Let’s be real life is always a balancing act right? Kids, work, working out, volunteering, time for your spouse, the house, laundry, more laundry. As the years go on the balancing changes. For example, when the boys were young and I was a stay home mom- it was balancing finding time to shower and make dinner with feedings, diaper changes and nap schedules. Then they got a little bit older and it was balancing having two kids instead of one. Trying to make their schedules mesh. Then one starts school, one is home and you are doing all the mommy and me activities. You get the idea as years pass by we are just changing the things that are always at a delicate balance. I laugh because Covid has just made the balance like a see saw. Every time we think we are in a good place there’s some sort of monkey wrench thrown into the mix.
Last year for the first time in my years as a mother both of my children were in school full time for the very first time. I had this grand plan for a life of luxury. I would drop them off, have time during the day to train for my marathon, read, write. I laugh, because within moments of them both being in school I started subbing basically full time at school. Let’s be real, I’m not really the take it easy, have a lot of time on your hands kind of person, so this wasn’t a huge surprise. We figured out the balance and it worked out well. I was happy to be at school with the boys and they were happy to have me there. I learned a lot about myself and the fact that I was really ready to go back to work.
Fast forward to July of 2021. Back to work full time- for real. I was a host of emotions- worried that I couldn’t truly find the balance, worried that I couldn’t remain the mom that I wanted to be to the boys. We quickly got into our summer routine and realized…this will work! Not only would it work, it was really important for the boys to see me doing something beyond being their mom. I’m not for one moment saying being a mom isn’t enough. Quite honestly, if you are blessed to be a mom I consider it the number one and most important “job.” That said, it was healthy for them to see me working on projects and doing other things. Once I got settled I realized how much I needed this for me too. So I worked on getting acclimated. The boys enjoyed camp and we got into a routine- a balance so to speak.
Then the balance was thrown out of whack…my dad died. While he had been battling Alzheimer’s for years, this sudden decline and death seemingly came out of no where. Understandably so the balance that we were just holding onto got undone. It would have remained undone but for the fact that school was starting as was marathon training. Time to kick it into high gear when all I wanted to do was nothing at all.
I don’t think it’s a coincidence that marathon training began the week after my dad’s funeral. The reason I caught the marathon bug was to fundraise for the Alzheimer’s Association. He was my why for doing this big scary thing called running the NYC Marathon. The week following his funeral I couldn’t have been less motivated to lace up my shoes and run, but I’m a stickler for following the training plan. So in a good way it forced me to get my butt in gear, lace up my shoes and put one foot in front of the other.
Shortly thereafter would come the true test- back to school madness was about to begin. I think we can all agree that September is a crazy month. Everyone is getting back into routine and there are so many new things- new activities, back to school night, etc. etc. Throw into the mix that I had several programs for work in addition to the Jewish holidays along with the back to school madness/marathon training. Oh my goodness- it was a blur!! By the end of each day I am completely exhausted and falling asleep most days when the boys go to bed. But like always, we somehow found the balance and made it work. We still found the time for books and snuggles and movies. We found the time to discuss, highs, lows and buffalos each day. The boys found ways to help me get ready for events at work and we enjoyed more than one golf cart ride together. Was it easy? Heck no. Would I trade it for the world? Also no. Someone recently asked me how I was really doing regarding my dad. The truth is, there are good days and bad days. There are moments that set me off for no reason. I think the crazy schedule and being busy helped. He wouldn’t want me to be sad. He was always hustling and working hard. He’d be happy to know that I am too.
At the end of the day- I couldn’t be happier with my new job or the fact that I get to work where the boys go to school. I joined an amazingly supportive community, where family still comes first. I work hard, mom hard and run hard everyday. All while finding time to read for pleasure- my other guilty pleasure. We’ve found our balance…for now! Until something changes and we work to find the balance again!
There are times in life when we think we are fully prepared for what is to come- good or bad. Having a child- major life milestone- the moment when you know he or she is the one.
Before having the boys I imagined both how hard the experience was going to be and how amazing it would be to hold them for the very first time. Truth be told the experience wasn’t as hard as I imagined- but the feeling of absolute awe of the medical staff and quite honestly of my body remains. And there is nothing that compares with that first look, that first hold of your newborn baby. But then I think back to when we were expecting our second child. How on earth could I possibly love this child as much as my first, the one who made me a mother. Well, you know what when he was born my heart doubled in size and I love them equally- we used to say to the moon and back but now have progressed to Pluto and back, because according to my sons that’s even further so that means I love them even more. Truth be told there is NO way I could love them more. I’m grateful each and every day that I get to be there mother. Yes, even on the hard days!!
Think about other milestone experiences. Going to college- taking board exams- getting married. Generally we think we know how good or bad these experiences are going to be. Going to college- initially a huge adjustment- but life changing. I met my husband there and as they say “the rest is history.” The Bar Exam- I imagined it would be terrible- it was somehow even worse than I had even imagined it would be- but I survived. Hard experiences give us new perspective, a new understanding of what is important.
As we get older the experiences change and evolve. Our kids start to grow, as they are supposed to. They need us differently- they go to school. How exciting for them and they have loved it from the very beginning. I cry every single first day of school. No idea why. But I still do.
There are times in life when we are unprepared for for the emotions that come with an experience. You can see all the signs and know what is coming, but yet the experience still stops us in our tracks. Years ago we knew that the Alzheimer’s diagnosis was coming for my dad. Even though he was still in his 50s all the signs were there. Yet, having confirmation still hurt. It was scary to know what was to come. When you have a loved one diagnosed with Alzheimer’s it is a matter of just waiting for when things start to decline and then decline more rapidly. People are kind and ask how he’s doing- and as the years go on there’s a status quo and then the point when you know things are just going to continue to get worse. There is no real way to answer the question when people ask. The whole time you know the end game. They aren’t going to get better…ever. And then even though you’ve known it was going to come some day the some day comes and it’s time to say goodbye. There is nothing in your life that prepares you to say goodbye to a parent. No book you can read, no other experience you can have to prepare you. It’s raw, it hurts, there’s an ache to my core.
My dad took a sharp decline on Sunday. We had a truly heartfelt goodbye via FaceTime. He’s in Arizona and I’m in Maryland. He told me it was time to “take a rest from his rest and not to be upset”. He told me that he loved me. I ugly cried. I knew that was going to be the best last conversation I could hope for given his condition. But yesterday morning I just knew I needed to go to see him. I honestly didn’t know if I was going to make it in time, but I had to try. So today I boarded a flight at 6:45 AM in Maryland and landed in Arizona before 9:00 AM. I got to spend several hours with my dad. I held his hand. I cried. I told him that I loved him and then the time came to give him one last hug. There have been previous times that we thought were going to be the last time I saw him, but this was it. The very last time. There are no words to describe the feeling.
I realize that for some they never get the chance to say goodbye and in many respects I’m “fortunate,” but you’ll excuse me if I’m not feeling too fortunate right now. I still can’t understand the why my dad had to get Alzheimer’s. Why someone who worked so hard all their life had to have their life cut so short by this dreadful disease. I know I will keep working, running and fighting for a cure that someday others don’t have to suffer this way. We have to and can do better- we must #endalz.
I started tracking my mileage more completely in 2020. Prior to that I just ran and had a round about idea of how far I had run, unless of course I was in training cycle and I was hitting my key run and weekly mileage. Cue the pandemic in 2020 and my mileage jumped from on average 65-70 miles a month to 100 miles and steadily climbed to 130 miles a month. I obsessed over keeping track of miles and running streaks. Running was my cure for all the uncertainly surrounding the pandemic. Plus, I had more time than ever to run. It felt like the right amount to run and sooner or later I’ll get back there, but for right now I’m listening to my body and focusing on core/strength training as a component of my overall training.
July was different for a variety of reasons. I ran a Half Marathon at the beginning of the month and wait for it…I actually tapered. That gave me a dip from my normal 25-30 miles a week to just over 19 miles for the week. Following the race, I actually gave my body a day or two to recover rather than going right back into running. For months on end during what I’ll call “pandemic running” I ran every day. Didn’t think twice about it. Insisted my body didn’t need a rest day. And you know what, my body is tired. It needs a rest. And for once I’m actually listening to it. I went back to work full time. My dad entered hospice.
For the first six months of the year I was on pace to reach my overall mileage goal of 1500 miles on the year. In 2019 I ran just over 500 miles, last year I had set a goal of 1000 miles and then upped it to 1300 when I knew I was going to blow by 1000 miles. It’s now the beginning of August and I’ver run 827 miles. After being on pace to hit 1500, I’m now 50 or so miles off pace. Strava was always a fun push to stay on target and right now it just feels like it’s judging me for not hitting my miles. Maybe I was unrealistic when I set my goal. Maybe my year of pandemic running wasn’t really the one to use as a benchmark for setting this year’s goal. Maybe it’s ok if we don’t hit our goals if our priorities are shifting a bit, oh and we go back to work full time, and we have real life stress.
When I started running again in 2019 I had no real expectations of hitting weekly miles or paces for races. The longer I’ve been running the more pressure I put on myself for more miles or set unreasonable expectations for races. Some of the spark has rubbed off and it’s started to feel more like a chore. Marathon training starts again this month and I need to get my head on straight to focus, stay healthy, eat properly and get some sleep. Running the marathon became this grand idea during the pandemic. When racing got canceled I shifted my focus to why I run (in addition to being healthy, setting a good example), but for those who can’t. I realize with each and every step how fortunate I am to be able to physically run. But more importantly, I’m running the NYC Marathon with the Alzheimer’s Association team, to honor my father. It was a two pronged theory- 1) running gave me something to do when I felt helpless and couldn’t do anything for him and 2) I was able to raise important dollars so that we can find a cure for Alzheimer’s. He’s reaching the end of his Alzheimer’s battle. And while I’m full of hurt, pain and emotion the one thing that always helped me feel better- lacing up my shoes just isn’t doing it for me. I didn’t run Saturday just because we had a lot going on. Sunday, came and he was having a particularly bad day. Following a tear filled call I opted for a movie with the boys. But then my youngest said, are you sure you aren’t going to run today too? Like he knew I needed that last little push to get out the door. I went. It was fairly terrible. I opted to run outside because it normally helps me clear my head. I cried a lot and I’m not quite sure the run had it’s desired effect. But my accountability partners- who know how much running needs to me were there to remind me when I was struggling. This is an amazing example of when you’ve made a healthy habit a routine and you fall of the wagon so to speak your “people” are there to remind you of why you do what you do.
Now it’s Monday. Up early, writing this post, rather than running before work. But I still have enough time to squeeze in three easy miles before starting my day. My why remains the same of honoring those who can’t run, of finding a cure for a dreaded disease, of setting a healthy example for my children and taking care of my body. So I will lace up my shoes and put one foot in front of the other. As with any other hard time in life we have to just keep moving forward- one step at a time.
In January I hit a milestone birthday, a new decade, a new age category for races. I turned forty. Along with turning forty comes the responsibility of getting your first mammogram. Truth be told I’m diligent about going to the dentist and to the gynecologist. When it comes to going to the eye doctor I generally go when I know my prescription needs to be adjusted. Don’t even get me started about routine bloodwork and physicals. I know, I know I need to do better. But this year I got my act together. I picked one day and did it all. Mammogram, physical, dermatologist. Check, check, check. And I had gotten the bloodwork done ahead of time. I was feeling quite proud of myself for getting everything done. I know you don’t rewarded for just doing what you are supposed to do, but I got it done.
So let’s talk a little about the mammogram experience. So maybe it’s just me but no one really adequately prepares you for this experience. I went to Advance Radiology because that’s where I went for all my ultrasounds with the boys and felt comfortable there. The very kind woman brought me back and clearly even with the mask on I had a deer in headlights look. At which time she said, “ah, it’s your first time.” Well, yes, yes it is and I’m basically terrified. She kind explained what was going to happen. That said, there’s actually no way to adequately prepare you for the squishing that occurs to your breast, but I digress. She had the presence of mind to say- “don’t worry if you get a call back letter; it happens all the time.” She said it. I heard it. I knew it was a possibility. But literally when the letter arrived I thought the worst. I spend so much time being super positive and thinking everything happens for a reason, but my mind when negative and then I couldn’t bring it back. I immediately scheduled the follow up mammogram and ultrasound. All the while, my brain was wondering how this could be possible?
I’d like to take a moment to talk about the letter. Now clearly, this was a letter written by a lawyer in anticipation of avoiding litigation. Somewhere along the line with medicine we lost sight of the human component. That a human being- ME or any number of other women whom I’m sure have received this or a similar letter are receiving the letter. The beginning is fairly benign (pun intended, only because I can laugh about it now).
Your breast imagine exam shows a finding that requires further imaging evaluation. While such findings are benign (not cancer), additional mammographicviews and/or ultrasound is necessary to determine this. Ok, I get this part. They are trying to tell me that more views are necessary, could be benign, which leads to the possibility that things might not be benign. But then, there’s a huge section of By Maryland Law, we are required to provide you with the following information. Friends, there are then three long paragraphs of what they are required to tell me by law. Seriously?? Long and short of paragraph one: my breast tissue is dense. Oh and the determination of density is subjective and may vary from year to year. Paragraph two in summary: density is fairly common, BUT can be associated with an associated risk of cancer. Well, that cuts both ways. Density is common, but it could lead to cancer. What am I supposed to do with that information??? Paragraph three: we tell you this so you can figure out what to do with your doctor.
Like I said, as a lawyer, this was written with a potential lawsuit in mind and not with a human touch…at all. Keep this in the back of your mind, we will circle back to this when we get to the meeting with the doctor part of this saga shortly.k
I go for my follow up appointment at Advanced Radiology. If I was a deer in headlights the first time around, I probably looked like Bambi after seeing their mother get killed this time. First things first, they want to know where my referral is for the appointment. Hello, I’m here because you said I needed to come for a follow up. PS that lawyer written letter referenced above never made mention of getting a referral otherwise I certainly would have done so. So, now I have to wait for them to get my doctor’s office on the phone to get the requisite referral. Giving me plenty of time to worry. I thought I was fine though, had pulled myself together. But I got back into the room for the mammogram and the slow trickle of tears started. Again the technician was trying to be kind and explain that having a call back was “normal” and I likely wouldn’t even need the ultrasound too that they would probably get everything they needed from the mammogram. Alas, that was not the case and I needed the ultrasound too. Which of course triggers to me that something was clearly still showing up as wrong on the mammogram. Time for the ultrasound. Now, I’ve had an ultrasound before, but never have I had an ultrasound with so much pressure. Not only was it uncomfortable but I was also super worried so the tears continued. I wasn’t worried for myself per se, I was so worried about something being wrong and not being here for the boys. That’s what I couldn’t get out of my mind. The technician completed the ultrasound and said she would go speak to the radiologist and return. She came back and said “we will see you back in six months.” But why? If everything is OK why do I need to come back in six months. So again, I’m figuring something is still not quite right.
I reach out to my gynecologist who I expect to say, this is normal and no big deal. This is not the case. She calls me back. I missed the call because I was teaching and got a long message. The take aways being that she never treats anything like it’s benign and I should follow up with a breast specialist. So if I had finally gotten myself collected, that all fell apart and I went into full on panic mode.
Let’s talk a little bit about the second letter from Advanced Radiology: Your breast imaging exam performed on 5/11/2021 shows a finding we believe is probably benign (probably not cancer) but needs follow up. We would like you to return in 6 months to confirm the finding has not changed. Probably benign? What in the world does that mean. It means they don’t know with certainty otherwise it wouldn’t be probably. So again, maybe we shouldn’t use language in letters that can lead to speculation and concern. Maybe we should write letters like these as if a loved one was receiving it in the mail.
I scheduled an appointment with Dr. Sara Fogarty at GBMC Hospital. I had around two weeks to get in to see her. Two more weeks of pretending I wasn’t worried about it when in fact I was really worried about it. More worried about making sure I’m here for my children and husband. More confused as to how this could all be possible. On July 16 I had my appointment with Dr. Fogarty. I was convinced the appointment would lead to more follow up tests and worry. I couldn’t have been more wrong. Dr. Fogarty came in and couldn’t have been a nicer human being. The first thing she said “I’m not worried about these findings at all.” Insert deep breath. It was like she read my mind. She instantly knew that I had been completely worried about this for nearly a month. She took great time to read through the results with me, to show me on the screen the findings, to explain that I’m 40 years old and that’s why my breast tissue is dense as it should be. That the spot in question had no indicia of being malignant. I cannot sufficiently describe how kind, patient and nice Dr. Fogarty was to me. I felt completely comfortable after talking to her and realized that the unknown is what sparks so much worry. But you know what else? We can do better. The medical field can treat people like human beings rather than potential litigants in a lawsuit sending formal letters. And was quick to tell Dr. Fogarty this as well. She didn’t disagree. She was kind and receptive. And went one step further to explain what would happen next. For that six month follow up I would come to her office. There’s an Advanced Radiology there as well. I’ll get my mammogram/ultrasound and then I’ll see one of the people on her team to review the findings before I leave. No need to spend weeks worrying. My questions will be answered immediately. This is how it should be. I cannot even imagine the number of women like me who have spent hours worrying because of vaguely written letters designed to cover the rear end of Advanced Radiology. Let’s do better, let’s explain clearly, let’s return the human touch to medicine!
Show of hands- who is excited for not having to be up and out the door for school every morning?? How many of those hands are still up for those who like the idea of less structure but still need some structure? Do you follow? The idea of not having to get up at 5:00 AM and exercise, shower and get out the door by 7:30 AM is really a beautiful thing. As someone who stayed at home full time with the boys until they were school age, I also recognize that having a bit of structure in our day is critical for survival. While the years are short my friend, some days are LONG, very, very long.
Camp Mom has been a part of every summer. Truth be told some summers were purely Camp Mom. Last summer, for example was the summer of COVID, it was like Camp Mom on steroids because we couldn’t even go anywhere. But we aren’t there we are in 2021. The summer we get to go on family vacation again, the summer we return to camp for a few weeks, another summer where the boys and I have identified the key activities for Camp Mom. I’m not going to lie, I love that they call it that and I love that regardless of the other camp activities that they are signed up for in the summer they both specifically ask for some Camp Mom time too!
So in case you are wondering, I’m one of those Moms. What does that mean exactly? It means that I’m a card carrying Member of Lakeshore Learning. That we have books to stop the summer slide and we start each day with “morning work” after breakfast. I’m not talking hours, but enough time to keep using those skills they worked so hard to gain this year and keep their brains working. Truth be told we haven’t tested this Morning Work routine when actually going to camp, so time will tell for how it works during that time period. But for the first three weeks of summer break and the last three weeks of summer break there will be Morning Work! I’m talking about a little bit of phonics, reading and writing, some math. We make it fun and it’s how we start the day. Then we can check it off our list for the day.
Speaking of lists, I thought it was really important to create a check list of sorts to earn screen time this summer. We were blessed that when the boys’ school pivoted virtually l last year that Jackson received an iPad to take home for the summer and then through the school year. The time came for his iPad to get returned and we made the choice with the fact that we are fingers crossed going to have some family travel coming up to get them each a basic iPad. They love using apps such as Kodable, PBS Kids, EPIC Books, Brain Pop and Brain Pop Jr. In order to limit the number of times I get asked if they can use their iPads, we came up with a system. A daily check list, to get the must do items done before the want item of using the iPad. I’m fully aware that there are going to be some days that we don’t necessarily complete the checklist before getting the iPad time, but at least it’s a guide to strive for each day. Many of these items would/do happen without the use of the checklist, but it’s helpful to have a guide or wish list.
Butterflies make the Camp Mom to do list every summer. We’ve used the same kit for a number of years so we are going to live big and get a new one this year. I’ll order this kit in the next week or two so that we can have later July/Early August butterflies.
This summer we are going to have a new addition. Both boys love coding. Both boys love LEGO. What could be better than the ability to build and then code movements for a LEGO robot?? One of the boys’ STEM teachers was super helpful in determining what I should order. They don’t know it yet, but this week we are going to introduce Spike into Camp Mom. Take a look here! Scratch the they don’t know part- as they just walked up as I was typing. I got delayed as we set up the box of LEGO so that first thing tomorrow….after morning work we can begin building with Spike. Can’t wait to see what fun we can have with this new addition!
I might be the most excited about this next plan for Camp Mom, but I have a feeling the boys will be too. Somewhere along the line they both determined that they like poetry. Carter is obsessed with Shel Silverstein and Jackson loves writing acrostic poems. So, I’m putting together a little poetry unit for Camp Mom. We kicked it off today by making acrostic poems for Father’s Day cards for my dad. FYI POP POP doesn’t really lend itself to too many options, but we made it work. Next we are going to brainstorm words that we want to turn into acrostic poems. Some we will do as individual work but others we will do together and make them funny. It’s something simple but an activity such as this even allows Carter to be thinking about what words start with a particular letter and practice some penmanship all at the same time.
After lunch most days is a time for reading. Be sure to check out my previous post for some reading ideas. The reality is that we spend time reading off an on throughout the day but our organized reading occurs mid afternoon. Spoiler alert I frequently doze off during this reading time as it’s the first time I take a seat for the day. The boys use this as an opportunity to suggest that maybe we should watch a show for a bit so I can rest my eyes.
Outside time is also a must. However, this first week home the weather left a lot to be desired. Oh and we are dealing with cicadas. So we have been sticking indoors for the time being. Once the weather settles down and the cicadas go away we will spend time outside on the playground, playing lacrosse, tennis, in our deck pool. You can never go wrong with bubbles either.
Activities don’t have to be overly complicated and your choice in what to do doesn’t have to mirror ours, but I would argue that having a schedule keeps things on track and increases the chances of you maintaining your sanity. Pick things that you and your kids enjoy learning more about. Another example of a something we are going to work on in the coming weeks is learning all about Maine before our trip there later this summer. So every day isn’t necessarily the same. Our camp weeks will look different too. But I find that the boys and I thrive when we know what to expect out of the day.
Tell me what are you favorite go-to summer activities?
I’ve been an avid reader for as long as I can remember. In my adult years my reading has ebbed and flowed based upon other responsibilities (i.e. law school, kids, work etc.). Recently, I’m back on the reading bandwagon hard. I have a few favorite authors Michael Connelly, David Baldalcci, Lisa Scottoline, Fredrik Backman, J.A. Jance (if I could run a marathon listening to one of her books then she has to be a favorite for sure). Basically, I find an author that I like and I read everything they write…until I’m caught up and anxiously awaiting new releases. I’ve always struggled to find new titles to read and frequently look for recommendations. Goodreads has been a great place to see what others have read and liked, but similar to clothing and always picking the same thing I always steer towards the same types of books.
I read on my Kindle. In general I borrow e-books from my local library and read on my Kindle or sometimes my phone if I’m trying to squeeze in a few extra pages. To get wild and crazy I recently started listening on Audible to combine with my reading so I could listen while I run. Needless to say I’m trying to make all the time to find new books and read when possible. So, why add another variable like BOTM?
First, I’ll say I did a lot of research before deciding on BOTM. There are a lot of choices when it comes to book subscriptions. Many select the book for you. This was a deal breaker for me. I still want to have some control over what I’m reading. Some include other items to go with the book- “extras.” Let’s be real, I don’t need any extra “stuff” to go with the book, I just need the book. BOTM is special because each month they feature five books and you get to choose which of the five you want that month. If nothing looks exciting to you- you can pass for the month or select a book from a previous month. Also, they have add on books that you can choose from too! So basically BOTM seemed like the best of all words to me and what I was looking to get from a book subscription. What did I want?
NEW IDEAS FOR BOOKS
Years and years ago a friend suggested I read Beartown by Fredrik Backman. Me: “a book about hockey, seriously?” In case you haven’t read it, the book is about way more than hockey! It rates as one of the top books I’ve read…EVER. So if you haven’t read it yet…run and get Beartown and Us Against You the sequel. You won’t be disappointed. But the point to all of this babbling is I’m generally in a rut of what “type” of book I read. Legal mysteries. Think Law and Order in book form- that’s my go to. Which means I read Grisham, Connelly, and Baldalcci as soon as their books come out because I’ve already read everything else that they’ve written. I generally don’t care if I’m reading the new “hot” book that everyone else is reading. However, I’m now eager to be more in the “know” for what has been released and want to branch out. So why, BOTM?? I loved the fact that there are five books to choose from each month in a variety of genres. Not just that there are add on books that you can choose from as well. If you are anything like me having a choice is crucial, a total surprise book would not be my cup of tea. I want to still have some control over what I’m reading, while at the same time branching out. Plus BOTM features debut authors so it’s a great way to try new things!! See, back to that branching out idea!
Great gift idea and a way to reconnect
So I am totally excited about BOTM that I want to share it with all my friends. Ever have that happen? You try something new and then you want to share it with everyone?? I realized it was the perfect retirement gift for a friend. And then even more importantly the best birthday gift for my friend from college as it would also allow us to form our own “book club” and create an excuse for us to build time into each month to talk. She wants to read more, and I want to read new and different books. We both want time to connect. Win- win, am I right?
Read a “real” book again
Don’t get me wrong, I carry my Kindle with me everywhere. It’s great to read on in low light because it’s backlit or in the sunlight. It’s lightweight and totally convenient to keep with me. Plus I can read on my Kindle pick up where I left off on my phone or with Audible. But for a book lover there’s truly something about having a “real” book. When I read with the boys it’s always a “real” book. I know what you are thinking…do you really want/need more books in your house when you are doing? The short answer to that question is no. But my thought is to pass the books along to friends and family who might be interested and encourage them to do the same. Additionally, I’ll happily donate them to the Maryland Book Bank or maybe the boys and I will start our own Little Free Library. How fun would that be? The point being I can’t wait to enjoy reading a “real” book again. Plus then the boys see me reading an actual book rather than on a device. Raising readers to love “real” books by example is key!!
Do you want to give it a try?
Does this sound appealing to you? There’s no commitment. You can opt to sign up for one month to give it a try or possibly you want to sign up for a year and save? Either way if you want to learn more visit Book of the Month. Stay tuned as I’m thinking about a fun way to engage over books this summer with an adult summer reading challenge!
What?? I know what you are thinking- she’s lost her marbles. But I’ve been giving this quite a bit of thought lately. In September 2021 for the first time since we had children both were in school full time, at the same time, EVER. I was home for approximately three days before I started subbing regularly at school. Anywhere from 3-5 days a week. I’m in the lower school- pre-K to fourth grade. My favorite days are every Friday when I sub for one of the librarians. Spoiler alert, I love books. I once sold children’s books and my children have more books than some libraries.
So how did I make this correlation? I recently had a phone conversation with a former colleague from when I was a prosecutor, trying criminal cases. He and I actually tried a multi defendant homicide case together shortly before I became pregnant with our oldest. Anyway, as he was asking what I had been up to, I explained that I had started subbing at the boys’ school. There was a definite pause before the conversation continued. I know in his mind he was trying to balance the no bs, tough as nails prosecutor with the image of me reading books to lower school children. Trust me the former version of myself would not recognize this version. However, it makes total sense that after being at home with the boys and looking for a way to reengage in the workforce that I would look for something on their schedule, that allowed me to still be present at school (literally since I sometimes get to be in their room). It would also make sense that after seven plus years at home the hardened prosecutor might have softened just a touch. Motherhood changes your perspective on a lot of things!
Here’s how the analogy breaks down. I was a prosecutor for nearly a decade. I tried criminal cases. Towards the end of my legal career I was primarily trying cases of violent crime, such as murders, home invasion armed robberies, burglaries, sex offenses. So you would imagine that this is actually the furthest you could get from a lower school setting, or is it? A jury consists of 12 people and two alternates. These are twelve people that represent a wide variety of socio economic, level of education, geographic location in the county etc. You have to meet them where they are in their ability to absorb the evidence that you are going to present as a prosecutor. Each one of the jurors “learns” in a different way. Maybe one is going to diligently listen to the witnesses testimony, while another will fully absorb a video or evidence involving pictures. You need each one to follow along with the evidence or lesson if you will, in order to get a guilty verdict. All twelve need to “get it” so to speak for a successful outcome. Hmm, sounds a bit similar to the students in a classroom. It’s critical to meet each and every student where they are in level of ability to learn. You need to engage them in the ways that they learn best.
Respect and trust are universal, right? With a jury you needed to have a mutual level of respect. I needed the jurors to respect the job that I was doing while at the same time showing them respect recognizing they 1) were away from work and family to be there to hear the case and 2) that they had the awesome ability that they have in deciding the facts of the case. A jury needed to trust the process, but they also needed to trust that what I was saying and sharing with them was the truth.
How does this relate to being in the classroom?? For the most part the average class size is between 12 and 14. Each child is coming from a different home, a different background and bringing their own experiences to the classroom. Each has a different ability to be able to comprehend the lesson. Not every child is going to learn the same way. You have to break the lesson (evidence) down into bite size pieces so it’s easily comprehended. But you also have to also employ a variety of techniques to present the same information, such as a story, a hands on activity, a song etc. So while I’m not necessarily a tough as nails prosecutor I am still a no bs in the classroom. I have a softer touch and build rapport based upon mutual respect and kindness. Again you need to have the utmost respect and patience for each and every child. You need to be kind and considerate. And you hope that you will earn their respect and receive their kindness in return. This goes hand in hand in building trust and comfort. For some of our youngest learners this is their first time at school, first time away from family. No different than the jury having an awesome responsibility in deciding a case educators have a critical role in helping those children make the transition to a school setting. They need to trust that you are there for them, to help them, to guide them.
If there’s something I learned about being a trial attorney it’s that things don’t always go as planned. i.e. times when a witness doesn’t necessarily testify as anticipated or the wheels fall of the cart. Anyone who has spent any time with children knows that things don’t always go as anticipated. You can have the best laid plans that suddenly get altered because the class isn’t in the right mind space for what you have planned. Being a lawyer taught me to think on my feet and alter the plans as necessary to keep the trial flowing. Yet another way that being a lawyer and a teacher are similar. You need to be able to think on your feet. Maybe a lesson is better suited to be moved outside. Maybe the technology isn’t quite working the way it should. Maybe you flip flop your day to do a different activity that is better suited to the flow of the day. Maybe it’s taking longer for a lesson to be understood. In any event, you need to be able to think on your feet to keep the day moving.
You need to be curious and always learning. Who would have ever expected there would be a time when are children would be learning virtually? This was a pivot that required adjustment in how teachers teach and how students learn. Role as lawyer and educator are similar in this regard as well. Technology is always changing, ways to share and communicate information-lessons are always changing. We need to continually be a student. Truth be told, last year when we made the switch to virtual learning, as I set up our home base and started taking out all the materials from the closet to. make it feel like school I joked “I’ve been preparing for this my whole mom life.” While it’s funny, it’s true. At each stage I was always researching ways to continue the learning at home. I’m not sure who gets more excited to go to Lakeshore Learning- me or the boys. Educationally tools and toys have always been a part of our home, along with reading, lots and lots of reading. I’ve been so excited to be able to continue to learn and grow along.
Finally, both are truly rewarding. While there is nothing quite like waiting for a jury verdict to return in your favor and the appreciation of the victim and/or their family there is something to truly be said for helping a kindergartner write a story or see connections made with a book, faces light up when you make kinetic sand, etc. etc. While I’m a far way from a business suit and pumps I couldn’t be happier with this phase of life. This all ties back into my recent post about finding joy in what you do and having the ability to recreate yourself at the different stages of life. While I always thought I would only ever practice law, I’m now a firm believer that we no longer have to do one thing in life, that we have the ability to continue to reimagine what we are going to be when we “grow up.” We are continually growing and adapting with our circumstances. This boy mom to two couldn’t imagine being anywhere but at school watching them learn and grow, while she’s doing the same thing!
The Coronavirus pandemic has certainly altered travel, air travel in particular. While we were accustomed to flying frequently with our boys, even when they were young we’ve literally been grounded for a full year. With several members of our family living in Arizona this has been really sad and frustrating for the boys not to see some of their cousins, aunt, uncle and grandparents. I know that we aren’t alone in not being able to see family and travel, so this isn’t a boo hoo you can’t fly/travel post. Rather, it’s a post comparing travel during the same weekend one year apart. What a difference a year makes.
Let me take you back to March 14, 2020. This is the time when literally information was updating by the hour as to what you could and couldn’t do, what you should and shouldn’t do and anxieties were really high about making the right choices when in all honesty we didn’t really have all the information we needed. The plan had been for me to fly to Arizona with the boys (at the time 4 and 6) on Saturday, March 14 and return on Wednesday, March 18. I went from being nervous about flying with both boys by myself to concerned that air travel might get grounded while we were away. This wasn’t so out of the realm of possibility as international air travel had been halted. What to do? If you’ve read my other posts you know that my Dad suffers from Alzheimer’s. Between school schedules, crazy hot summer weather in Arizona, etc March is the ideal time for us to visit and generally when we do. We considered moving the trip to the summer. But in my gut, I knew that if we didn’t go in March I wasn’t quite sure when we would have the chance to get the boys out there to see him. Thank goodness we went, come June the metrics were off the charts in Arizona and there would have been no visit!
Backing up a little bit and to give a point of reference, I flew on October 11, 2001. Yes, literally one month after the tragic events of September 11th. The airports were eerily quiet. And there was still a great deal of uncertainty, new security measures were being introduced. It was a very different time in air travel. Now back to 2020. I was filled with nerves about traveling. We of course were not at this point wearing masks. And as we know, kids touch EVERYTHING. So I was like a drill sergeant in the airport. Some might say this isn’t much different from my normal approach in the airport. We were trying to sit as far away from people as possible. Wiping everything down with Clorox wipes, sanitizing the boys’ hands after the touched anything. On every TV were updates about Coronavirus that just added to my concern in taking the trip. The airport was significantly quieter than usual. Clearly people were staying home! While that made things easier for me, it also made me question what in the world I was thinking flying with the boys. With the concern that flights might be grounded I rented a car in Arizona for the day we were scheduled to return. I was planning ahead…you know in case I had to drive from Arizona to Maryland with my boys. While this sounds like a great adventure, can we think just for a moment what that would have been like?? Thirty six hours in the car…oh my!
Ok, so back to March 14, 2020. No masks. No new purifying systems on airplanes. No new sanitizing procedures. So I just wiped everything down when we got on the plane and literally hoped for the best. To be fair, at that time I really didn’t have a full appreciation for COVID, none of us could have predicted the tremendous impact that it would have on our lives or the number of lives that would be lost. We flew Southwest and so I flew three across with the boys. We were somewhat protected as we didn’t have anyone else in our row. Snack and drink service still happened. Fast forward to March 18- four days later. We are still not wearing masks. Trying to stay as far away from people as possible. Hand sanitizing and wiping things down like crazy people. Here’s the first change- no snack/drink service on the flight. Changes were afoot to keep social distance and safety while in the air. This is somewhat laughable considering how close together we all sit on an airplane but it was the first step. In hindsight I feel extremely fortunate that we made this trip. It was like the last hoorah so to speak before we would hunker down and be home for months on end.
For the last year, we have literally gone no where. I mean, not no where, but beyond our pod family we haven’t seen anyone inside without masks. But for going to school, we haven’t been going other places. I rarely go into a store. Online shopping is my jam. We are one extreme in regards to staying safe and stopping the spread. But it became time that I needed to make that trip to Arizona again. So it meant that I was going to have to fly. Cue all sorts of anxiety. I haven’t been that close to people other than my family in a year. And let’s be honest, I was never too excited sitting that close to people anyway. Fortunately, in my role as a substitute teacher had the opportunity to get vaccinated. So in essence, I know in my mind that I should be protected, but again I feel like we don’t really know about the vaccine and ability to transfer the virus, whether you can still get the virus and be without symptoms. I worried about bringing Covid home and giving it to my family. Needless to say, the weeks leading up to what would amount to less than two days on the ground in Arizona were stress filled with what ifs and concerns about flying. Of course this is Spring Break time and everyone is apparently ready to go on vacation.
My flight to Arizona was on Friday, March 12. Why is this significant? Literally one year ago that was the last time the boys were in school for that school year. The two weeks to flatten the curve that turned into home until August. There have been so many reflections on what the year has meant and how are lives have changed. I subbed like usual and then drove to the airport. You know, how I recently posted talking a good game about not having mom guilt about traveling. Yeah, I’m still working on that one. I was filled with mom guilt about leaving. Yes, I knew they would be fine and have fun with my husband! When I got to the parking garage I noticed how crowded it was, like “normal.” Ugh. I masked up and headed to the terminal. A pleasant surprise there was NO ONE in the security line. As in not another person. Amazing, maybe the airport won’t be so crowded I thought. One noted change in the year since I had flown- rather than had you ID to the TSA Agent you slide it into a card reader. An image then appears on the Agent’s computer. He asked me to remove my mask to compare the photos. I took my ID and I was on my way. Now to get something to eat. The tables in the food court area were more spread out. There were of course reminders to wear your mask and keep your distance. There were dots to stand on to order food in an attempt to keep people distanced. I’m not going to lie, some of this seemed silly to me. I 100% understand keeping distance, but seriously we are about to all sit on top of each other on an airplane. I quickly got my food and rather than sit at a table picked a bench further away from people so I could hurry up and eat. I had pre-packed snacks for the flight but stopped to get water and a soda for the flight. As I approached the gate areas I noticed it was VERY crowded. Lots and lots of people!! I detoured to get an “adult beverage” and sit away from the gate for a bit. FYI it’s against federal air regulations to consume your own alcohol on a flight. Before I knew it, it was time to board. My goal was to make myself seem undesirable to sit next too. I joke, but seriously, I really didn’t want that middle seat to be full. Jokes on me because it was a FULL flight. Out came my face shield. While it was definitely toasty in there, I felt like it was providing an extra level of protection that put me a little more at ease.
I must say that plane itself felt the cleanest I’ve seen a plane in a long time. With that said, I tried to touch as little as possible. I only removed the bare necessities from my bag to use during the flight. Some of this, I’m sure is just my personality. Others were completely comfortable with flying. There were even families with children. The flight crew were clear about expectations regarding wearing a mask and that means over your NOSE and MOUTH. The only food service provided was water and pretzels/brownie bites. I’m not going to lie, it was the longest five and a half hours of my life. I was ready to jump off the plane when it landed. Again, the jokes on me as they had trouble getting the cabin door open. It’s much funnier now, then it was at the time!
Sunday, March 14 time to fly home. This flight was at 1:20 PM Arizona time. I was curious to see what I would find in the airport at a “prime” flying time. While the airport was crowded, security again was light and quick. Unlike in Baltimore, I had to hand the TSA Agent my ID for him to examine. Mask down to confirm I was the person on the ID and then through security. The terminal was PACKED with people. Again, I grabbed a quick bite to eat and tried to get as far away from people as possible to eat. As luck would have it this flight was also FULL. I was feeling a little less anxious about it as I knew I was just over four hours away from home. Face shield on. Kindle out. Let’s do this. I must again commend the flight crew as they were diligent in making sure folks kept their masks on properly. The limited service of water and a snack were offered. No problems with the door when we landed to I hit the ground running to get out of there! Much to my surprise at 8:30 at night (which felt like midnight) the airport was hopping. The main security check line was LONG. I was truly surprised to see so many people in the airport.
I recognize that others have been flying for work and pleasure without having missed a beat over the last year. But for someone who has basically been no where but home this trip felt like flying for the first time all over again. I must admit that I’m curious to see what precautions stay in place going forward with air travel. I imagine that it will continue to get more and more back to “normal.” I’m just not certain what “normal” looks like in a post Covid world.
I’d love to hear, have you been traveling? How have you found the experience? Share in the comments below!
In January I hit a birthday milestone….the big 4…0. I wasn’t bothered by turning 40 but rather took it as an opportunity to truly reflect on life over the last decade. Ten years is a VERY long time. This exercise of course made me think of all the changes in the preceding decades. So let’s take a trip down memory lane, shall we??
At the age of 20 I found myself a sophomore in College. Living alone for nearly two years on my own. Making the way to do well in college so I could subsequently complete my life goal of becoming a lawyer and go to law school. Still young, enjoying life. But still an old soul in many ways.
Now let’s look at what happened in my life between 20-30. So much it even makes my head spin, and this is just the stuff I’m thinking about off the top of my head.
Met my now husband of 14 years
Graduated College
Attended and graduated Law School
Got my first “real” job as a law clerk during law school that that became my first job as a Criminal Prosecutor that I had for 8 years.
Got engaged
Got married
Traveled A LOT
Lost my mother-in-law to cancer shortly before my 30th birthday
So now let’s take a look at 30-40 shall we?
At 32 became a mom for the first time.
Left my dream job of being a prosecutor to fulfill my new dream role as a Mom.
Learned my Dad had early onset Alzheimer’s.
Welcomed our second child at 34.
Traveled A LOT…even with kids!
Started a variety of businesses that I could work from home to fulfill my desire to get my brain working again.
Threw myself into volunteering, especially at the boys’ school.
Started running again. Ran races in 4 states. Distances include 5K, 10K, 12 miles, Half Marathon and Marathon.
Became a substitute teacher.
When I was less than ten, I knew that I wanted to be a lawyer. I have no idea why, it’s not like I even knew any lawyers. I was the first in my family to go to college and I had this clear goal of going to law school. That goal then became to become a prosecutor. Hands down, being a prosecutor was the VERY BEST JOB IN THE WORLD. I loved the fact that I was in court multiple days a week. I loved trying cases and I tell you that there’s nothing like waiting for a jury verdict to be returned after trying the very best case possible. But you’ll notice I made a distinction between JOB and ROLE with motherhood. While many think Motherhood is the very best job in the world, I don’t necessarily believe it’s a job but rather the very best ROLE that we can ever be given. We have the opportunity to shape the lives of human beings, of the next generation. To hopefully give them the tools and skills to succeed. To teach them to be kind, respectful and to show gratitude.
When we learned that we were going to become parents we made the choice that I was going to stay home, leave the practice of law. Now don’t get me wrong there are many, many woman who successfully balance both being a mother and the practice of law or any number of other professions. And I recognize that many would like the opportunity to be at home rather than having to go to work. So my disclaimer (because I still think like a lawyer) is this: everyone has to do what works best for their family and for them professionally. We did what worked for us. No judgments either way. Because, yes, I’ve heard it… “you went to school for all of those years, just to say home and be a mom?” Harsh right? Who are we to judge others and the choices they make. And PS there’s nothing wrong with being “just a mom.” Quite honestly, it’s the most important damn thing you can do if you are blessed with children. Being present and providing for your children whether financially or mentally or both is of critical importance to raising good human beings!
I’ve talked a lot in my various online communities about having passion and joy for what you do. Trust me, I’m not all sunshine and rainbows. You could have the very best job, a job that you love and it can be stressful and hard and you might not feel too passionate about it day in and day out. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t the right job…or it might mean you need to find passion in a hobby or somewhere else to balance out the stress. I had passion for the law like no one’s business. And it’s still in there. But right now I have passion for parenting like it’s my job. So for me that means finding professional passion in different arenas to maintain my mental stamina while “Momming” the way that I want.
I know a lot of shade is thrown at various work from home businesses that get called dirty things like “pyramid schemes” or are said to prey on mothers and take all their money. I’m here again to say…stop the judging!! My first foray with an at home business was Usborne books. I’m an avid reader and always have been. I was the mom to two small boys, and I was looking for an outlet 1) to meet other moms, 2) make a few dollars and 3) get some awesome books for my boys. Guess what, we couldn’t have two kids who are more into books. As in we still have books in every room in our house and in the car. Whether they got that from the fact that they grew up with me talking about and sharing books with others or it was innate we will never really know. But what I do know, is that if they got nothing more from my time with Usborne Books I would be happy. Because a love of reading can take you so many different places.
Why do I share this interlude? Well, until both the boys were in school full time I worked and still do a variety of businesses from home. Basically, I would find really awesome products that I loved like accessories and skincare (Stella & Dot/Ever) and it would bring me joy to share those products with others. It would also fulfill a need to go out and do parties to socialize with other adults when I was otherwise at home with the boys. Then came Zyia Active. Why Zyia Active?? Let’s be real, I was running all the miles and needed all the gear so if I was buying it all I might has well share it with others. Seriously, it became an opportunity to share why I loved the products for running, while making some of the very best friends who “live in my computer.” Next up, when I learned that drinking soda and eating cheddar cheese goldfish was not a good life eating plan I began making better eating choices. I’m joking a little bit, but seriously my diet needed an overall. Not in an attempt to lose weight but rather, to eat better and ultimately to be a better example for my boys. So along came Arbonne.
My friend Suzy always likes to joke about whether I expected to be selling leggings when I was in law school. The answer is a big fat NO. But I did always expect to be working hard and setting a good example for my children. Let’s be real parenting can and is a full time job. For real. I needed more without the grind of working outside the home so that I could still be fully available to the boys. I like to say that you have to find passion and joy along the way and the things/activities/hobbies/employment that bring you joy can change. There are different stages of our life and what works during one stage may not work during another. For example, when I was a prosecutor I was one of the first in the office and one of the last to leave. That’s my personality. All in 110%. Knowing I couldn’t do that and Mother the way I wanted to meant that I had to make a change. So I put 110% into raising our tiny humans. That was a stage of life that required my full attention. As they got a little bit older, I still give them 100% but then used that other 10% to find areas that interested me and brought me joy. In come the various home business opportunities. Then came the opportunity to do a professional job remotely in reviewing college applications. This was a game changer for me and allowed me to use my background in admissions to work from home. It also got me thinking about what other opportunities there would be in the educational realm as the boys got older.
Now I’m at a new stage. My boys are both in school full time. Woah nelly, there were tears. I mean my own because they couldn’t have been happier and truly LOVE school. So there were about 4 days that I was home before I started subbing at school. That was long enough. Definitely no moss growing on me. Always on the move. I’ve been regularly subbing every week since and guess what it brings me joy in ways I never thought possible. 1) I’m present at school and get to see my kiddos for a passing hug, while it’s still cool to hug some at school (may they always think it’s cool) 2) I love to learn and to teach. In many ways, trying a case was “teaching” the jury what happened. Would you believe that’s how I look at a lesson plan? Average class size of about 12. You’re talking to a jury each and every day. It’s not necessarily a jury of your peers but it’s a group that you need to break down information and share it to in a way that’s easily comprehended and retained. Boom, who knew law school was really teaching me to be an educator. 3) Watching the lightbulb go on as children learn something for the first time or you help them with something is truly fulfilling. I’m loving this new stage so very much. It feels like a balance between “Momming so hard” and having a professional version of myself that I lacked for along time.
So, when I was 10 or even 20 for that matter I wouldn’t have necessarily mapped out this life plan. But I’ve learned a serious lesson over the last decade- you don’t have to be one thing in life. For many the era of having one job at the same employer for thirty years is gone. I don’t necessarily think that’s a bad thing because you have the opportunity to recreate yourself at the various stages. Furthermore, tomorrow isn’t guaranteed. Don’t put off until tomorrow hat you can do today. Live each day to its fullest. Find joy in what you do. And live your life with passion!
A year ago this past weekend I was in Orlando, Florida for the Run Disney Princess Weekend races. I looked forward to going for over a year. My first big trip for a race weekend and I was planning to run back to back days a 10K and a Half Marathon. But as the weekend approached the mom guilt hit big. I’m talking huge. I felt badly about going alone. I felt badly about leaving my family for a long weekend. I know my husband, who is super supportive is also more than capable of caring for our children. Yes, I know I’m allowed to go places without my children, but it’s so rare even before Covid that I traveled anywhere without them that I felt all sorts of guilt. In this Covid world if I’m gone for a few hours it’s like I’ve been gone for days.
Fast forward a year and here’s what I would’ve told myself as I was feeling guilty:
ENJOY every minute of quality alone time you get! No really, while I enjoyed the time in Orlando and even took a nap with those 2:30 AM wake up calls, that guilt still nagged me a bit and sucked a little bit of the fun from the experience. Quality alone time is hard to come by- so if you get it- revel in it. Enjoy the time. Make the minutes matter!
Get over the damn mom guilt already. Let me say that again for those of you in the back….GET OVER THE MOM GUILT. Ok, truth be told I’m saying it for myself. I struggle with this big time. So I have to remind myself that being a good mom doesn’t mean spending every minute of every day with your kids. Being a good mom means making your kids and family a priority while still carving out the time to do the things that bring you joy. Being a good mom is setting an example for your children.
Refilling your cup will make you better in the end. We’ve all heard the expression that you can’t pour from an empty cup. Well COVID has certainly drained our cups and made the day to day harder because let’s be real it’s been like Groundhog Day for nearly a year! When all this madness ends- take the time. Refill your cup. Reward yourself for being strong and maintaining some sense of normal for you and your family! Feeling guilty about thinking about refilling your cup?? See number two above.
Go to new places!! I basically never travel alone. I have no reason to. It’s not that I’m not able to do it. Heck, I traveled plenty by myself before kids, but once you have kids if you are like me your alone travel time diminishes. Running has afforded me the “excuse” to try new things and go new places. Granted this can be as a family as well, it doesn’t have to fall into the get away alone category. COVID certainly put the brakes on the travel and the racing component but eventually it will come back. And you know what? I’m going to pick on race a year to travel to. Not necessarily far and hopefully to coordinate with visiting family and friends, but I’m going new places!
Don’t take things for granted! It’s safe to say that pre-Covid we in general took a lot for granted. I’m not saying we weren’t grateful or didn’t appreciate different opportunities. But, I’m not sure I ever envisioned the uncertainty of in person racing. I certainly took for granted the fact that I could toe the starting line after training hard and run with a group of people for the amazing experience of running a race and finishing with your family cheering you on! I took for granted the ease of travel. Even with kids we traveled frequently around their school schedule. To basically been grounded for a year has been incredibly difficult. We keep adding to our post Covid list of places that we want to visit. I could go on and on- but I would also add- don’t go back to “normal.” If normal was crazy, busy, and making you unfulfilled then don’t go back to that place. Use the lessons learned from this Covid period to be selective in those activities that you continue to pursue. Be careful with your time. Keep doing the things that bring you joy!
The long and short of it- do what brings you joy and live for today because tomorrow isn’t guaranteed!
