Failure to Launch

I'm trying to get a routine going together now that I'm home (for who knows how long?), and...I'm a big, fat failure. I mean, at least I HAVE managed to get up and get showered and dressed before I get the kids up--already one up on the slobby routine I had slipped into the year I was home previously--but apparently, my getting-the-kids-out-the-door routine needs some readjustments.

Yesterday after lunch I decided to make a quick run to Wally World to take a duplicate gift back. As the garage door came up, I spied...my son's backpack. WT..? He apparently took it off when he was running around on the driveway that morning while waiting for the bus. I was outside with him. I didn't even NOTICE he got on the bus without it! And...I got Izzy off HER bus before lunch without noticing it setting in front of the garage. (um...duh?)

TODAY the kids almost missed the bus. I decided to take "just one quick glance" at my emails, and then I hear the driver honking the horn. Keith, for once the most ready, ran right out there without a glance back for his two sisters. Izzy was ready--but then we couldn't find her backpack. WT...? Mary--was in the bathroom. And when she came tearing down the stairs she had neither her coat NOR her shoes on. (DIDN'T I ASK YOU TO PUT THOSE ON TEN MINUTES AGO?!!!)

(While I was helping Izzy look for her shoes, Mary was also wandering around looking for HER shoes. *I* knew exactly where they were, but I didn't say anything since I was distracted with Izzy--and Mary was RIGHT IN FRONT OF THEM. I figured Mary would look down in the next two seconds and notice them. Ahhh...apparently not? And WHY, WHY, WHY won't these kids put their shoes and coats and backpacks in the cubby that we bought for this very purpose???? WHY???????????)

Anyway, Mary found her things and ran out.

I walk back in the house and walk by the cubby--where I now finally notice Izzy's backpack. ARG! Mary had apparently hung HER ginormous backpack on top of Izzy's tiny one, therefore hiding it from both Izzy AND me. (THERE ARE FOUR HOOKS!!! FOUR!!! AND I ONLY HAVE *THREE* CHILDREN!!! GRRRR!!!!!)

An hour later I get a call from the school nurse. BOTH Mary AND Izzy are down there. Mary had a frustrated math moment again (ummm...I thought we were going to send her out to the hall to calm down instead of the nurse first..?), but she was already better. Izzy was down there because of her cold (oh yes, the poor thing's nose is running like a faucet, and her eyes are all watery). She had a fever of 99, but really, the cold wasn't the BIG issue. It was that she was still upset because she didn't have her backpack, so she'd been crying. *sigh* All right. If my kindergartener, who only brings papers home MAYBE once a week, needs her backpack THAT badly, I'll bring it out....

Clearly, I need some help. And I maybe should take "pays attention to details" OFF my resume.