By Ann McGough

Everyone is busy these days, burning the candle at both ends, if you will. How often do people say, "If only there were more hours in the day?"

Although people may not have enough to time for there own lives, some are obviously making the time to watch other people's lives, since reality tv shows are spinning out of control.

" The Bachelor," "The Bachelorette," "The Simple Life," "Big Brother," and "Who Wants To Marry My Dad?" are just some of the examples of how television has stooped to new lows. But we can not blame the networks alone; people must be watching this stuff (though I can't find ten who'll admit it).

But truth is stranger than fiction. I think if everyone took more time to really pay attention to the people in their lives, we would all see that our lives rival anything on the air.

I think there could a show dedicated just to the average days of moms. Think about a trip to the beach. Mom is carrying 30 pounds of sand toys, a cooler, and two screaming toddlers as she walks barefoot across a 150-degree tar parking lot.

Mom is cleaning out her car; perhaps to make it suitable for a car pool situation or night out with hubby. She goes through the contents of the car and gives several sippy cups and bottles the sniff test to see if they are worth salvaging.

No, fear is not a factor for Moms.

The people on these reality shows win lots of prize money because they are able to endure showerless days and nutrient deficient meals; because they can't get a good night's sleep, and their phone priveleges are suspended. Get over it, many moms do that everyday!

Then there are the nurses who picked their careers so that they would be able to enjoy more quality time with their children. These ladies work the overnight shift, come home, get everyone ready for school, make lunch, make beds, get everyone off to school (or in front of some quality children's programming if they are not yet school-age), and are lucky to catch a quick nap before the food shopping and other miscellaneous errands have them on the move again. You would think these women might be able to catch a few z's in the evening. But, that probably doesn't happen when there is supper to be made, tests to study for, and basketball games to drive to.

Unfortunately, there seems to be increasing number of women being diagnosed with cancer. There is even a way for people to take their chemotherapy "on the go" with a pack and I.V. that can be worn while driving, walking around, etc.. I do not know this for sure, but I would be willing to wager a handsome sum that this was invented by a mother or someone who really appreciates what mothers do.

Not long ago, I saw a women wearing one of these devices as she took her children school shopping at the South Shore Plaza. Chemo at the Gap. I am sure she didn't enjoy that. She must have wanted to be home in bed with a nice cup of tea and a good pillow. But then who would have bought the kids their school stuff?

How do they do it? One young woman, a mother of three who overcame cancer told me that at the time of her diagnosis she decided that she had two choices, to laugh or to cry. She chose to laugh!

Now, that is what I call a Survivior!

Ann McGough's column appears regularly in the Reporter.