Just a minute

Loading the car- baby buckled in, check. Got a spare dummy in case he wants to go to sleep? check. Two kids shuffling into their seats in the back, check. I'm doing laps to the car with a mental checklist: Sunnies, wallet, phone. Nappy bag. Snacks. Everyone's got shoes on. everyone's got clean faces - oops, no, quick - go get a face washer. Drink bottles? check. Woops- No, Nate, you can't bring that lego creation to the playground. Give it here. Take it back to your bedroom. Start the car, get the air con running. Where's the house key? Hang on, I'm missing a kid... where's Theo?

I find Theo tucked in the corner of his house with his little lego car. He is routinely constructing and deconstructing the car. He is so involved in taking the pieces apart and putting them back together that he seems unaware that people are leaving the building, but i know he is aware.

Come on, Theo! get in the car! have you got your shoes on?

Just a minute, Mum. He only has to put the little lego man in the little lego car and then he should be right to come out, I think. There we go! Lego finished. Come on, Theo!

Yes Mum, coming. Just a minute, he says, and starts taking it all apart again.

I feel impatience brimming from within. THEO!!! no! It's time to go! The lego car is already completely in pieces... it would be quicker to let him rebuild it than to start a fight about it. There are no more minutes Theo! Let's go!

Coming Mum, just a minute.

Flashback. Two hours beforehand: me, sitting here on the computer, doing my tasks. I am halfway through writing an important email and I have several pages open, links everywhere, copying and pasting, chatting on skype- the ultimate virtual multi tasker. Theo approaches with his cup. "Mum, can i have a drink of water." "Yes Theo, just a minute." "MUhuuhuuumm, can i have a drink of water!" "YES! Theo! Just , wait, a , minute. I'm nearly finished." Ten minutes later. "MUM. can i have a drink of water!" (Dammit, i forgot.) "Hughie, can you please get Theo a drink of water?" Theo comes back in another 5 minutes. "Muuumm, can i have a drink of water?" Ahw, crap, Hughie either didn't hear or completely ignored me. I say, "Just a minute Theo" and take my sweet time before the requests and volume point to the only answer- just get up and get the boy a drink!

The car is running, three boys are belted in, i have got everything i need. Come on, Theo. But I will wait just a minute.