Can you believe it is already Monday again? Seriously? Where does the time go? These days my life seems to be moving at the speed of light. Nan reminds us to Make Our Homes Sing using Monday as the day to rededicate ourselves to a harmonious home and I am reminded my attitude as we transition to a new normal will determine how everyone else in the family handles these changes. I've come to the conclusion that just another "Manic Monday" will be our reality for awhile and I'm more than okay with that. As a family that very deliberately stepped off the merry-go-round that seems to define modern families, I confess to being surprised at how busy our humble lives still seem to be. We don't have kids in multiple activities, running from this place to that, but we sure are busy. I can't imagine how we'd be doing if we were participating in band and sports and clubs, too. Just maintaining our home and getting the schoolwork done and participating in the few things we do fills our days and evenings. With Superman gone, I'm noticing that the kids are NOT eager to sign up for more responsibilities. Instead, they prefer one-time activities, like heading out for a movie or an afternoon bowling, rather than committing to week after week of an activity. Valiant loves his stage combat class, but I think he'd be frustrated if it required longer than an 8-week commitment. So, my hat's off to all of you who can run from activity to activity with a smile on your face. I stand in awe of your dedication and inner strength. I've figured out a few sanity-saving tricks: *All my blog posts must be written Sunday night and scheduled to post appropriately. This allows me to participate in something I love without making myself crazy over it. *Bedtime has become a ritual rather than just a time of day. We head upstairs together at 9:30-ish and get all ready for bed, including tidying the main level in preparation for the following morning, then I read two chapters of a book we're enjoying together. It gets us all ready for sleep and allows us to wake-up cheerfully each morning. *I am not exercising on weekends. I need a bit of down-time, even from my expectations for myself. Progress will still be made, but if this is a life-style change (the way exercise is supposed to be) then "rushing" myself doesn't make any sense. *We watch a little boy for 45 minutes each weekday morning, after which we have scheduled breakfast, chores, and exercise and lunch. School begins after lunch. This way our mornings aren't hectic, the kids don't feel pressured, and if Superman can Skype us before he goes to bed, we don't feel stressed about the things we are "supposed" to be doing. I am sure more things will resolve themselves as we go on, but for now, these little tweaks have really helped us accomplish the things we need to accomplish while still enjoying each other. After all, if it is all drudgery, what is the point? So, as we begin our fourth week with a long-distance Daddy, we'll be cheerfully singing "Manic Monday" by the Bangles. (Did you know Prince actually wrote this song? Weird, eh?) Life is busy, life is crazy, but it is our life and it is a good one. P.S. Nan's post is all about taking charge of your day by consciously thinking about what you want to have happen and developing a plan to see it through. It is fantastic. Head over and be inspired.
