The lady on the phone made me feel so important. My opinion was needed to provide better television programming - at least that is the gist of what I heard over the constant hum of noise that is ever present in the background of our home. I would watch a new sitcom "Rocky LaPorte" and fill out a questionnaire expressing my thoughts on the show. "Be sure to watch on Monday night and be available to answer some questions Tuesday afternoon when we call you."

OK, no biggie, watch a flick, answer some questions, chat on the phone a bit and win $100. Not exactly. Here is really what happened. The packet arrived Monday afternoon, I put aside schoolwork to look over the information. I was instructed to fill out a booklet noting my favorite brands of several different products before watching the show. Check - I filled it out and went about finishing school and beginning dinner.

After dinner the kids and I settled down to watch the program. It was mind-numingly bad. Kinda like your typical sitcom, dad is a dolt, mom is hard-working, teenage daughter has an attitude, young son is smart but looked down on and felt sorry for bc he is a geek. And there were the commercials. Which is REALLY what the survey was about. The show was a front to get me to watch the commercials -which could not be fast forwarded (we tried). I filled out the questionnaire about the show (one page - they were not interested in my answers!) I filled out the second packet of "Which product do you like most". Ah hah, I am on to you now Mr. Survey Taker Guy - I am no dummy, the second list was similar to the first, the products that stayed the same were the ones I just watched a commercial for. But guess what, your tricky ad shinanigins will not work on me - I know what I like. So far I have spent a little over an hour dealing with this survey.

Tuesday afternoon. We have been interrupted so many times by the phone (I know don't answer it - sigh - so tough for me!) and kids who did not want to cooperate and a 2yr old who did. not. want. to. nap. And now it was 3pm and the baby needs to get up from the nap she finally took, and the boys are running in and out of the house with their toy weapons shouting like banshees, and the girl needs help with her math, and the teenager does not understand his science questions. And I am on the phone with Mr. Survey Taker Guy. We have been chatting for 30mins. I have answered no less than 900 questions. 600 of the questions were dealing with a baked bean commercial (I am having a sneaky suspicion this guy works for the bean company). My blood pressure is rising. I ask Mr. Survey if we were going to chat about each of the commercials in equal depth. He assures me he does not know. I smile and tell him that is because noone will stay on the phone long enough for him to finish his job. I have the best of intentions, I really want to finish this, I like to complete things. So we continue - another 50 questions about baked beans - this is really getting old mister.

Chaos is swirling around me. I open my mouth to correct the children and remind them that "Mommy is on the phone darling - stop shouting and attacking your brother, no baby girl - do not go outside alone - hang on Cici I will be off in a bit...." But instead of the above I ask Mr. Survey "What is the most important thing?" He is silent. I continue, "My children are the most important thing right now, I hope your next call is to someone who has time to finish the survey and does not need to tend to a bunch of children. Have a great day." He stayed silent. I hung up.

And it felt so good! I will not be held hostage by other peoples demands on my time. My family is too important. Especially when the "prize" is actually a drawing for $100 in coupons and discounts on my 18 favorite products. And he never did ask me ONE question about Rocky LaPorte.

So what are you being distracted by? The phone, the latest curriculum catalog, Oprah or Dr. Phil, useless surveys? I am going to take care of what is the most important thing and let the other things go. How about you?