Murphy's Law

Metsu, Gabriel - Sick Child, the (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Last week I had a major fundraiser for my job and unplanned travel to SD for a family funeral.  I travel again on Thursday, for a wedding at which I will see all four of my siblings.  There's a lot going on and I've had "short weeks" to get things done at work and to get things done at home.  So, since I have a long to do list with a tighter than usual schedule what do you think would be the obvious thing to have happen?  Murphy's Law.

My very healthy, optimistic leaning, go getter son is sick as a dog.  He is a pool of snot, hot with fever, NO APPETITE, and has a cough that makes it hard to breath.  He is a mess.  Being a high school student, he's also feeling an oppressive weight of homework starting to press on his chest.  We have to get him to the doctor not because there is going to be some miracle cure there (although I hope) but so that he can have an excused absence and not be penalized for having a flu bug.  I have to admit, I had a moment of "Why me?" frustration that surfaced.  I'm worried about my son and I'm worried about my own work load and how everything will get done before I leave again later this week.

The answer of course is that it won't.  Everything will not get done.  People will be let down and may even be annoyed with me.  Dishes will sit in the sink, clothes from our last trip may not all get put away.  It will be stressful wondering if I am choosing the right things to prioritize and the right things to postpone.  I can only worry about one thing at a time.  Take a number.  My son gets to be at the top of the list.  Everything else will get done...eventually, just not today.