28 October

Reflections on Tuesday....

Tuesdays are my consistent day off from work.  I get to volunteer at the elementary school, catch up on chores at home, and exercise.  

The kids are growing up too fast, this stage of their life requires more pausing, and thinking and teaching and patience than any other stage,  They are unique, they surprise me,and they are great people.  

I have surprised myself on how much I am able to handle as the wife of a husband who travels, who travels ALOT.   It's taken a year of working stuff out, including a little resentment and frustration,  figuring out what I need to make it work.  We got this.  

I have a lot of chatter in my brain that goes on ALL the time, except when I'm sleeping.  

Today I saw myself hitting the snooze on my phone, getting up at the last minute in order to prepare a healthy breakfast and get ready for the day.  So hard to get u when it's dark out.

T takes showers every morning now before school, like an adult.  Not sure when that started, prob sometime last year.

I saw myself keeping up with their Board.  Again, working on time management for myself and for them.

I saw myself enjoying getting their backpacks ready for the day, and wondering if this is something they should be doing themselves.

I saw myself enjoying feeding and taking care of the dog at the start of the day.  Getting that breath of cold fresh air outside certainly helps wake someone up.

I saw myself...Getting the kids a healthy smoothie at the start of their day.  sneaking in some greens and healthy stuff.

 I saw myself checking his planner.

 and encouraging him to be ready on time

 I saw myself getting her up for the day.

 and giving lots of hugs to make the morning positive.  A positive morning=a positive day at school for this one.

 I saw myself rushing him out eh door....again.

 Making eggs for the girl

I saw myself Putting on some quiet relaxing music during breakfast.

 I saw myself getting this girl ready for her picture day.  Letting her wear a little bt of make u and lip gloss.

I saw myself handing over my phone to her in the car, She always wants to scroll through the pictures and videos when we are waiting for the bus.  We always drive the car to the bus on cold days.

 I saw myself looking at his papers, and knowing how fast that little kid handwriting will transform into bigger kid handwriting. I saw myself feeling grateful that school work comes so easy to him.

I saw myself having granola with milk, chia and hemp and pomegranite seeds

 I saw myself loving the outfit he picked for Blue day on eat through the rainbow week.

I saw myself getting ready to exercise, loving running and talking with a friend in a beautiful place. I was thinking about how I can't wait to start getting ready for the holidays. 

 I saw myself sitting and checking the e-mail and Instagram as soon as I got back.

 I saw myself loading the dishwasher

and having my morning iced tea.  Gosh Caffeine is so hard to give up.

I saw myself, Making the beds.....I like it when the beds are made.

 putting on make up, constantly trying new things on my face now that I'm 40.

 I saw myself getting in the car to go for my volunteer time.

I saw myself thinking about how things have changed since I was in school or even since T was in school here.

 I found myself longing for the elections to be over so I can stop getting all this mail and phone calls.

I saw myself doing the laundry (but not folding it).

Then drinking chai tea on this raw rainy day.  I reward myself after doing chores often.

Then making a salad with lefovers and grilled leeks for lunch.  I read leeks are great for digestive health so I eat this a few days a week.  

I like to sit at the computer and read blogs during lunchtime alone. (more rewards).

 I found myself loving the days that I don't work, and noticing how much more energy I have to handle the afternoon transition.

I saw myself loving and watching  how creative B is with play.  She is really into dolls right now and plays for hours.  I love how LM is such a thoughtful person.  Always thinking of us and our family.  She  always brings T homemade pudding once a month when he gets his braces tightened (she remembers the dates better than I do!).  Always thinking of all the kids and coming up with fun things for them to do together.  She talks to them and cares about what is going on their lives.  She reads to them every night so I can get the dishes done,  She tells Lu to  " be nice to your mother".  She brings me coupons, and her old magazines, a bowl full of gourds for the table, and pea soup for my lunch.  Teaching B important skills, but involving the whole family.  They say people come into your lives right when you need them.  She is such a gift.

 I Saw myself noticing that I always slip on T's boots to take the dog out.  Not sure when that happened.

I found myself kicking them out of the house while I made dinner.

I found myself noticing what an important part technology plays in our lives.  Anything you want to know, you can know.

I saw myself finding them a plastic crate for their books and stuff they take in the car in the evenings bringing T back and forth to swimming.

 I saw myself still loving the black door.

I saw myself getting them their "cherry juice" before bed.  It is supposed to contain natural melatonin.  The verdict is still out on whether it helps them sleep.  It's become the routine anyhow.

Then we started a game of Sorry. I love games that everyone can play.

I saw myself reading bedtime stories.

and tucking in for the night.

 I saw myself noticing how hard he works.  Even after practice, still at it.  He cares, he's going for high honors and working hard to improve himself.    I listened to myself tell him the story of how it's more important to be kind and have friends than be competitive about grades  like I used to.  He's such a good kid.

And enjoying some magazines, more House Hunters and quiet time before tucking in myself.  Love this life.