A Mad Dash

B.K. (Before Kiddos): Road trips were vacations. The Doctor and I would leisurely pack, and waltz out to the car knowing we'd be coming back to a clean house. We are both Harry Potter fanatics, so we would listen to the books on CD and while The Doctor drove, I would thumb through a magazine, read a book or look at the view. We would have conversations about everything!

A.K. (After Kiddos): I look back and wonder how I ever thought this was a vacation! I am a freaking out, frazzled mess starting the morning of our trip. My anxiety kicks in if I even perceive that we won't be leaving on time, even though The Doctor often reminds me, "As long as we are on the road before dusk, it'll be fine."  I have a hard time remembering that, because my m d is filled with thoughts like, "Does Psycho Kitty have enough food?", "Are the rooms cleaned up?" and "Will I be coming home to a clean house?"  The Doctor and I truly make the perfect team. He's the Yin to my Yang, the calm to my stress, the normal to my crazy.

The Doctor keeps me grounded and this is important because while I'm running around like an angry chicken, he's asking, "What else do we need?" and "Where's your list?".  Ahh, the dreaded list. Back in the days B.K., where while I wasn't frazzled, I was still forgetful (and didn't even have Mommy Brain to blame it on!). We'd get to our destination, start unpacking and realize that I'd forgotten to pack my toiletries, jewelry and worse. On one such occasion, The Doctor said, "I think you should start making a list for packing."

The ADD person inside of me was seething. The last thing an unorganized person wants is to be reminded they are unorganized by getting organizational tips from people who may or may not be more organized then they are. The normal person, however, knew this was sage advice and took it.

After that, I always had a list and I never forgot anything...Unless I forgot the list. There was one time, when B and M were 4 & 2 and we were driving up to visit The Doctor's parents.

2 hours into our drive I suddenly gasped and moaned, "Oh no!"

"What is it?," The Doctor asked, glancing over at me.

"I left the girls lovies!," I answered guiltily. They both slept with special stuffed animals and I knew there would be no sleep without them.

"Did you check the list?," he asked, trying unsuccessfully to keep the annoyance out of his voice. See, just as we had gotten on to the road, I remembered we (I) had forgotten the antibiotic M was on for an ear infection. The Doctor had patiently turned around asking, "Is there anything else?"

"No, no," I assured him. "I've got everything else!"

So you see, his annoyance was quite warranted.

"Well, I guess I didn't check the list given the fact that I forgot both the medicine and the lovies," I replied testily, as I was annoyed too. Right then I hated that darn list and my failing to print it out and check it.

"What would you like me to do?," he sighed. "Turn around?"

"Don't be ridiculous. The girls will be fine!"

He didn't seem to think so and stopped off at a Wal-Mart (at 10:00 at night) and bought them new lovies. They loved those new lovies and always remembered that trip.

The List always keeps me calm. When I have it, I have absolutely no panicked moments of running through the house tossing in odds and ends that I'm not sure we need. So, the question must be asked: if that's the case, then why is it on most trips, I forget to even print the list? I'm so proud of the fact that I remember the correct number of clothes, toothbrushes and lovies for each girl that I don't bother to print it out. It's not until we've been in the car for an hour and I'm writing about my distain for the list I so obviously need, that I gasp.

"What's the matter?," asks The Doctor.

"I just realized I forgot the music!," I groan. At this point, all The Doctor can do is shake his head. He doesn't even bother reminding me about the list.