7 Quick Takes Saturday
But anyway, I won't write those paragraphs and paragraphs. Suffice it to say that if we get through the day and I have enough energy left to do the dishes, it's a good day. Our laundry doesn't get folded for a minimum of a week after it is washed, and sometimes it never gets folded. Our bathroom hasn't been cleaned in... well... I'm embarrassed to say how long. My kids are probably getting away with more than they should these days, simply because I'm preoccupied half the time I'm with them, and I'm exhausted the other half.
I've also had to really suppress my "people pleasing" nature and go into self-preservation mode a little. I have to force myself not to care whether the neighbor walks in to pick up her daughter from a playdate and sees the unfolded laundry piled up on the couch. I've had to say no to a lot of requests for playdates and social time, just because I'm too exhausted and there's too much work to be done that day. I've taken no initiative to contact most friends and family over the past few months and I've had to suppress my guilt over that. I did not sell any Yankee Candles for either of the girls' school fundraisers and we've said no to every request for volunteer help. We've missed a few make-up dance classes. I've missed a church choir rehearsal or three.
The old me would have been driven crazy by "letting people down", but I'm teaching the new me to care a little bit less about all of that. So, if any friends or family have been offended by my lack of presence lately, I can only say that I'm sorry and that work is taking up almost all of me right now. I hope to resurface when the school year is over. If any of you working moms have tips about how you "do it all" please share them with me!!
(Okay so I did write a few paragraphs there. :)
I also feel like I shouldn't complain that I have a job now, because we have much more breathing room financially! It is a blessing! Today we took the girls to Cost Cutters and got them both professional haircuts. We usually don't spend money on our children's hair, so it marks the first time in their lives that their hair has been cut by someone other than me!
They were thrilled and told everyone we saw for the rest of the day about how they got "hair salons".
Mommy got mine cut too and I feel like a new woman.
Why is it that around Halloween time every year I get the urge to chop everybody's hair off? I think it's probably after about two months of crying when I brush long, tangled hair every morning before school that I just snap.
There are two things that I have never paid money for in my entire married life of almost ten years, and those are microwaves and vacuum cleaners. Every one of these two appliances that we have owned has either been a hand-me-down, a side-of-the-road find, or a dumpster treasure. I'm a little bit proud to say so, actually... but you know me, I'm weird like that.
Today, however, I used my birthday money to buy a new microwave!
A really basic version, but when you're not used to having something new, it feels like a real treat, eh?
(Thanks for the birthday money, Mom & Dad, Buppie & Ellie, and Mimi and Papa!!)
Have your thoughts been filled this week with the events in the news-- yet another school shooting on Monday and a teacher murdered by a student on Wednesday? The latter happened at the high school where my husband used to teach. And N's school had a lockdown drill the day after Monday's shooting, which apparently was planned before the events of the news but was nonetheless a bit shaking to my soul.What has filled my thoughts the most is wondering what kind of anger, brokenness, and isolation would lead a child to do such a terrible thing. I feel an awful loneliness just thinking about it. I also feel a real sense of responsibility to show compassion to all who live in this dark reality that is our world today.
I could write a lot more about that, too, but... well... it's just sad.
On to happier things... we spent a lovely time with Grandma and Grandpa last weekend while M was away on business for a few days.
We visited the farm with the apples and the tractors. Fun times!!
M has been away quite a bit these past two weeks-- he was in Missouri for a four days, he had a work conference in Boston one day, and he's just had other things that need to be done after work (visiting friends and family). These times away from him are such a good reminder not to take him for granted! He does so much and the girls and I miss him dearly while he's gone. But we are also greatly blessed to have family who can help fill the void while M is away. Thank you!
L's Halloween costume is decided:
We found the costume for $6 at the consignment store, so how could I pass that up?
We've talked about how it may be too scary to wear to preschool, so she's settled on the slightly less fearsome witch costume from last year for her school's Halloween parade.
I've been taking a bit of a break from running lately. I only managed two runs this week. It does feel good to rest my body a bit after my 10K, and... well... with M away so much and work to do there's just not as much time to fit it in, and I don't always have the energy for it. Term 1 is ending soon for my online teaching, so I should be doing a bit less frantic last-minute grading and have less conversations to initiate with teachers and parents of kids who are failing. I'll be looking forward to more running in the weeks ahead to train for my Thanksgiving Day race coming up! Wow-- three races this year! I guess I'm sort of a real runner now. :)
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