1- I feel like I am FINALLY getting the hang of the kids’ current schedules. Lessons learned:
- we need to leave BEFORE 7:30 in the morning on my driving days. For whatever reason, the carpool lines at G’s school are far worse this year and it is time to acknowledge this is our new reality and adjust accordingly.
- both big kids benefit from brief daily homework triage sessions (they check the online assignments and strategize when to get things done). They generally do their work independently, but this little nudge to ensure everyone is planning ahead seems to be helpful.
- Wednesday night is officially Restful Night because it’s the one night no one has any evening activities (A ended dropping her hip hop class that night which was a choice I was extremely happy with). Every Wednesday we will aim to go to bed EARLY and generally shore up reserves for the rest of the week.
- TBD: we need to choose a date night in there too. Maybe alternating Thursdays. NOT Wednesday.
2- I have decided I need a new dress and might actually attempt to shop in person this weekend. (I’ve been cycling the same 2-3 dresses in my closet so many times for various family events that I am sick of them and desire something fresh). I have a Nordstrom gift card so I might start there first. I haven’t shopped with the intention of buying something specific for myself in like, 9 million years. That would make 2 weekend mall trips in a row if it actually happens, for anyone keeping track. (We will see if I actually do it!)
3- I started this book, inspired by the 2025 Booker Prize Longlist:
I haven’t decided whether I will follow through with my idea of reading all of them (or at least starting all of them, I’m not going to slog through a book I hate). But this one is really interesting so far, and I like that I probably wouldn’t have selected it without working through a list. It’s also a little dark and fits the season (it has been storming nonstop around here!).
What can I say: I like homework. Even if I assigned it to myself.
4- The news and politics continue to hurt my heart. Basically all of it lately. I finally made the executive decision to subscribe to Pantsuit Politics (I chose the $15/month option). I appreciate both host’s perspectives and I think their extra content will be worth it.
5- If you are looking for lighter content, I was honored to be a guest of Meg and Kerri on their podcast, Redesigning Health and Home last week. It’s so much fun to talk about planning with others who are passionate about it too.
LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS WEEKEND:
Harry Potter #2!
More reading
Pilates
G’s friend’s bday party
Baking something because I am really wanting to feel like we are in cozy season
5 Comments
Pantsuit Politics is worth every penny! I pay for that and Sharon McMahon and it truly helps me have less anxiety about the world because they are so good at staying steady and putting things in the long view of history context.
Hope you find a beautiful dress!
I LOVE Pantsuit Politics. I have been meaning to join their Substack so should do that.
I’m glad you have one night off from activities! Our day off is Tuesday and we all really need a night where no one has to be anywhere at a specific time. But overall it’s gone better to have activities 4 nights/week than I feared it might. In particular I’m loving having swimming lessons on Thursday nights. They shower and change into jammies after lessons and then Will goes to bed when we get home. Previously we had lessons on weekend afternoons. This set up is much better!
I’m glad that Booker book is working for you! Usually a Booker award/nomination is a kiss of death for me… I wish that was not the case but I’ve recognized that most will not work. But it’s good to know that about myself. Now I’ll only read Bookers with a strong recommendation from someone with similar reading tastes!
Ooh, that’s nice- nothing on Wednesday nights. That’ll be a nice chance to reset in the middle of the week.
You’ll have to keep us posted about the new dress! And, yes… I’m enjoying our gloomy, stormy weather these days.
The homework triage check in is so important. I was hoping to use their new planners to initiate that, but it hasn’t been working very well (they aren’t using their planners and don’t want to write things in their planners as we see them on google classroom – because they are already on google classroom! Sigh. I’m also not great at consistent planner use so it’s a struggle…) Especially on the weekends I try to make sure kids know they need to do, know what events they are going to, and plan when work will get done. We do that with chores too.
Good luck dress shopping! I’m spending a couple hours at the mall today while the 11yo is at a birthday party and I’m kind of looking forward to it! I’m sure I’ll be over it in an hour, but I’m definitely excited to go as of right now. ;D
I appreciate the posts you’ve been putting up about feelings of discontent and inadequacy. I can only imagine how hard it would be to not compare creative pursuits to others’ with different circumstances. That will be a steep hill to climb, and you’ll have to keep climbing it. But if anyone can do it gracefully, it’s you!
I love the idea of *starting* every book on a particular list! I’m an upholder and a completionist, so I love the idea of projects like this but have learned I need to be careful what I commit myself to because I will just power through something that was intended to be fun. But if the goal all along is just to try them all, I could give myself permission to stop without feeling like I was “breaking the rules.” Definitely a fun idea to consider!