Process Analysis Essay
Just the other morning, when my alarm went off, I flung an arm out from under the covers and attempted to kill that shrill, unwelcome messenger. It was entirely too early for this waking up thing, considering I had been up the night before until well past midnight trying to finish up an assignment. I had to get up, though, because I had kids to feed, dress, and get on the bus before I could even begin to do the same with myself.My twelve year-old would help with the younger ones, but it was still a production, to put it mildly. So I hauled myself out of the bed, stumbled blearily into the living room where three of the kids were already up and watching morning cartoons, and began making pop-tarts. Pop-tarts in the toaster, I lined up lunch boxes on the counter and formed an assembly line of sandwich items. Calling the kids over, I helped them go through the process of putting their lunches together. One day, they would be able to do this on their own. Right now, though, they were only seven, nine, and twelve—not quite old enough or with it enough to remember all of the details. Their independence, as it was, amazed me every day. Just the fact that at their ages they could get up in the morning and settle in with cartoons and a juice box was wonderful, because they were notoriously early risers, and with my late night schedule, I just was not. Every now and then I would need to get up to referee an argument, or take care of my other two children if they decided to wake early. Most mornings, though, I managed to make it out of the bed before the three year-old and the baby. After assembly-lining lunches, my twelve year-old helped me get the younger ones dressed, teeth brushed, and backpacks on to meet the bus. Eventually we finished all of their morning routines and they scurried out of the house to meet the bus. It was then that I heard the three year-old’ giggle, followed by a little gurgle from the baby. They were awake, which meant I would probably need to get them off to daycare before I could even think about a shower. After a few morning cuddles, breakfast, and the usual wrestling match that ended with the little ones being dressed, I threw on a pair of sweats and a ball cap, and ran them down the road to the daycare. Arriving back home afterwards, I sighed as a rested for a moment against the door. Now my own morning ritual could begin: a shower, followed by a long overdue breakfast of a toaster waffle and cup of scalding hot coffee. As I ate at the cluttered kitchen counter, Good Morning America playing in the background, my laptop was open in front of me and I was busily checking email and course feedback in between bites. I had made a practice of multi-tasking, refined it until I barely recognized the act anymore, and would probably feel somewhat at loose ends if I were not conducting multiple activities simultaneously. After breakfast I made my way out the door and to work, to lose myself in a somewhat brainless routine for a while and forget about everything else that was calling my name. I would return home in the evening to dinner, kids and their homework, and later, when they were in bed, my own homework. And then, I would wake up in the morning and begin again.
It is apparent in my day-to-day routine that I face many stresses as I try to balance life and school. A strict schedule helps me to multi-task and stay on top of everything that I have to balance between family, work, and school. When I rise in the morning and stumble into the kitchen to begin my day, one of the first things I have to check for after getting the kids ready for school are items on their schedule. I have to make sure that we did not forget any special project (although ideally this would have been checked prior to the morning of), and that nothing needs to be sent in with a child today. Once the older kids are at school and the babies are at daycare, and I am cruising through my own hasty breakfast and email, I check through my own schedule. What is significant about my day, and the week that lies ahead? Do I have any appointments? Do my children have anything special going on at school or preschool that I need to ask for an hour or two away from work for? Are there any important projects on my work calendar that I need to be prepared for? I flip from my personal schedule to my school schedule to consult, so I can better plan my day and evening and balance out everything that needs to be accomplished. Are there any lengthy assignments that I may need to get a jump on during my lunch break? Perhaps I should begin on research at that time. If not, I know that my biggest priorities when I return home in the afternoon will be my children and their needs, and getting supper on the table. I have to be somewhat flexible, though, in addition to being very organized, as there is just me accomplishing this balancing act. There are two days every week when I have to take the twelve year-old to guitar practice, so during this time I usually take the other children to a nearby McDonald’s play area and let them play while I attempt to get in a little extra studying. I can work on general assignments later in the evening, after they have gone to sleep. Although trying to balance school, work, and family needs can be a great deal of work for one person, planning my days in this way, and mapping them out even further ahead whenever I am able to do so, has helped me considerably in organizing and balancing work, family, and school stresses.