Forgetfulness... I've got it bad.

"Can you hear me?" I asked my youngest as I struggled to hear him through the crackling of the cell phone connection.
"Yes" he replied.
"Good. Did you get all your homework done?" I inquired.
"Moh-om it's the weekend."
"I know it's the weekend. I just wanted to make sure if you did have any homework that you got it done," I continued.
"Tomorrow is Monday, Mom" he said in his exasperated six-year old voice. "I won't have any homework till after school tomorrow"
"Honey, I know tomorrow is Monday. I just wanted to know if you had any homework over the weekend."
"Geez Mom, remember, I just told you tomorrow is Monday?" I could see his little eyebrows raising and his eyes getting wide at me driving home his point through the cell phone.
"Yes William I know tomorrow is Monday. I guess you didn't have any homework to do over the weekend then?"
"No and tomorrow is Monday," he paused. "You know Mom you really have a hard time keeping track of things don't you?"
Trying not to laugh out loud at his insightful (although not entirely accurate to this conversation) statement, I responded, "Well yes you are right. Thankfully I have you to help me remember things."
"Yep you sure do." He replied smugly.

I admit it. I do have a hard time keeping track of things. Is it because I'm over 40 now? Perhaps. Is it because I am raising three children by myself? Perhaps. Is it because I drank too much beer/wine/rum/tequila/vodka in my 20s and 30s? Perhaps. Is it because I find myself easily distracted by other things instead of what I should be concentrating on? Perhaps. Is it a combination of all these things? Perhaps. And perhaps even more.

I don't know.

I try to stay 'on top of things' with a daily planner, a calendar posted in the kitchen, calendars on two computers, post-it notes to myself, voicemail messages left for myself at the office or home and recently my daughter has started to text message me reminders. However even with all this 'help', there are times when I just forget. Even when I get into the minivan, I have to remind myself 3 and 4 times before I have exited the driveway, where exactly I am going on that trip.

It used to really bother me if I forgot something. I would berate myself and feel stupid for not remembering and mentally kick myself in the ass while apologizing profusely. However, now (and I guess this is a result of aging and wisdom), I simply apologize to whomever was slighted by my forgetfulness, shrug my shoulders and mark through that entry on every calendar with a big, black Sharpie knowing that this won't be the last time I forget something so it's no use getting upset. It's just my life.