balance

I went to the Y this morning with M. She was reluctant to go to child watch, but I bribed her with a snack. Horrible parenting, I know, but I really needed to work out this morning. Anyway, the balance came by only working out for 35 minutes. I got my goal accomplished for the day and she was only inconvenienced for 35 minutes, and she got to eat pretzels and chocolate on the way home.

I am going to plan to only use child watch when NBA is traveling. Even then, I am going to try and use it when L is home to go in with her.

I did over 2.25 miles today in 35 minutes. My speed (not including cooldown) ranged from 4.0-4.2). Granted, I held the bars a lot, but still. Progress is being made!

I have to say it made a huge difference walking into a relatively clean/organized/picked up house. I feel welcomed and calm. Intellectually I have always known that this is a direct result of my actions, but this year I am working on learning it with my whole being. And appreciating that it takes work to get there!


Work: That is the underlying theme of all my resolutions/goals this year. Everything I want to accomplish can be done, I just have to work at it. I have to work to find time to exercise; I have to work each day on my house and school work; I have to work (COOK) to stop spending money frivolously on fast food; I have to work to plan my schedule and errands to lower my eco-footpring; I have to work at doing my hair regularly so I look presentable and professional.
The list goes on and on. So many things come easy and/or naturally to me that this concept of work is going to take some time to sink in. I have no doubt that it will, though.

GREAT KIDS

My kids are amazing. They totally step up to the plate when I need them to.
On Monday, I had a board meeting and NBA is in Las Vegas. I decided I would go to the meeting for 20 minutes, with the kids, and scoot. Well, they lasted the entire meeting. They were awesome! They were quiet and cooperative. (It didn't hurt that there were two plates of cookies in front of them either.)

Then, last night I needed to watch a live web broadcast of my class from 5:45-8. The kids were great again! They ate dinner on their own, they played quietly downstairs, they played noisily upstairs, and solved their problems without me. I was able to actually concentrate!

These are the times I need to remember.

progress is progress...

even if it's invisible.

I just spent 2o minutes in the basement, cleaning and reorganizing and you can't tell. I brought up two boxes to be recycled. I also consolidated two boxes into one. I threw away misc. kids' stuff.

I am trying really hard not to get frustrated about my lack of progress in this project. I know this is an ongoing process, not one that will be done tomorrow.

I do like walking into L's room. That is visible progress. And it was free. Which is even better.

I can't buy my way to a new house and way of life. I have to build it. Brick by brick, nail by nail, it will get done.

7 things

toys, toys, toys...
I am not one of those parents whose kids couldn't live without toys. For better or worse, my kids would rather have me or their dad, or in Leo's case his imaginary 'brothers', to play with. We still have unopened presents from Leo's August birthday.

Yet...
I am still unable to rid my house of them. Mostly I keep them around so that when the kids have friends over there are things to do.

However, today I was able to clear out some toys.