Following Up On Various Things
I admit sometimes I just declare something and then forget to circle back to it because there is something shiny and new to discuss, and shiny/new things can be more fun to write about.
Here are some follow ups . . .
- Two strength workouts DONE at the semi private gym and I officially signed up for a plan with 2 workouts/week. I really like the format – it’s just enough attention but not too much. So far the hour-long sessions go by quickly – we’ll see if that lasts!
- A is doing ok with her broken finger. She is itching to start using her hand again but knows to wait until ~1.5 weeks from now when she sees ortho. She’s still been able to do most things though I have been doing her hair. (Smooth center-part ponytail +/- braid; Probably not as well as she does, but I try.) She will miss 2 gymnastics meets (one already, and one this weekend which is a home-based meet — we’ll spectate!) but hopefully not more than that.
- Book draft is coming along! I made a lot of progress on my intro and the final chapter over the past week, so now I’m staring down the conclusion, list of graphics, and organized collection of endnotes (no fun, but doable). This is the draft we’re talking about, so it’s not like I’m done or even close. But still a good amount of progress! I’ve written 52K words (in the end, will be around 60K)!! AND, the contract is signed by all parties so that’s a nice checkmark, too.
- Still Reddit free in 2025. Yay.
- I LOVE The Wedding People. Thank you for the rec!! It was such a good one.
- I have an appointment set for Invisalign! My dental insurance (we have a PPO) did end up covering about 40% of the cost, which was great news.
Um, anything else I’ve left anyone hanging on? Feel free to remind me!
2025 Goals Series: 1:1 Time
I set a goal last year to have more 1:1 time with the kids, but didn’t get very specific about it. This year I want to make sure each kid gets at least a day of full-on 1:1. My plans have already gone off the rails a bit as the Las Vegas gymnastics trip was going to be an easy check-off for A, but we didn’t go!
The kids are excited about this goal. I think they miss the “Mommy Day” thing we used to do formally in past years — really no reason that had to stop, though I have learned to space them out a bit.
G –> I’m thinking we will figure out an overnight trip, possibly to PHL to visit her cousin M – those two are only 2 years apart so they are a great pairing!
A –> make a day out of one of the gym trips or pick a summer day, maybe when the other two are at camp.
C –> Josh is taking him to the Final Four so this may not be an overnight, but will pick a weekday when he is off (spring break or summer) and clear it out and make it entirely his. Maybe we could go to Top Golf, he had a birthday party there and was super into it!
Beyond this, I just want to make it a general policy to embrace and notice 1:1 time opportunities. I see this only getting harder to achieve as the kids get older, so need to appreciate them and take advantage as they occur!
(I also want to spend 1:1 time with Josh but that’s listed separately, so I guess this is a spoiler!)
15 Comments
At BPLA it hit me that my HS freshman doesn’t have that many more years in the house, so I’m doing a 1:1 trip with him to Florida next month. We’ll hit up 2 colleges and see family. I’m looking forward to it.
ooh wondering which FL colleges! so many people love UF Gainesville; it’s become really competitive in recent years!
I went to UF, but we are hitting up Embry Riddle and Lynn University. Both have dual BA/pilots licence programs (he wants to be a pilot). My summer day camp was hosted at Lynn growing up, so it will be weird to tour it as an actual college campus.
OMG that’s where A/C go/have gone to camp the past 2 years (Pine Tree – it’s Monday to Friday overnight)! Too funny!
I’m a big fan of more frequent, shorter 1:1. I also have 3 kids and my middle (a 7yo boy) gets the least amount of time with me. We notice his behavior improves after 1:1 time with me for a few days. So I’m trying to do weekly 30min Starbucks dates, and finding 15min during the week to sit next to each other and read/snuggle. I found that the longer 1:1 dates were too difficult and infrequent for us right now.
great point/reminder. doesn’t have to be long or elaborate. those are fun too (my kids still talk about trips they took 1:1) but the little moments count for a lot too.
I’m so glad that you’re enjoying the wedding people. I was worried that it might be overhyped by the time you got around to it! That can happen sometimes.
My oldest happens to have the day off before his birthday, so I’m going to spend that day with him. Last year the day off fell on his actual birthday so it was extra special. He gets to pick what we do so far he wants to go to Mall of America Since there’s a Lego store there and fun restaurants! And then in June, I’m planning to take the younger kid to Chicago with me for my nephews high school graduation. I took the older kid to DC in October and the younger one was a bit offended that he didn’t get to come with. Now it’s his turn for a trip with mommy. I figure I will spend a couple of nights in the city and do some Chicago stuff before going out to the graduation party in the suburbs. I won’t be surprised if his favorite part is riding the trains lol. He is 4 after all!
Lisa, I took my kids to Chicago last year for the first time at ages 9 and 10 and I think my 10-year-old son’s favorite part was riding the train lol. Maybe not as much as it would have been at 4, but still!
I liked going grocery shopping with just my mom–I’m one of four kids and that’s the main 1:1 time I remember having with her. An added benefit was that I learned to be a very good meal planner and grocery shopper! With my dad, it was the rides home from Hebrew school and going with him when he donated blood (bonus: free cookies for both of us!). So I agree with the previous posters that the 1:1 time doesn’t have to be long or elaborate, and can sometimes be tied in with other things you’re already doing. Hope you and your kids enjoy the time together.
I just have 1 but I am trying to get some time together outside our normal routine. We often operate as a trio, but we do like some different things – he’ll go with his dad to the flight museum or the cinema, and he and I will go to a bookshop or just a cafe. Next week, we’re going to go spend his Christmas book voucher and have some tea and cake.
Congrats on being so far along on your book proposal, and signing the contract!! I’d love to do a full day each year with each of my kids like you have done…and it’s really not that hard to pull off with planning. Our kids, the boys at least, can be so different (in a good way) when they are 1:1 versus together so I really value that time.
I am on the wait list for The Wedding People and am hearing so many good things. Ahh, looking forward to a great book — one of life’s joys! I just tore through Annie Bot in two days. It was so thought-provoking and also disturbing at times but I would recommend it and I can’t stop thinking about it. Partially because it honestly doesn’t seem very far-fetched!
Hi Sarah, curious now that your kids are getting older … do you still have your nanny? Just wondering how you’re thinking about that these days.
Yes, could not do the afternoon and evening stuff without her as of now.
When did you start doing 1×1 days with the kids? Or trips? I have a four year old and a 3 year old wondering if appropriate to start. I often feel guilt because doing something for the day w my 4 year old daughter is so easy/fun but feels way harder to do things with my 3 year old son that i don’t end up doing as much.. ugh!!!
I think the first overnight I did was when A was 7, we went to NC! We did 1:1 days (like- go to target, go to pool, go to a kid’s movie – low key stuff) maybe starting around 3-4? Sometimes also just a meal or snack out can have almost the effect – ie take kid to a coffee shop for hot chocolate + a cookie by themselves . Still felt special. (and try to have zero guilt – that sounds totally normal and like nothing you are doing ‘wrong’!! )