Comments on: Pro Forma

By: jennifer

jennifer — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 14:20:54 +0000

Nikki, your point is well taken. To their credit, both Hugh and Malcolm are quite rigorous in having us sign forms and hand in checks. It is true, however, that I am a big picture person. Details bore and defeat me a lot of the time. However, the story of you and your parents is fascinating – in this case, the apple did fall far from the tree!

By: Nikki Benner

Nikki Benner — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 13:48:44 +0000

Would it be wrong of me to suggest that if Hugh is old enough to recognize this “failing” in you, can’t he be part of the solution and work with you as a team to remind you of deadlines, complete as much of a form as he can before passing it on to you, check expiration dates and documents himself, etc.? Perhaps that’s part of why I’m good at event planning – my parents were NOT organized either, and from a young age I realized that it was on me to ensure that things got done when I needed them to. It was my responsibility to have all documentation ready and organized for my work permit, driving test, college applications, FAFSA, etc. While I wish I had more help, and my parents had taken the team approach instead of the “all or nothing” one, recognizing the responsibility for me was, well, mine was empowering.

By: Celina

Celina — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 02:26:20 +0000

How frustrating about the drivers test. I would have been in tears, seriously. Stuff like that just gets to me. I would say you are handling it worlds better and with a smile no less.

By: jennifer

jennifer — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 17:21:31 +0000

Let’s just say that I was tempted to install a long krazy straw in the box of pinot grigio in the fridge, thus creating Mommy’s Bottomless Juicebox.

By: Ed

Ed — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 16:38:52 +0000

So exactly how much Mommy’s Special Juice did we see that day after the trip home with Hugh?

By: MelanieO

MelanieO — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 13:59:48 +0000

Genius idea!! I’m stealing back the charity address labels I have given to my kids (they will only end up stuck to the furniture at some point anyway). With a kindergartener and a second-grader, the forms are endless, and I despise them with as much as you do!

By: Emily

Emily — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 13:07:52 +0000

I am completely with you on this. I think next to the school – the doctor’s office is the worst. ESPECIALLY when you are a new patient. I tend to move through filling them out so quickly that I fill them out wrong, putting my last name where my first name should be and accidently checking that yes – I have had prostate cancer. A necessary evil, but evil nonetheless. Great post.

By: ChrisG

ChrisG — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 12:39:17 +0000

I cringed while laughing at this…I can SO relate.

By: lindacopy

lindacopy — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 12:34:05 +0000

This is hysterical, Jennifer. I can relate on several levels! Even with being computerized, our school district still sends home the forms for class trips. At this point, it feels kind of quaint and since they are so rare, I do attend to them on time. But I, like you, used to put them off until nearly the last day. I will always resist being organized to the point of Stepford wife. I love your creative solutions — pre-printed address labels and stamp!
But because class trips are rare for our older kids, I happily filled out the form just last night for Ethan’s 8th grade trip to Gettysburg. Yea! A trip! Also, I recently used the term “pro forma” in some web copy I was writing, because my client kept saying it. I had to look up the meaning.