a is for anal.

This picture has nothing to do with my post - I just love it. 3 of my favorite things - Parker, Asher, and Ellie. Asher's laughing in this, be tea dubs.

I've always thought that I have a little bit of a Type A personality. In college, I thought I was really easy going and carefree. I think the problem was that I had no real reason to boss and be in control outside of myself. Now that I'm married, I realize more and more every day that I have a very Type A personality. I've decided the "A" stands for anal. I am super uptight. Let me explain:

1. The first example. Girls camp. I was paired with two other lovely women to be in charge of 3 wards at girls camp. Heavenly Father really knows what He's doing, because the three of us have very different personalities. D is so much fun and so easy going. Nothing phases her. She doesn't have time for anything to phase her, because she's having too much fun. N is the helper. She was so helpful and so eager to make sure everything ran smoothly. Very kind. Very giving. Then there was me. Girls in bed at 11:00 sharp, no funny business. Arrive on time or early to every single thing, even if a girl desperately needs to use the bathroom. I kept a very detailed plan and schedule to be sure that everyone had all needed supplies. Am I fun? Maybe. Am I organized? Yes. Am I uptight? 100% yes. If it wasn't for D and N, camp would have been 0 fun.

2. If someone commits to something and doesn't give me ample notice as to their change of plans, I freak out. Sometimes I even cry. Issues? Yes, I have them.

3. During the family reunion, my normally punctual, dependable mother became as free as a bird. Whenever her 4 sisters are all together, she forgets everything and lets loose. I think this is wonderful - until she tells me she'll be at the pool with my swimsuit (that I left at her house a few days earlier) and is two hours late. I had a mini panic attack when I realized my mom was enjoying her time, rather than watching her time.

4. I plan my day. Everyday. Even if my plan is walk Ellie, read scriptures, watch the news, paint nails, do nothing for 3 hours, watch Ellen, take a nap, and let Parker decide the rest of the day… if that plan gets messed up somehow, I have a little anxiety attack. 

I know where I get it from - my father and my mother. They are both first children and we've always stuck to a strict schedule. Dinner every single night at 6:00 sharp. My dad will tell you exactly how to wrap a rope, fold a towel, wash a car, take your shoes off, walk a dog, go on a walk… basically anything you can think of, he'll tell you the best way to do it. My mom has taught me how refreshing it is to be punctual (of course, these rules don't apply when her sisters are in town) and how liberating it is to cross things off a list. 

Then I married Parker and all of this changed. I'm slowly working on becoming more carefree. Or trying, at least. By trying I mean I repeat 5-10 times in my head, "I am so easy going. I am so easy going…" 

Well, now that my allotted blogging time is up, I'm off to conquer dinner.