This Saturday, I turn forty. Forty years old. The big Four-Oh. As in, OH my goodness, you must be kidding me. Moms are forty. (And we all know moms are old!) People who say things like, “I remember when I used to go out and do that!” are forty. In fact, when I was younger, forty was so old I was amazed that my parents actually knew how to go out and have fun without having kids show them what fun really was all about. Forty was so over-the-hill. Forty marked the difference between us and them. It was huge!

Today? Oh, today forty means something entirely different.

Is there anything as powerful as a sick child that can keep a mom running on nothing more than worry, adrenaline, and coffee for days without crashing?

Gabby has been sick for days. The type of sick where you have the doctor on speed dial and know the answering service people on a first-name basis. (Oh, hi, Susan. Jennifer here again!) It is not the type of illness where you give them some ibuprofen, some juice, and send them off to bed. It is the kind of sick where we are watching her around the clock and piggybacking medicines to attempt to keep her fever down. (Which, so far, is not very successful but it's keeping it lower than the danger zone.)

On Wednesday, Gabby began to complain of not feeling very well. By that night she had a 104.7 fever. We medicated her, called the doctor, and got her in to see her pediatrician first thing on Thursday. He said she has the flu and it was most likely the H1N1 version.

I never realized how much I do in one day -- until I haven’t been able to do those things. It is like that infamous story of the wife whose husband asked her what she did all day and in order to “show” him, she decided not to do any of those things for one day. The result was complete and utter chaos.

Many moms have giggled over that story and wished they, too, could pull that off. I am here to tell you, when that situation is thrust upon you without your consent, the joke isn’t as funny anymore...

We are only in our third week of school, yet I have already learned quite a few things being the PTA President. Here are a few.

1. You cannot please everyone. If you try, everyone will end up being frustrated and no one wins.

2. Organization is the key! All of those “I will file these later” papers really do need to be filed as soon as you get them. Who knew?

3. To delegate is to succeed. Jumping out of the “I can do it since no one else will” mindset not only keeps you (ME!) from an early burnout, but lets other people actually volunteer.

Every year, the milestone comes. Yes, I am referring to the first day of school. The mourning of summer’s passing brings us a slight feeling of dread. However, the excitement of new beginnings and starting with a clean slate wins out for those first few days.

This is the first year I did not cry since the year I dropped off my oldest child at preschool so many years ago. Initially, I thought it was because I was so busy, I simply had my mind on the many things I had to accomplish. My brain just would not let me go on the sentimental journey it always takes this time of year.