I'm starting to feel like all life is only a series of starts and stops. That the "new beginnings" or the "starting overs" will never end.
I've carried some routines and plans with me. I still work out a several times a week, but the class schedule at the new gym isn't as easy to adopt to my work schedule. I'm working out at home more often but don't feel like I'm maximizing the time like I otherwise do in group classes.
I have achieved a 10-mile radius (work, home, childcare, and the gym) to keep time wasted in commuting to almost zero. This is so important to me. I don't have much time to do the things I want to do, and I certainly don't want that time scrapped because a chunk of my day is spent in the car.
After some trial and error, our mornings are smooth again. I feel like I have to stay one step ahead of myself to accomplish everything in such a small time. Packing our bags (for the gym and a mostly potty trained toddler) the night before is a pain but makes all the difference in a successful morning.
Dinnertime is still a challenge, will it ever be easy? I am so tired by the end of the day, the last thing I want to do is cook. Even careful planning doesn't help. We've blown the budget and eaten take-out more often than we should. I have to get better at this.
I have been able to carve out more time for myself in the evenings. I pop on a tv show and watch one episode of something while I get dinner going (even if I'm just serving up take-out on plates). By the time that episode is over, we move on to bath/bedtime routines. Since the little one is older and now has his own room, I've found an hour at the end of each day to read before I turn in for the night. It has been bliss.
Life is comfortable. We are doing just fine.
Wednesday, May 16, 2018
Determination
I have made my move. We have relocated to another state and I am continuing to make all of the improvements and changes as before.
First though, let me tell you about that move. It was organized chaos. The only free-time I had to pack was at night between dinner, bedtime stories, and goodnight kisses. I thought I was sufficiently packed before my helpers showed up to load the truck. Wrong. I missed so many things that we ended up throwing in baskets and then onto the truck haphazardly.
Loading the car onto the pull-behind trailer was the most frightening thing I've ever done. I just knew I was going to drive it right off the edge. I drew on all of my previous scout leader experience and backed the truck to the hitch and connected it all by myself.
We spent the last night in our old home sleeping on blankets on the floor.
The morning of our big day I loaded us up (toddler in the middle) in the truck and we were on our way. Keeping the toddler entertained wasn't as hard as I thought it would be. He also didn't sleep, like I thought he might. The teen slept the whole way. Thanks for that, dude.
The 5 hour drive to our new home took over 8 hours...we had to drive slower and our route took us down Georgia country highways rather than the major interstate.
That is 8 hours of toddler conversations.
"We're in a big truck, Mommy. Is this your big truck?" - no, this isn't my truck. Repeat 5 times.
"See the cows, Mommy! There's a lot of cows." -I see the cows. Yes, there are many cows. Repeat 5 times and then again at every field of cows x 5.
At least the drive was scenic...unfortunately though, there were no Starbucks or even reputably clean bathrooms once we left civilization to take the back roads.
We finally arrived at the leasing office for our new apartment only to find the agent did not make it in to meet me (on Saturday) as promised. In hindsight, I feel bad for the lady who was there. My lease was not prepared and finding that I was facing taking the three of us to a hotel for the weekend, I might have unleashed all of the stress and anxiety I was feeling over the whole trip on that poor soul. She still looks at me nervously when I walk in the office to pay my rent. Like I might come unhinged again.
She turned it around for us. I got my keys and we unloaded the truck.
I did have help with the heavy lifting from friends. I moved myself, two children, and all of our furniture two states away. It was not easy; I made that happen and I feel like a real grown up. I can do anything now.
First though, let me tell you about that move. It was organized chaos. The only free-time I had to pack was at night between dinner, bedtime stories, and goodnight kisses. I thought I was sufficiently packed before my helpers showed up to load the truck. Wrong. I missed so many things that we ended up throwing in baskets and then onto the truck haphazardly.
Loading the car onto the pull-behind trailer was the most frightening thing I've ever done. I just knew I was going to drive it right off the edge. I drew on all of my previous scout leader experience and backed the truck to the hitch and connected it all by myself.
We spent the last night in our old home sleeping on blankets on the floor.
The morning of our big day I loaded us up (toddler in the middle) in the truck and we were on our way. Keeping the toddler entertained wasn't as hard as I thought it would be. He also didn't sleep, like I thought he might. The teen slept the whole way. Thanks for that, dude.
The 5 hour drive to our new home took over 8 hours...we had to drive slower and our route took us down Georgia country highways rather than the major interstate.
That is 8 hours of toddler conversations.
"We're in a big truck, Mommy. Is this your big truck?" - no, this isn't my truck. Repeat 5 times.
"See the cows, Mommy! There's a lot of cows." -I see the cows. Yes, there are many cows. Repeat 5 times and then again at every field of cows x 5.
At least the drive was scenic...unfortunately though, there were no Starbucks or even reputably clean bathrooms once we left civilization to take the back roads.
We finally arrived at the leasing office for our new apartment only to find the agent did not make it in to meet me (on Saturday) as promised. In hindsight, I feel bad for the lady who was there. My lease was not prepared and finding that I was facing taking the three of us to a hotel for the weekend, I might have unleashed all of the stress and anxiety I was feeling over the whole trip on that poor soul. She still looks at me nervously when I walk in the office to pay my rent. Like I might come unhinged again.
She turned it around for us. I got my keys and we unloaded the truck.
I did have help with the heavy lifting from friends. I moved myself, two children, and all of our furniture two states away. It was not easy; I made that happen and I feel like a real grown up. I can do anything now.
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