Stages of Packing Books

 

Stage One (The Green Optimist)

Oh I'm going to pack books today!  Wonderful, yes, let's go to the grocery store and get a dozen boxes and I'll finish the livingroom bookcases this afternoon.  I wonder if the children would also like to help?  Well, anyway, even if they don't it's nice to feel productive, ya know?  Gosh I'm such a forward thinker - so organized and planned.  Oooooo!  I wonder if I could do squats while I get the bottom shelves empty!?

Stage Two (The Excellent Preparation)

Well, now I've got 12 boxes and a roll of tape and I'm ready to get started.  Better make some tea, first.  I mean, I'll be much more productive with caffeine.  Okay, no more delaying here, Amy!  Where should I start...mmm...let's just do homeschool fiction first.  No, no, I might want to read some of that and it would suck if it was packed.  Okay, what about...no, no, I have an essay due next week so I'd better not.  Um...well I could...OKAY HERE'S WHAT I'M GOING TO DO.  I'm going to do history, in the livingroom, and if I come across something I think I might need, then I just put it aside.  Wonderful plan.  I'm so smart.

Stage Three (Acknowledging there is a ProBleM)

Crap.  I need all of these books. I didn't even remember I HAD this book.  Am I going to read it in the next two months, though?  I need to start a pile.

Stage Four (Cracks are Showing)

I've used 12 boxes and I'm not done this bookshelf.  Um, okay, um...Okay no panicking!  Amy, you are an organizational maven.  You are lovely and intelligent and if you and your family have a TEENSY TINY problem well, it's fine.  EVERYTHING IS FINE.

Stage Five (Reality Sets In)

"Hello?  David?  Yeah, listen, I know you're driving to the dentist but is there any chance on the way home you could stop and get...yeah.  Yeah I'm out again.  OKAY MOST OF THIS IS YOU, IF WE WANT TO POINT FINGERS, SWEETHEART.  No, no little muffin, Mama is not yelling at Daddy."

Stage Six (The Beatings Will Continue Until Morale Improves)

Alright, kids listen.  I need y'all to stop playing with that tape because Mama is trying very hard to not cry about these books.  Why is this book over here?  This isn't part of that series!  I need to calm down.  NOTHING IS WHERE IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE.  Alright, so do I pack these all just helter skelter and deal with it while I'm unpacking or...STOP. TOUCHING. THE. TAPE.

Stage Seven (Weight Of The World)

Amy.  Amy.  You need to get these books packed.  You aren't giving them away.  You aren't burning them.  They're just in boxes.  That's all.  Calm down.  It doesn't matter at this point if the series are together...

Stage Eight (Distractions)

I have to take 10 minutes and see how many more titles I need to finish the Dear Canada set.  

Stage Nine (Help Is On The Way)

No one will be able to lift anything, none of the boxes fit on the shelves, who knows what's in any of it, I've already needed four things I've packed away.

Stage Ten (The End)

The moving van is here just put stuff in banana boxes and pray.