If There Were Ten More Hours in a Day

     If there were ten more hours in a day, we'd find a way to fill those too.  We probably wouldn't fill them with sleep either.  There are so many things that I would like to be doing.  So many projects that I would love to work on, really quality projects.
     We prioritize our lives, try to put everything into neat little categories.  Between the two of us there are 100 hours of work per week.  The girls are in school or on the bus to and from for the same amount.  Then there's basketball, dance, band, acting in children's theater, home work, showers and making lunches.  That doesn't even count making and eating dinner, which we still try to do together.  Sometimes we don't eat until 7:30 pm, but we do eat together, as a family, as many nights a week as we can.  We only have two kids.  I don't think we could afford any more.  I'm not talking about money, although there's that too.  I mean the time and emotional investment.  It is definitely worth it, but you start to wonder how much more you could possibly take on some days.  We are happy, healthy and active.  Thank God.
     What would you do with ten more hours, assuming that you didn't need more sleep in order to have the energy to use them?  I would write more.  I have short stories, poems, and plans for a book.  They sit stewing, waiting for me to finally get to them.  I find time, somehow, to write this blog everyday.  I'm not sure how.  I know that I need to get to work on my column.  It is due at noon tomorrow, and I haven't started yet.  I have all the information.  I just need to get it put together.
     I don't remember feeling the need for more time when I was in elementary or middle school.  I know that my daughters do.  It makes me wonder if we are pushing them too hard.  They both play basketball, get really good grades and have other things going on like band, dance, math meets and hunting.  We are very proud of them.  Their interests are theirs.  We didn't necessarily choose them, other than giving them the opportunity to try new things.  They decide what they are going to work at.  Of course, grades must come before extra-curriculars, but I don't think that the girls look at them as "extra."  They are just part of their lives.  They seem to push themselves harder than we could ever push them.
     I think that if I had more time, I would probably try to get more exercise.  I would like to say that I'd follow through on that, but I know myself too well.  I guess if I had more time, I probably would get to it a little more often.  My husband would spend more time fishing and hunting.  I think the girls might just sit and watch a little TV.  They have so little down time, they might have to use the extra for sleep, or at least rest.
     If I had more time, I would volunteer at school, and help with the new school garden that a group is writing a grant to start.  I would help my younger daughter's class with the big show they are going to do next year.  I shouldn't, but do, envy all those parents who have time to help.  Most of it is during the day.  When you work from 6:30am until 4:30pm, you sort of miss out on that.
     I doubt that the cosmic "they" are going to add anymore time to the day.  So, for now, I'll just have to remember how good I am at time management, and really work the 24 hours that I have.