Lists

Lists - I have to create lists. Have you ever been to the grocery story with a 4 y/o and a 2 y/0? If I didn't make a list, I might never be able to leave the store for having to go in circles getting the things I forgot. My grocery list has changed over time. At first, I simply had a list of items I needed to get, but that meant that when I was in the store, I had to constantly look at the list to make sure I didn't forget anything. This is a difficult task to accomplish when the two year old is trying to steal the paper and pen and the four year old is picking up every item she sees and asking for it for her birthday. Then I began to make my list be the way the store was laid out. This is a sad statement since I obviously had the Wal-Mart layout down to a science. I would visualize the store in my head and plot out my list accordingly. Now, I make my list be department, which works much better. The only problem is that some things aren't where I think they should be. Why is Velveeta cheese next to the spaghetti noodles? That makes no sense to me. It is a dairy product and should be in the dairy section. Also, why are some sandwich meats and cheeses in the front of Wal-Mart while others are along the wall? Is one more special than the other?

When preparing for a grocery store trip, I have to do much more than simply get in the car and go. I have an excel spreadsheet with all of my basic items that I always need, and then I just add to it the new things and take off anything that I don't need. The way I get my items on the list is from the list on my refridgerator. We keep this as a running list in the household so that anyone can add to it. However, it seems that I'm the only person who is of age to write that actually knows how to add things to this list. I will come home from a grocery store trip, and my husband will ask, "Did you get me some Bryers?" My return question is, "Was it on the list?" Of course it wasn't, but I was supposed to know by some sort of marriage ESP that he needed ice cream. My step-daughter is just as bad. You would think that at 15, she would have the capacity of add the items she needs. No. I have to watch her shampoo bottle to see when she needs more. Once I tried to just not buy her stuff when it ran out, but not being the most hygenic girl, she simply quit using whatever it was. I couldn't stomach that, so I bought it anyway. One would think that I would have the mental wherewithall to know what I need, even if I forget to put in on the list. However, that is not the case. This past Saturday, I made a Wal-Mart run for just a few items, including diapers for my son. He only had about 6 diapers left, and I knew he would need more soon. So, we run to the store to get five items. The diapers were not on the list because of course I wouldn't forget those. When we got home, I unpacked, and realized, "Crap, I forgot the diapers." With the crazy schedule this week, I've been afraid I would have to resort to apper towels, but thankfully, I haven't actually had to change him much due to me being gone all day. Diapers are now on the list.

For monthly shopping trips, after I get my entire grocery list completed, I then sit down with my coupon notebook and write a C next to those items for which I have a coupon. This helps me when I get to the store because I don't have to constantly flip through my coupon notebook.

I guess my life is ruled by lists. Right now, being in class and in such a hurry in the mornings, I keep a list by the door of the things I need to remember for me and the kids. I look at it frequently in the mornings, and as I run out at 7:15 AM, I give it one last glance.

I also do packing lists. If I am going on a trip, I make a list of all the items I need and then reference that as I try to prepare. Just like in the mornings, before I leave on the trip, I give the list one last review. My husband never does this, and therefore, he shows up on vacation with only the underwear he is wearing. How can he not make a list?? Life would be so much easier if he did. But, then he wouldn't be the free spirit that I love if he did that.

My mom is the complete opposite of me. I've bought her the magnetic note pads for her fridge so that she can write down all the things she needs to buy. She WILL NOT use it. She goes to Wal-Mart pretty much every day to buy things that she forgot the previous day. She also complains that she can't remember all the things she has to do in a day - okay, make a list! Even when she does make a list, it is on the back of a junk mail envelope. "Hello, look at the nice notepad I bought you!"

One good thing about a list is that there is a sense of accomplishment once things are completed. I can mark those things off and know that at least I did something. However, the flip side of this is that I sometimes feel like a failure if I don't get something done.

With BWP, I had to create a list for myself. On day one, we received all these separate pieces of paper with different pieces of information with separate due dates. I went home that night and made list for each day of what was due. This has been so helpful to me! Each night I can sit down with my handy dandy list and make sure I am ready for the next day. However, someone else's list makes me nervous. I like the lists on the board, but because I didn't make it, I have to look at mine anyway. Sorry Carrie Beth.