That's quite the title isn't it? I decided to not simplify or be catchy, but rather to go with something as complex as my life. I think all moms should, at some time, acknowledge how complex and all-encompassing it is to run a household.
This post has been rattling lightly in the back of my head for a while. You know why I did it today? Because it's an imperfect day. I was waiting for a great day that flowed smoothly and I was productive and...and while I wasted time waiting for that day, I realized it also wasn't real. It's not the reality of my day to day. My day to day rarely works out as planned. When it does, I've noticed, it's a day that doesn't have much planned because of some event, like an all day field trip.
So here's the truth about how today started. (I started this post last Thursday, so it's really about how last Thursday started.) ;)
I woke up a little after 2 this morning to go to the bathroom. That happens almost every night since having children. ;) But I couldn't get back to sleep for quite a while. I fell back to sleep around 4:30, but my alarm goes off at 5.
5- got up and tried to go back to sleep on the couch
5:30- couldn't get back to sleep so I got up and made lunches, sent my hubby on his way, and started the kids a breakfast of waffle sticks (homemade and frozen waffles from another time make a fast school morning breakfast!). I reviewed my day and prioritized it, and wasted a bit of time doing something I can't remember right now.
6:45- Woke up the kids for school. Got them and myself ready. Swapped a load of dishes.
7:30- Took the kids to school and then went to Trader Joe's for just a few items I forgot on Monday. I don't usually forget items. I am a great list maker. But this week is somehow off. My husband thinks I'm getting sick. I'm in denial about that because I've been eating healthier and that has relayed into getting sick less than everyone else in the house. I carry a bit of pride about that. I might soon be humbled.
8:30- Stopped at Starbucks on the way to home to treat myself to a mocha. I've been Whole 30 -ing January so at the last minute I ordered a hot tea instead. I'm proud of that one. I pulled into that drive through fully intending to break my no-sugar streak.
At home I unloaded groceries, and realized that I never started the dishwasher so I did that. ;)
9 am - Put dinner in the crock pot and sat down to waste a bit of time going through e-mails and watching YouTube. My plan was to work on a Social Studies curriculum unit I'm writing and I got stuck on it so I sent a survey out and took a break.
I wasted a lot of time on You Tube. I was really tired. I put a load of laundry in and that made me feel less lazy.
11 am- I was waiting for dishes so I could start some chili for myself. They were still drying so I put some apples in a pot to make applesauce. I scored organic red delicious apples at Sprouts yesterday for $0.48 per pound! They're not my favorite to eat but they make good sauce and we eat applesauce so I decided to make some. They also had organic Braeburns and I do love to eat those so I got those too ($0.98 per pound).
Once that was simmering on the stove I decided to take my iPhone outside to the backyard and do a quick tour of my backyard suburban homestead. Over the last few years, and with a Back to Eden no-til garden, I've had great summer gardens that are constantly expanding. That has given me a little more confidence to add more in to my yard and try a fall/winter garden. Here's the YouTube video I made of that tour.
I am slowly adding more, but not too much. We plan to start looking for property to move to in about 5 years so I want to plant stuff I'll be able to use a lot between now and then. I can't have chickens in my area of the city and I have elementary aged kids who love to play outside so there is only so much room for growing, but I thought it'd be nice for someone in the same situation to see how I make it work as much as possible.
This video tour doesn't include my front yard, which is slowly getting fruit trees, a butterfly garden, and an herb garden.
Then I sat down to write this post. I stopped in the middle to turn off the apples while they cooked so they could cool and be blended and I switched the laundry.
At 11:40 I realized I hadn't eaten much today and was suddenly starving. I do that sometimes. I started the chili and contemplated waiting for it to finish and decided that was a bad idea. Waiting for food when I'm hungry usually ends up with me making bad food choices. I made a few of these prosciutto wraps with arugula from my backyard and avocado. I made them earlier in the week with apple instead of avocado and I like that better.
While the meat in the chili was browning I started back on this post. Once caught up I started working on my Social Studies unit again.
1 pm- I worked for an hour on my unit, stopping occasionally to stir the chili. Then I felt the sleepless night hit me like a wall. I tried to lay down and get a quick power nap in before getting the kids. It's about balance here, trying to give myself grace and still be productive.
1:30- Got up, wasn't sleeping. Starting catching up on itemizing my expenditures.
1:45- got snacks and water and left to get this kids from school.
3:00- return from getting kids from school and got them started on homework.
While I was helping them with homework I was putting the final touches on dinner and swapping laundry and dishes...again.
5:00 By the time all this was done it was 5 and time to actually sit down and eat.
Anyone else fee like they spend far more time preparing food than eating it?
After dinner (5:30 ish) we took the dog for a walk.
By six we were home and I was having kids put their laundry away while I did mine, making notes for tomorrow, etc...
6:30 showers were started and rooms were getting ready. Some electronic play time was going on as well as some snuggle time. I got in the shower at 7. I prefer night showers.
7:50- prayer time and off to bed at 8.
The hubby got home right after 8. While he kissed the kids goodnight and read the Bible with our oldest (who actually has time in his room until 8:30) I got his portion of dinner heated up. We watched a recorded show, I think it was Fixer Upper and then I was in bed by 9.
I read My Utmost For His Highest in bed, but barely kept my eyes open. Lights were out for me by 9:15.
That's an exciting day around here. ;)
Every day looks different, some more productive than others. But I find that I'm often productive on some fronts but not all. I may nail my curriculum writing time but don't get much done around home. Or I get house projects done but not much of anything else. One day soon I hope to get into my craft room.
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