This doesn't usually happen until May. Until then, I’ve withstood the overlap of basketball and baseball seasons. I’ve weathered the sniffles and coughs of winter. In fact, usually about now, I’m anticipating longer days of sunlight and warmth.

But not this year. This year, May came early. In our house, May is the most chaotic month of the year. We’re on the traditional school calendar, and end of the year projects, EOGs, school programs and kid sports all seem to coalesce in that short 31-day period. The final push is on for academic achievement, but spring fever and tournament time are vying for control.

Fortunately, when it’s May, if you just hunker down, commit to serving sandwiches for dinner and buy extra underwear so you can go longer without doing laundry, before you know it, it’s June. School’s out, and those late baseball games that were so tough to play the night before the EOGs now become the highlight of the day.

However, as you know, it’s still March. And we have seriously overscheduled ourselves. When you think about a child playing in maybe two sports, it doesn’t sound so bad. But when you consider four children playing on eight teams…. well, it’s a little more complicated. In truth, two of my boys play on the same team. One would think that would make it simpler, however, two uniforms still have to be washed, that elusive fourth red baseball sock always has to be found (with each boy claiming the one matched set, of course), and each child’s homework still needs to be done.

I’ve begun to nag. More. In the effort to make sure everyone has everything he or she needs for the place he or she is going, I’ve started to ratchet up the reminders in a voice that is annoying even to me. I start to hyperventilate when I get one more schedule of activities. I feel like I’m one ¾ turn rotated too much.

Certainly, we could do fewer activities. But again, individually, it’s not so ridiculous. And most of the activities represent a terrific chance for them to work on the sport that they love. So it’s hard to tell Son A that he can’t join a team because it makes Son C have to adjust his schedule. Or that Mommy’s tired of driving, so we’ll all just stay home tonight.

So here we are with eight teams. As a parent, I was always wary of over scheduling kids or of being the pushy mom. I may be guilty of the first, but I think I’m still okay on the second. In each case, the kids have shown an interest and desire to play on the team. They enjoy their teammates and really have a deep love of the game. They still have time to do homework. They have time to play outside and be with friends. If anything, they spend less time watching television, which is fine with me.

I guess hot meals won’t be in our future anytime soon. Hanes will be happy with my increased purchases of tighty whiteys. The makers of Tide laundry detergent may be less so, but they’ll get theirs with the thrice-weekly washing of uniforms.

My kids will learn that if they want to take on something extra, they’ll have to maintain a balance.

And me? I guess I’ll learn that when perfect organization isn’t possible, just controlling the chaos can get you through just fine. At least until June.

Pamela appears Tuesdays on TriangleMom2Mom. Read more about Pamela on her blog Crazy is My Life.