A Mile in Their Shoes

I’ve been trying to learn a programming language this past week.  This is not the first time I’ve attempted it.  I gave up last time, convinced that giving birth to four children has permanently altered my brain chemistry and that I’m now entirely unable to use it for anything other than sorting whites, lights and darks in the laundry room. 

But my husband has been talking it up lately.  It would be helpful to him if I can learn it and produce some programs for him. Ever eager to please this man I adore, I’m at it again.

It’s been less than a happy experience.  Actually, it’s been down right frustrating.  Fifteen years ago I would have jumped at the chance to learn a new language, to program some useful application.  Of course, back then I didn’t have children constantly interrupting my train of thought.  Now it seems that just wading through a book or tutorial is an exercise in futility. 

I read a paragraph or write a line of code.  “Mom, I need a drink.” I come back and start back at the beginning.  I figure out what I need to do next but then before I get it done…. “Mom!” then “Eat.” Then I sit down again and have to figure out what it was that I’d already figured out before.  Before I can get back to where I was in the process I realize it’s time to serve another meal.  I give up and try again later, starting the whole thing over again.

So you’re probably wondering why I don’t just wait till the kids are in bed to even begin.  Well, Adrian is going to bed at 10pm now.  So I’m hearing ‘eat’ or ‘help’ well into the night.  It wouldn’t be so bad except by the time the kids go to bed, I’m tired.  And my old brain doesn’t work as well when I’m tired. Weird, I know.

So I’m still plugging along.  Hoping that I can manage to get somewhere taking one step forward and two steps back.  My husband is gone for a couple of days for school and I’m hoping I can have something to show him when he gets back.

This whole experience has really reminded me that I need to be understanding and sympathetic when the girls experience frustration in their own studies.