thursday: plan a family meeting and some fun

273

We’re about a month into the school year, and I think everyone (at least in my house) is ready for a break. Thursday is our normal freakout and meltdown night, but we were overachievers and started early this week. The kids are tired, Adam is tired, and I’m tired too.

Today we’re keeping the TV off completely and sticking to the basics: homework, play time, dinner, bath, story, and bed.

We’ve got a busy weekend to look forward to–we’re hosting a slumber party on Saturday for 6 nine-year-olds. I’ve got to gear up!

Today:

daily 7
company clean

I found these two articles today and thought they were interesting (they were on the Yahoo! homepage)—what do you think?:

9 signs you’re happy

8 friends every woman should have

I have had all of the friends listed on and off, just not all at the same time. Many of my friends overlap these categories, and I prefer hanging out with Adam more than anyone else. As for the happy thing—I think they missed the boat by not including anything about sleep. I’m the most happy after having 1) time to myself–even 20 minutes counts and 2) after sleeping solid for 4-6 hours.

I’m spending two nights away from the house/kids next week for BlogHer Food. I’m rooming with Michelle, and I’m anticipating the best night’s sleep I’ve had in the last two years!

oh! and I’m on the radio today at 9am eastern. Martha Stewart Living on Sirius. If you get it and hear it, let me know!

Wednesday, clobber the cobwebs and other things

272

I finished a deadline last night that was hanging over my head. I was practically-but-n0t-actually late but it’s done and over and I feel SO MUCH BETTER. I know I’ve written about this before, but I am a really bad procrastinator when it comes to writing deadlines. I like writing, so when I’m “told” I have to write about this or that by a certain time, all creativity seems to fly out the window and I push it to the absolute last minute.

This is kind of problematic when you’re trying to make a living as a writer. The year I did the crockpot challenge, I also was in charge of the local parenting magazine’s event calendar. The job was pitched as 10-15 hours a week, and my deadline would be the 6th of each month for the following month. I was supposed to process the press releases as they came in and write the blurbs on the corresponding calendar date. Easy.

I only did it this way once. After January was complete, and the editor wrote back that she was thrilled with the work, I began to push the envelope. I’d start working a week before my deadline. Then three days before. When December was due, I did it all in one sitting and pulled an all-nighter. It kind of felt exhilarating, like I was back in college BSing my way through Shakespeare class.

I’m learning that I can’t do this anymore because it isn’t fair to the family to be glued to the computer for an entire day (or more), grumbling about “being on a deadline.” The baby HATES the laptop with a firey passion, and whines as soon as I pull it out of it’s hiding place in the armoire.

or maybe I just need to be more creative. I don’t see me tackling work as soon as it’s assigned–it’s just not me.

yet.

Today:

daily 7

sweep, mop, dust, vacuum

begin ordering Holiday gifts (don’t get mad! )

Tuesday: pump it up–your heart, that is

271

One of the favorite softball cheers starts with “pump, pump, pump it up. pump it up and keep it up.” The girls enjoy chanting it at the top of their lungs, and I kind of do, too.

but I stop when grownups look.

Yesterday, we pumped it up around the house. Today, pump up your exercise routine. Do whatever it takes to get your heart pumping steady for a good 15-20 minutes. If you’re already exercising regularly (go, you!), switch up your activity to work different muscle groups.

Today:

daily 7

pump up the exercise

write down 3 things that are going extraordinarily well and have a thankful heart

Monday, Sept 27

day 270

Good morning! Happy brand new week! Do a good job on your weekend recovery today—take a bit more time than usual. Take the time to look under the couch and the beds and dressers and pull out the toys, dirty socks and crumpled tissue that tends to hide out.

While in the bathroom, disinfect well, and spruce it up a bit more than usual. Do you need to wash the bathmats? Dust the top of the medicine cabinet? Windex the entire mirror instead of just spot-cleaning the toothpaste spots?

Today:

weekend recovery

daily 7

step it up a bit

the weekend: 268 & 269

saturday and sunday

Hello there! I hope you all had a fantastic week and are off having fun this weekend. Try to be gracious and caring in all your interactions this weekend—even with the cranky lady who cuts in front of you at the grocery store.

This weekend:

daily 7

yard work

cross some stuff off your punch list

gear up for the fall—you have Halloween all set, right? Don’t buy candy now. You’ll just eat it.

Delicious autumn!  My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns.  ~George Eliot

tgif: day 267

267

Well the universe (or my wireless card) kept me off of the computer for most of the day today. Which means I was able to Cinderella clean the kitchen floor (because that floor is the BANE OF MY EXISTENCE and the only way to make the dilapidated linoleum look slightly presentable is to scrub it with a Magic Eraser and then rinse and mop–I promise I’m not being obsessive-compulsive. sort of. )

and! the baby took a half step, and because I wasn’t glued to the computer while she was sitting with her basket of toys, I saw it. At 8 1/2 months—which is nuts, because her big sisters didn’t even crawl until they were practically a year.

I also was the BEST MOM EVER because not only did we have Taco Bell for dinner (for my GFer, I get her empty taco shells and an order of beans and cheese and an order of rice, then she builds her own tacos), we had McDonald’s hot fudge sundaes for dessert. Adam was out for a meeting and I just wasn’t interested in figuring out dinner, so we hit the drive though and ate a carpet picnic while catching up on playground politics.

All in all, it was a good week. How was yours?

Today:

gear up for non-stop soccer tomorrow.

daily 7

look through your recent pictures. Are there any that can be used for a holiday picture card? if not, schedule a photo session, or pick out a day to have a photo shoot on your own

Thursday!

266

The Office is back tonight! So is 30 Rock!

I’m pretty sure nothing else matters.

My friend Katherine asked yesterday what I thought about having a housekeeper come in every other week or once a month to tackle the heavy cleaning. I said if it wasn’t financially prohibitive, she should go for it. She told me that she was pretty sure I was going to be against the idea.

No. Not me. I am all for any and all help—hired or not. I still think you need to clean up after yourselves, and do the majority of the Daily 7 (although I’d probably slack a bit on the toilet and bathroom cleaning if I knew someone else was going to do a thorough job pretty soon), and teach your children to make their beds and tidy up.

otherwise, color me envious!

Today:

family meeting: how is school going? how’s the routine? anything need tweaking?

Remember the WoMom: find some time this weekend to focus on yourself

daily 7

make sure the DVR is set!

Wednesday, day 265

265!

Thank you so much for all of your help and suggestions yesterday about Jennifer’s situation. I’ve emailed her all of your comments, and know she greatly appreciates your input.

you all rock.

Today:

dust, vacuum, and quick mop. Oh! and does anyone have one of those Hoover Floor Mates they are showing on TV? Is it bad to covet a mop/vacuum?

daily 7

make sure your meal plan is up to date. Plan stuff for the weekend so you’re not tempted to hit the drive through or a restaurant. Unless someone else is paying—then you should go for it!

Planning is bringing the future into the present so that you can do something about it now. –Alan Lakein

day 264: 101 days to go

264

I got an email over the weekend from Jennifer, who needs some help. I did email her back, but since I’ve got the best, most caring, and compassionate readers in the world, I thought I’d throw this out to you for any and all advice. Due to the sensitive nature, I’m going to summarize and paraphrase.

Jennifer has two small children who are home with her during the day while she helps run her husband’s business. The three year old has recently given up naps. The baby is four months old, suffers from excema (currently taking two baths a day followed by an ointment/cream routine—dermatologist appt. this week), and has a hard time sleeping for both naps and bedtime.

Jennifer is tired (no kidding!!). She’s overwhelmed and at her breaking point. She feels like she doesn’t accomplish anything during the day and that someone (one of her kids, her husband) is being let down no matter what she does. She’d like examples of how to “get it all done.”

I wrote back that my first instinct would be to not worry about anything except figuring out how to get more sleep. I also suggested soliciting help and to try and get the 3-year-old to stay in her room and rest during the day. I also stressed that she is NOT ALONE. This is a terribly trying time, but it will get better. And that we’re thinking of her and sending lots of cyber hugs.

What are your initial thoughts?

Today:

daily 7

PROM the summer clothes, dig out the winter ones.

Monday: weekend recovery

263

Good morning! How was your weekend? We had a great one, and it started off with me sleeping in until 9:30! I know! Completely bonkers. I knew Adam got up at 6 with the baby, but just assumed that I’d get up very soon after. The next thing I knew, the clock spelled out 9:27. woah. I forgot what it feels like to have so much sleep!

Today:

weekend recovery

make sure you’re on track with your meal plan

is Halloween in order?

do you have your Holiday shopping list made?

daily 7

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