A letter to me

I realized this past week how much our new schedule is wearing on me.  My kiddos are in three different schools with different schedules and different expectations.  I am tired and stressed trying to manage it all so I can't imagine how my kids must feel.  Well, I do know that Emma is struggling some with her schedule and Jonah a little too.  I also realized over the weekend how much I am dreading this week.  There is so much to do....way more than I like to have scheduled in one week.  Drew is going to be gone and that makes it worse. 

In my state of feeling overwhelmed I decided I HAD to run this morning.  I don't normally run on Mondays, but today it was a must.  I needed to run so I could sort out my plan of action for the week without the distraction of my family.  I had four miles to accomplish that and it worked to some degree.  I am still feeling stressed about making it to Friday with some bit of sanity left, but at least I have things worked out in my head now.

I figured out who I needed to ask for help...yes, this is a must this week.  I cannot do it alone.  I also decided to cut myself some slack.  I have to give up control of things this week that I just won't have time to do well.  That to-do list of things I want to do this month will not be started this week.  The daily things around the house that I like to keep up with....probably not happening to the same level as I like.  And, the best part of that decision is I know it will be okay.

This week it is okay to be my version of a slacker mom.  Keeping my kids from being stressed is my job this week. Helping Emma and Jonah continue to adjust to the "go straight from school to the gym for three hours four days a week and then do homework" is my job.  Who am I kidding?  I am still adjusting to that school-gym-homework schedule too.  It is pretty brutal for an 8 and 11 year old and the mom trying to help them.  Gymnastics x5, scouts x3, school, church meetings x2, youth group, piano lessons, and middle school open house are the biggies on my list this week.

They are my priority

So to help my stress level will be running...yeah...and clouds.  Yes, clouds because I love clouds.  My kids think I am nuts because I point out amazing clouds to them all the time.  I took pictures of them everywhere we went this summer.  I printed out some of my favorites so I can look at them when I feel too much of something.  And, I am going to be purposeful about looking at the clouds in the sky this week.  I think clouds are soothing. These are my favorites from the summer. 

Dawson's Creek

Neuse River with a fighter jet

Eagle Camp

Burlington, Vermont

Lake Champlain...my favorite

Mars, PA