These past few weeks, I feel like I've gotten out of the groove of our daily routine. Part of it has to do with getting a cold (that I cannot seem to shake), part of it is that I'm not working out every day anymore (which was a huge chunk of our morning) and part of it is just...waiting. I guess I'm in a bit of a holding pattern, waiting for my life to get turned upside down with the new patterns that Kindergarten will bring.
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Here's what I'm anticipating (just so I can look back in a few months and laugh at my naivete) - earlier to bed for the kids, earlier to rise for me, making more lunches, double checking backpacks, driving to and from (I'm leaning toward letting Ryan ride the bus home from school in the afternoons after week 1, so Kaylin's nap isn't disrupted), easier errands, a bored and possibly lonely 3 year old during the days, an overtired and potentially overstimulated 5 year old in the afternoons, a too-quiet house all day long (I can't imagine missing the bickering, but we'll see), helping with homework, volunteering in class...and just as I get a handle on the new routine, Baby #3 will come bouncing into our home and my life will be turned upside down all over again. None of this even takes into account how the changes might adversely affect the kids. I'm bracing myself. Change is in the air!
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I don't think many people love change, but merely anticipating major changes has always made me anxious. Even good changes like moving, a new job, a new baby and now, Kindergarten. I'm one that likes feeling settled. I appreciate some predictability in my world. And because several friends' Kindergarteners started school this past Monday or even last Monday, I'm ready to get this show on the road already!
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So in addition to having a pesky cough and a drippy nose, my stomach has periodically been in knots and I've been unusually tired. (could be the cold, could be the pregnancy, could be the anticipation, could be all three) Tired, yet sometimes sleepless. (hmmm...maybe that's why I'm so tired?!?!?) When I wake up to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night, I'm still waking Ryan so he'll be dry in the morning, which often results in me lying there awake for an hour or two. Maybe this is God's way of preparing my body for waking up all night long with the new baby? Who knows. All I know is that I'm sick and tired of feeling so sick and tired! I'm ready to just feel normal. Is that so wrong??? And, unfortunately, I'm probably months and months away from normalcy. Wonderful...maybe a new routine won't help so much after all!
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Ready for a New Routine
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5 comments:
How about adding a few more things into your routine (I know, because I'm just that cruel).
Add in two minutes of sitting quietly and thinking of all the things going RIGHT in your day. Ban all negative or qualitative thoughts ('yeah, my lunch was a little healthy, but I didn't really need that cheese') Nope, just 'What a great salad I had!'
Then add another two minutes of just seeing peaceful moments in your house. Whether it's noticing the sunrise in the silence, or seeing (either in reality, or in your mind) Ryan and Kaylin playing something calm together...whatever. Just see peace.
Finally, add in two minutes just reminding yourself of all that your grateful for. It may be something as simple as finally finding the perfect polish color for your pedicure; no need for Earth-shattering revelations. Just simple gratitude.
That's all. Six minutes of your day, and I'll bet you feel worlds different.
Besides, you can do your two minutes at a time while you in the bathroom doing .... well, you know. Nobody needs to know when it is that your Happiness Epiphanies come to you! :-)
xoxoxoxox
DutchMac, will you be my friend too? :)
I hear ya! My eldest is getting ready to begin preschool in September. I'm excited for him AND me!! ;)
Also, just out of curiosity your note about over-tired, over-stimulated preschooler rings true in my life as well. How did you know that yours was ready to say goodbye to his nap - or does he still nap at this age? Mine is 4 and I enforce 'rest time' most every day and generally he does fall asleep. He can go without a nap, but ALWAYS falls alseep if we go anywhere in the car on a no nap day and has a pretty crank infested evening that can tend to make dinner time none-to-enjoyable...
DutchMac - Love you.
Chandy - Yes, DutchMac can be your friend too. She is a wealth of friendship bursting at the seams.
Heidi - Ryan STILL has quiet times. Even today, 5 days until he'll be in school all day. It's my sanity! And some days, he does still sleep, so I'm curious to see how a full day of 8-3 school goes.
A friend whose daughter started Kindergarten on 8/3 said her daughter needs about 20 minutes of down time after school, then is fine, but is in bed passed out every night at 7:00, exhausted. I've also heard of MANY all day Kindergarteners falling asleep on the bus on the way home. They're still little and pre-school and Kindergarten is a TON of stimulation, not to mention cramming all of that learning in their poor brains!
So if your oldest seems tired, try bumping bedtime up 30-60 minutes at night. It might take a week or two to balance out, but evenings won't be such drama once his body's used to it.
Some parents give up naps when their kids are 2...I'm all for my kids napping until their 15. :)
Ohhhhh Katie, if only you knew how accurate the 'bursting at the seams' comment is. I've had such a good summer spoiling myself and splurging, I'm building up the most impressive display of back fat!
Mmmmmmm, back fat.....
(which I just mis-typed as 'back fart' and is infinitely funnier!)
Chandy - I'm all yours. As I've alluded to above, there's currently MORE than enough of me for everyone to share. :-)
PS - I only just now noticed that my word verification for this comment is ..... ready for this? ...... BUTSHIVE. Ha! It said 'butt'! And 'shive'! I don't know what that is, but combined with 'butt' it pretty darn funny! Ha ha!
Ok, I need to turn off the computer and go to bed. My sleepiness is obviously causing me to channel a toilet-humor-obsessed pre-teen boy. Seriously? Laughing at the word 'butt'? I'm such a loser.
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