Today’s the first day of school for Tage and Petra and I totally fell down on the job, mom-wise, this morning. Ordinarily I would have gotten them up all cheerily, perhaps even prepared a special breakfast, and walked over with them to find their new classrooms. This morning, though, after having been awake for half the night with a sick and crying — raging, really — Yrsa, it was all I could do to drag myself upstairs at 7:30 and call to cancel her well-baby appointment (oh, the irony) that was scheduled for 10:30.

The call made, I woke Tage and Petra, made sure they each ate a bowl of fil (like yogurt, but not), put Petra’s hair up, extracted a promise from Tage that he would help Petra find her class, and told them to watch TV until it was time to leave. Then I took myself back to bed, where I managed to squeeze in another hour of fitful sleep before the two littlest girls rousted me.

And if all that weren’t enough, I’ve got a stye in my eye. Ugh.

I’d feel a lot sorrier for myself if I could stop thinking of poor Olof, who was in exactly the same boat as I last night, but had to get up even earlier and then spend all day at what he’s described as an “exhausting” training course at work. I think I’d better make him, and the rest, an extra good dinner tonight.