she) can go for hours on end without a break. But, then, in an instant, the child is out cold. Most likely passed out on the floor due to an exercise-induced coma.
Apparently, my brother-in-law was one of these children. He would do laps around my in-laws' house for hours. Then out of nowhere, the house would get quiet and the BIL would be found sleeping on the floor of some random room.
These stories used to give me hope. People would see my children and tell me, "Sure, they are REALLY active. But eventually, they'll crash." or "Going to school will catch up her. One day, she'll come home begging to rest."
To all the people who have ever said those things to me, I have one thing to tell you.
"YOU ARE SO VERY WRONG."
I am in my sixth year of parenting. And that scenario has NEVER come to fruition. And I am really beginning to doubt that it ever will. And it's ALL MY FAULT.
You see, I always thought my kids were wired differently. That they had some backup system that switched on when they started to fade. But, now I realize that it's not faulty wiring. It's GENETICS. And I am the SAME EXACT WAY. I just didn't realize it until yesterday.
Yesterday was a typical day around here. I dropped Dizzle off at school. Doodle, Dilly and I ran some errands. When we got back, I decided to pick up a bit. And before I knew it, seven hours had passed and the only time I had stopped was to eat lunch and to pick up Dizzle from school. I was an organizing machine without an off switch. I started in the kitchen and worked my way through every room in the house. I couldn't control myself. My purging instincts were taking over and I couldn't reign them in. And this is not the first time this has happened. Just two weeks ago, my sister called me on this "Energizer Bunny" behavior. She noted that I hadn't sat down all day. That I jumped from task to task until everything was done. I didn't see it then, but this is EXACTLY what my kids do (except they usually create a mess, rather than clean it.)
I'm not quite sure why the "Energizer Bunny" emerges in me and my offspring. Maybe it's because we are all overly "Type A." Constantly striving for perfection. Maybe we just really HATE being bored. Maybe we just really like to exercise.
What I do know, is that I have always been the type of person who starts a task and NEEDS to finish it immediately. When things are left undone, I feel uneasy. I can't relax. I can see unfolded laundry staring at me. Toys left on the floor call my name. (J is not afflicted by this and he probably thinks I am crazy.) I just don't work well with chaos. Or excess. I need structure and order. It puts me at ease. And if my kids get that trait from me too, we are going to have the tidiest house on the block ...
22 comments:
i do think it's a type A thing because my mom and I are both like that as well. I have tried to learn from my husband to just sit back some days...but it's hard!
My mom and I are the exact same way. My husband thinks I'm insane, but I literally can't sit down and relax if there is something that needs to be done.
See this is me (and my husband) to a T. I do relaxation a LITTLE ... him? not at all. I only watch TV when I'm on the treadmill. I only really sit down when I'm working at the computer. Otherwise I'm in motion: cleaning, cooking, playing with the kids, working out.
I always felt a little out of place in my family. My parents are 2nd and 4th born in their families. They are usually late and like to sleep in. It's all just very much more CHILL with them.
Now I wonder/worry about how my son will do in our family since he's #2 and my hubby and daughter and I are all 1st born type As. Only time will tell.
I am similar in some ways, although the older I get the more I am learning to just 'let things go' and relax occasionally I think my husband is starting to rub off on me, but if I am in one of my organizing moods, watch out!
When family come to visit they always ask my husband 'does she ever sit down' LOL, sometimes, but not often!
It's a good trait to have! Some days I wish I could channel my inner Type A that emerges once in a blue moon.
CTRL C
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- EMz
So freaking true.
Awesome post.
This is so me! I can't even sit down to eat my dinner until the dishes are done! Hubs also thinks I am a freak.
i hear you on all of this. sometimes i say that i am going to try to be a bit more laid back, not let things bother me and then it hits me that I can't. the world could be falling around Travis and he wouldn't care, but if the house is a little out of whack he is the first one to comment:)
This post reminded me of myself the whole time. I am definitely a Type A personality and I hate just sitting around. Maybe thats why we blog because when we do sit down for a minute every day we have to be doing something! I am glad you got the package.
For me it is totally random, some days I could go go go, others I just go on auto pilot. Today is an energizer bunny day for me, so I'm going to take advantage of it!
dude, you can so come to my house anytime you need something to do :)
Yes, I'm an energizer bunny type too and so are my kids (except my middle child..she's my calm) but unilike you, I'm an energizer bunny with Mother ADD so I start a task and another and another and another until I have about 6 or 7 things going at once and sometimes don't finish any of it...I seem to find ways to create chaos. Mabe I'll try one thing at a time.
I am the same way.... and I enjoy getting up early and the feeling that I get from having exercised, finished 2 loads of laundry completely, made breafast, packed lunches and ran the vaccuum all before 9am!
i have the same drive...but not until i start something. if its not started, i can leave the job undone. once i start...i am compelled without hope until its completely done.
I do think it's in your genes. I wish I had a transfusion of some of that.
Clutter makes me feel like my blood pressure is rising. And cooking with dishes in the sink? I can't do it. My husband hates that I empty the sink before cooking, only to fill it again with the dishes from cooking. He doesn't get it. I have to start with clean to get dirty again.
My son is like this too, he use to run circles around the house laughing histerically, for hours. No rest or crash later. As he gets older, he still has this trait, but a little toned down. Its an addictive/obsessive thing with him. He will hold interest in one thing and obsess over it. Thankfully, right now its homework!
I on't have any kiddos yet, but I can totally relate to the get it done now philosophy!!!
You keep going,and going, and going!!! :)
I'm more like J...mostly not too stressed about getting things done right now. Things do get done at some point :)
oh. my. goodness. i am the SAME way and totally understand where you are coming from. i do not deal well with chaos or excess either...i would rather just hammer it all out and get it done than deal with a mess - it would make me crazy!!
All I can say is send some of that energy (yours, not the kids (mine have plenty thanks) overe here.
I am the same way, always have been, staying up to finish projects, going like mad forgetting everything else until the task is done. Sometimes structure feels suffocating to me, but without it, I don't succeed!
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