One more thing

“I’ll just do this one more thing”.

These are the words I internalise every time I get a moment of not being needed, no matter for how long or short.

Normally during nap time, moments of peaceful play or when they are plonked in front of Peppa.

Just this one more dish in the dish washer.

Just this one more load of washing hung on the line.

Just this one more room to vacuum.

Just this one more surface to wipe.

Just this one more email.

Just this one more phone call.

I’ll just do this one more thing...

Before I have a break.

Just this one more thing...

Before I do so much as go to the toilet.

Just this one more thing...

Before I do something as important as eating anything before 2pm.

But the break doesn’t come.

Not this way.

Not if I keep doing just one more thing.

Because I’m too busy doing all of these just one more things which add up to a whole lot of things which becomes a list of a whole lot of never-ending things.

And then this just one more thing becomes nothing,

As it relates to me, and my needs at least.

Because trying to do everything means I’ve done nothing for myself.

Not within the moments of opportunity.

Not within the day which turns into night.

But it is within my control,

Always.

So I’m trying to flip this.

I’m always trying to flip this.

I’m trying to say, I need to have just one more hot drink, or just one more minute for me, or just one more minute to not be counting down the minutes and doing all the things before they need me.

I’m trying to make myself do just one thing for myself before doing just one more thing for everyone else.

Because I need me to.

And because they need me to, too.

So today I’m having one more coffee while everything that really doesn’t matter is screaming at me to finish it,

Today I’m telling every just one more thing to learn to wait.

Because it can.

And because I shouldn’t always have to.