I had something brilliant I was going to write here, but can't remember so whatever...
Saturday was my birthday party. If you've seen the pictures on Facebook,you know there was an embarrassment of candles (that's my new collective noun for birthday candles) and a wonderful gathering of supportive friends. I would love to do that more often - minus the candles.
Sunday Hubby took the kids out for a multi-km hike in the woods. I stayed at home and cooked and worked. Sometimes, I just like being alone. That's harder and harder to do with my day job. I miss my own time. Sometimes, I fantasize about taking a day off - just because. I might still do it.
Today is Monday which is "meh Monday". Hubby works late and I'm in charge of the kids. We have no activities beyond doing homework and piano practice. Downside: when I picked the kids up from the after-school program today, another mom was "not feeling very well". RED ALERT! Stay away...
We'll see what the rest of the week brings. And maybe I'll remember that brilliant thing I was going to write about...
Monday, October 17, 2011
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Happy birthday to me
Today is my birthday. I have attained the age of the answer to life, the universe and everything. (If you don't know the reference, that's what Google is for...)
Some years ago, Hubby initiated a "birthday week" tradition in our family. So every day this week, I've been getting some sort of birthday present or treat. We had cake for holiday dessert, we went out to dinner tonight (with the kids, which always means restriction on restaurant choices, due to their picky eating habits...) and there is an 'event' this coming weekend.
Hubby asked sometime last week what I wanted for my birthday. I had been anticipating that question for a while, but really, there is nothing I want that you can buy in a store. I want my kids to stop fighting. I want my basement to be cleaned and unpacked. I want to lose weight and wear my clothes better. I want more time in my day for me and for exercise. I want to enjoy reading for fun again. I want to work less and earn more.
Somehow I'm thinking a trip to the mall isn't going to cover any of that - and that's even if Hubby would ever consider going to a mall, which he wouldn't.
So I emailed Hubby my Chapters wish list. Guess what I've been getting all week? Books right off my wish list. Not even wrapped. Sort of anti-climatic but whatever - when you've attained the pinnacle of all human wisdom and knowledge by getting to the answer of life, the universe and everything, I guess it's all coasting downhill from here!
Though I still have hopes that next year maybe the kids won't fight...
Some years ago, Hubby initiated a "birthday week" tradition in our family. So every day this week, I've been getting some sort of birthday present or treat. We had cake for holiday dessert, we went out to dinner tonight (with the kids, which always means restriction on restaurant choices, due to their picky eating habits...) and there is an 'event' this coming weekend.
Hubby asked sometime last week what I wanted for my birthday. I had been anticipating that question for a while, but really, there is nothing I want that you can buy in a store. I want my kids to stop fighting. I want my basement to be cleaned and unpacked. I want to lose weight and wear my clothes better. I want more time in my day for me and for exercise. I want to enjoy reading for fun again. I want to work less and earn more.
Somehow I'm thinking a trip to the mall isn't going to cover any of that - and that's even if Hubby would ever consider going to a mall, which he wouldn't.
So I emailed Hubby my Chapters wish list. Guess what I've been getting all week? Books right off my wish list. Not even wrapped. Sort of anti-climatic but whatever - when you've attained the pinnacle of all human wisdom and knowledge by getting to the answer of life, the universe and everything, I guess it's all coasting downhill from here!
Though I still have hopes that next year maybe the kids won't fight...
Friday, October 07, 2011
And so it goes
Hubby was at home sick today. We're blaming some soup that didn't agree with him. No one else ate it, he's much better 24 hrs later, thanks for asking. We're hoping that we're done with that and no one else will get ill. Touch wood.
Kid#1 is still struggling with braces. He now has lumps inside his cheeks from the constant rubbing. Only 6 more months - this round. Dental wax is our friend.
Kid#2 is still getting perfect (or higher) on his weekly French dictation. I have to admire his work ethic. We practice his new words a few times each week - almost once a day. He sets himself rules like how he will write out the hardest words 10 times, and how he will always get the bonus word right. I know a lot of MBA students who could learn from this. Actually, I could too.
I'm still way too busy but felt a lot better tonight after assembling my new shredder (well, I've had it for a few weeks but only now got it out of the box). Of course, we managed to jam it almost immediately, but hey - it's working now. It was cheap. You get what you pay for and all that. But my piles of paper are significantly lower now. And the kids have a new hobby.
And so it goes...
Happy (Canadian) Thanksgiving weekend!
Kid#1 is still struggling with braces. He now has lumps inside his cheeks from the constant rubbing. Only 6 more months - this round. Dental wax is our friend.
Kid#2 is still getting perfect (or higher) on his weekly French dictation. I have to admire his work ethic. We practice his new words a few times each week - almost once a day. He sets himself rules like how he will write out the hardest words 10 times, and how he will always get the bonus word right. I know a lot of MBA students who could learn from this. Actually, I could too.
I'm still way too busy but felt a lot better tonight after assembling my new shredder (well, I've had it for a few weeks but only now got it out of the box). Of course, we managed to jam it almost immediately, but hey - it's working now. It was cheap. You get what you pay for and all that. But my piles of paper are significantly lower now. And the kids have a new hobby.
And so it goes...
Happy (Canadian) Thanksgiving weekend!
Wednesday, October 05, 2011
Bracing for braces
Kid #1 is approximately 9.5 yrs old. I'm sure there's a site somewhere that would tell me *exactly* how old he is, but that would be a digression, distracting me from the real issue at hand - which is that my Kid#1 now has braces. And I really would like to be distracted from that.
He only has four brackets and the point is to align his top two central incisors (like the fancy terminology there?) but we know that this is just the first step on a long road of many orthodontic treatments.
Bottom line: his body is now filled with Advil and he's complaining about how horrible braces are. I never had them, and I still want to cry for him. He was so good in the ortho appointment, and now he's stuck with these miserable things for 6 months - and, as I said, we all know that this is just the first installment.
Installment makes me think of the money - and I'd really like to be distracted from that as well.
As I never had braces, I'm completely unprepared for the care that they require, the extra brushing and flossing, the restrictions on food (no popcorn?!?!?) and the pain and discomfort, that meant that Kid#1 had very little for dinner and ate very little lunch - even with the Advil in his growing body...
I'm sure that this too shall pass, and as I give empty reassurances, based only on my own fervent wishes, that his discomfort will fade, and that he will grow used to the braces and wires, I know that my own discomfort will also fade.
But chalk this one up as another thing I didn't know I was signing up for when I became a mother.
He only has four brackets and the point is to align his top two central incisors (like the fancy terminology there?) but we know that this is just the first step on a long road of many orthodontic treatments.
Bottom line: his body is now filled with Advil and he's complaining about how horrible braces are. I never had them, and I still want to cry for him. He was so good in the ortho appointment, and now he's stuck with these miserable things for 6 months - and, as I said, we all know that this is just the first installment.
Installment makes me think of the money - and I'd really like to be distracted from that as well.
As I never had braces, I'm completely unprepared for the care that they require, the extra brushing and flossing, the restrictions on food (no popcorn?!?!?) and the pain and discomfort, that meant that Kid#1 had very little for dinner and ate very little lunch - even with the Advil in his growing body...
I'm sure that this too shall pass, and as I give empty reassurances, based only on my own fervent wishes, that his discomfort will fade, and that he will grow used to the braces and wires, I know that my own discomfort will also fade.
But chalk this one up as another thing I didn't know I was signing up for when I became a mother.
Sunday, October 02, 2011
Sundays and Mondays
It's Sunday night. Garbage, picking up for the housecleaner, recycling, compost - ick. All just plain ick. I should have been a princess or a movie star - really.
Now that I work 40 hrs/wk in an office, I get why people dread Sundays and Mondays. For the first time in years, I actually look forward to a weekend - being in the house, not having to work, not having to constantly deal with someone else's unexpected problems - and as a career coach, I get a lot of SEPs (someone else's problems - tip of the hat to Douglas Adams...)
However, home is not a peaceful place either. We still have many boxes to unpack - and it seems like it's all the big ones left. Big ones with little things in them. The house feels small and the stuff feels big. Ick.
Cooking is a hassle. Getting the kids to eat is a hassle. Homework is a hassle. Staying on top of Facebook is even a hassle. Especially with the stupid new "Top Stories" thing.
I think I need an all-inclusive vacation. Without the kids. And with all of my work and email magically taken care of so that there is no backlog when I return.
If I return... ;-)
Now that I work 40 hrs/wk in an office, I get why people dread Sundays and Mondays. For the first time in years, I actually look forward to a weekend - being in the house, not having to work, not having to constantly deal with someone else's unexpected problems - and as a career coach, I get a lot of SEPs (someone else's problems - tip of the hat to Douglas Adams...)
However, home is not a peaceful place either. We still have many boxes to unpack - and it seems like it's all the big ones left. Big ones with little things in them. The house feels small and the stuff feels big. Ick.
Cooking is a hassle. Getting the kids to eat is a hassle. Homework is a hassle. Staying on top of Facebook is even a hassle. Especially with the stupid new "Top Stories" thing.
I think I need an all-inclusive vacation. Without the kids. And with all of my work and email magically taken care of so that there is no backlog when I return.
If I return... ;-)
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)