Welcome to a week in my life.......this week started off with J traveling to Brazil. (left on Saturday so was not around for Mother's day which had me starting off the week a little down).
I keep my phone beside my bed for the alarm. I didn't remember to snap a photo until this time even though 6 am is the wake up time to get the kids up and going for school.
Lucy gets taken care of first thing. Food, taking out and then back to laying down and watching us all rush around.
It's getting harder and harder to drag B from bed as she inches closer to teenager-hood. I want to remember the lights and stuffed animals and truck underneath the bed that she's too big to play with now. I want to remember how she uses word the "inappropriate" "JK" and "same". Holy crap, I'm not ready for her to grow into that phase just yet.
T is out of bed with a big groan. He showers every morning (I think shaves too). Usually he's ready on time but sometimes needs a little push. I want to remember that I want him to do it on his own, and want to help him and be nice (making breakfast, lunch, driving to the bus) all at the same time. I want to remember how I hate the rushing off part of my life and how often I'm the culprit of having to rush off to the next thing.
He hits the bathroom right before we take the car to the bus stop at the end of the road. The other two have no problem staying home alone.
These two love to bike and scooter to the bus stop. I've been letting them do this more on their own as I want my girl to be independent walking that distance to home without a worry. I want to remember that it feels good to let go of worry.
Hugs before we leave.
I want to remember how we hung the backpacks by the door, and how they NEVER put their shoes away. The hanging order was B, then L then T.
in the car selfies for the win.
Immediately after I take them to the bus I head to work for a short day. I'm thankful for my somewhat flexible schedule when J travels. 16 years in at this place, usually I keep my to do list notebook next to me, dumping that stuff from my brain onto a list relieves some of my anxiety about remembering things and getting it all done. It's harder when I'm the only adult home to be in charge of family stuff a lot of the time. I'm here until 2:30 PM.
T and I arrive home from school and work at the same time. I want to remember being deliberate about checking in with my teen. Sometimes he pushes me away, sometimes he wants to share things. I always find the afternoon transition home hard for all of us. They usually can be found eating something (at all times) or checking out with some electronic gadget until I scold them. They want to be in their spaces and I want to get things done before I get too tired.
I close my eyes to try to take a quick snooze on the bed. I get so tired after work.
I can't sleep though on this day.
L sits at the counter (to the side of B's animals) with his homework. He uses an audio book to help him stay focused. Getting it all done timely usually takes lots of reminders, checklists, rewards, consequences, etc.....
Headed off to drive for Lax practice carpool, it's only 10 minutes away. I want to remember how I LOVE driving for carpool. Teenage boys these days get a bad rap. They are all so interesting to talk to (and polite!). I know all about their broken bones and the prom dates they have lined up for next year. Their parents are my tribe (And it takes an Army!). Getting to know them all is one of my favorite things.
We sit down to a late dinner as usual. This week we prepped a bunch of food (enchiladas, lasagna) and stuck in the freezer so it REALLY helped. I want to remember that driving kids around and getting a healthy dinner prepped and served and eaten and cleaned up after was always one of my biggest struggles.
2nd shower of the day for this boy (after practice).
He's a reader, constantly. Mostly graphic novels. I want to remember how I love it when he shares the stuff he learns from books. Some of it is stuff I don't know. He's just messy and complicated and makes my life so interesting and unexpected and awesome.
Our individual check in of the day is a nightly book read. No matter how much we are NOT getting along at the end of the day, it makes me feel good to have this time. I need to do better about being consistent with it.
L sleeps on the top bunk nightly now, with a lamp pointing in his direction, the closet light on and his audio book on, dog in room (anxiety much?) I flick the lamp off before I go to bed.
T eating his way too late dinner after practice and shower (don't worry, he had 50 snacks when he got home from school to hold him over).
I want to remember these little check ins and how it feels like I'm running out of time to teach them important lessons. I sometimes have to force myself to sit and listen and advise and coach when I just want to check out at the end of a long tiring day. It's hard with social media today because Kids don't see the tough stuff. It's ok to be tired and it's ok to not be happy all of the time. Big kids are just mentally tiring and just awesome to be around all at the same time.
I catch him multitasking brushing his teeth and checking in with a group text. No wonder things take so long for these kids these days. He abides by the rule of no phones after 9 (and I'm proud that he is honest about it when he messes up). Most nights he is not in bed until 10. I would love for it to be earlier.
I go to bed just after they go to bed. I never watch actual shows when J is not here, but I do flick on HGTV to quiet my worrying brain just before I drift off next to my pile of laundry. That was Monday!
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