Clenchaholic

At my dentist appointment the other day I learned that I am most likely clenching and/or grinding my teeth at night. I was dubious at first, wondering whether my dentist was just trying to squeeze more money out of me by recommending a custom mouth guard that will end up costing me more than $300. Yet both my dentist and hygienist pointed to clear evidence of nightly shenanigans in my mouth: receding gums and teeth wearing down more rapidly than the resolve of a mother attempting to grocery shop at 5:00 p.m. with three kids in tow.

Still, I walked away from the dentist office without making the follow up appointment. I don't really grind my teeth, I reassured myself. If I were doing it, I would be experiencing frequent headaches. My jaw would be aching. Surely my husband would have said something!

It’s been on my mind, though, because if I am clenching my teeth unknowingly, it can lead to very bad things. When I balked at the price of a night mouth guard my dentist kindly put it in perspective for me by discussing the pain and price associated with gum grafting surgery. Um, ouch?

This morning was a typical morning at my house. I woke up late and hit the ground running. Since we need groceries (when don’t we need groceries?) I cobbled together school lunches by relying on a mixture of creativity, gumption, and fairy dust. While I packed lunches, I reheated my coffee four times, simultaneously prompting my older kids, who are typically undaunted by silly details like “eating breakfast” and “getting to school on time,” to get ready. Then my four-year-old had a breakdown because I insisted she wear a long sleeved shirt under her summer dress.

I finally got everyone out the door, dropped the older kids off to school five minutes late and raced down to my younger daughter’s preschool, fervently hoping that they were being optimistic when they said school pictures would be taken at 9 a.m. (They were!) (Phew.)

I kissed my four-year-old goodbye, made my way back to my vehicle and started driving towards the grocery store to rectify the whole Mother Hubbard situation in my cupboards. At the same time I started planning my post-grocery shopping work day. As I drove I became increasingly self-aware: my shoulders were up around my ears; my hands were holding the steering wheel in a death grip; my head was vaguely aching; my teeth were firmly clenched together.

*Ahem*

My name is Janet and I am a clencher.

It’s really an apt metaphor for this busy life, the clenching. Between kids and work, family and friends, hobbies and obligations, things are bursting -at-the-seams busy.  And I’m grateful for the bounty, I truly am, but damn if I can fit much more into the clown car. Instead I steam through my days and, apparently, grind through my nights. I am sad to say that is not a double entendre.

So, how does the modern woman unclench? I know, I know, we’re supposed to schedule time for ourselves, even if it means writing it in our day planners (note to self: get a day planner). Come on, the experts say, you need to fit in some yoga! Take a bubble bath! Engage in quiet meditation! And don’t forget the kegels! But when? Where is the wiggle room? What can I give up? Bedtime snuggles with my kids? Meeting client deadlines? Sleep? Basic hygiene?  I have done the math countless times and I always come up short. If you have figured it out, please enlighten me.

I don’t expect it will always be this way. I have said it before but it seems to me that life is, simultaneously, a sprint and a marathon.  One day I know will find myself with free time and it is then that I will finally know what it’s like to tick every item off a To Do list in just one day. For now, all I can do is be more aware of when I am clenching up during the day. As for the night teeth grinding, I guess my dentist is going to be $300 richer very soon.

This is an original Canada Moms Blog post.

Image courtesy of stock.xchg (http://sxc.hu/)