My Picks
A great newsletter.
My husband Brian
My oldest son Chris
My second son Jesse
Late Again and Again
My third son Nick
My fourth son Boomer
My only daughter Maggie
My baby Levi
Just some Kid's Pics
My dad's family Guzzetta's
My mom's family Tominack's
A great newsletter.
"Oh no!" It's 7:00 a.m. I slept in again. I thought for sure I set my alarm for 6:00. I probably shouldn't have hit that snooze button so many times, but then again, my mom could have awakened me.
"Hey, Mom! I'm late! Why didn't you wake me up?"
"Jesse, you'll soon be going to college. You need to wake up on your own. Besides, I thought you set your alarm clock."
Too many times I remember having this conversation with my mom. It seems as though every other day I am late for school, and as much as I hate to admit it, it's usually my own fault. I can't figure out what I'm doing wrong, but my mom doesn't seem to have any trouble pointing out my flaws.
First of all, I stay out much too late. Sometimes I don't come in until well past my 11:00 curfew. It's usually about twelve o'clock. Then I have to get a shower and by the time I get to bed it's really late or maybe I should say really early. Second, I depend on my mom too much. Some nights I'll go to bed without setting my alarm clock and expect her to wake me up. Usually she's awake, but if she's had a hard day, she may sleep in. Third, my mom always tells me that even if I do get up on time, I'll still be late. She says I'm so unorganized in the morning and that I need to prepare myself the night before. If I'm not hurrying around looking for my keys, I'm waiting for my shirt to dry or waiting for my homework to print. There's always something.
My mom thinks this is a real problem and I do agree with her. When I'm late it puts me in a horrible mood. I'm meaner than my mom without coffee. I start slamming doors and stomping around which often causes arguments. Also, because I'm rushing around trying to do everything at once I might forget my lunch money or my book or assignment. As though things aren't bad enough, I have to listen to my friends, Brian and Todd complaining all the way to school. "Come on. We're going to be late." Then as we walk through the now deserted halls the complaints intensify. We know we are all destined for tardy slips.
These reasons to change do have their consequences, but I think that the most significant reasons for change are the things that haven't happened yet but very well could. For instance, when I'm late for school I tend to go over the speed limit a little. Actually, a lot over the speed limit. If I received a ticket, my parents would be very upset. In addition, they would make me pay for it. Even worse, I could get into a wreck. I might seriously hurt my car, my friends and myself. The thought of this sends chills up my spine. I really should do something about this problem.
Finding a solution to being late isn't like solving a murder mystery. I already know what I have to do. I should start coming in by 10:00 P.M. at the latest. Before I even think of going to bed, I have to get organized: set out my clothes, gather all my books, set out my lunch money, and find the keys to my car. Most important, I have to remember to set my alarm clock and maybe take a sledge hammer to the snooze button. Regardless, I'm going to put forth more effort into arriving at school and other places on time. A lot more effort.