A Story

Once upon a time there was a family who had a very good holiday season. Thanksgiving was stressful for the Mother as it has been since her father died. Her father had always done so much that his daughter had always considered Thanksgiving a vacation. No more. Thanksgiving is not very much fun when you have to do all the work. And spend that much money.

And of course as soon as that holiday is over, it's time to prepare for the big one: Christmas. And although the Mother enjoyed Christmas and picking out presents for her loved ones, and although she was filled with gratitude and thankfulness the whole month because of all the blessings her family had, it was a bit stressful too.

There had been a houseguest that month and of course shopping and presents and cleaning and cooking--so much cooking. There was upcoming stress of the next year to think about as well.

So that on Christmas afternoon, when all the festivities were quite over, the Mother developed a bit of a headache and said that she thought she would lie down.

And the headache grew and she felt quite bad and the lying down turned into nearly the whole evening and the Mother went to bed at 10:30. When she awoke the next morning at 8:45, she felt better. Can you imagine needing that much sleep?

The mother feels better now. And she is also going to do something she never, ever does. She is going to make today a vacation day.

There will be no self-imposed guilt about her husband working so she should be working too, like usual.
There will be no worries about all the things that need doing about the house.

The Mother is going to sit and watch movies and do nothing responsible all day long.

The End.

In Which My Neck and Back Get Fixed

I have not been feeling good this week. Did I already complain about that? Oh well. Yesterday it occurred to me that maybe my atlas was out of whack.

Do you know where your atlas is? It's the bone at the top of your spine that holds your whole heavy head up. Here's a good pic. There are special chiropractors who will align your atlas bone without any popping or twisting or turning. Dr. Roy Sweat developed the method and it's totally pain free, but looks somewhat like a torture device. It's amusing.

So I called this morning and thankfully, our wonderful doctor had an appointment for me. She not only adjusted my atlas, which was, in fact, out of place, she also used the "jackhammer" on my back and did some other instruments to get my spine realigned where it was hurting.

I have some other issues that are making me not feel too good, but hopefully that will all help. I've been sitting here tonight diffusing essential oils and trying to rest. And, I took another nap today. Seriously, I've got to get to feeling better. I was fine on Sunday!

Tomorrow is not a stay home day, either. So I hope and pray I wake up feeling better and able to do all the things I need to do.

We released another episode of our podcast today! Did you know I had a podcast with my husband? It's called the Uplift Podcast and this week we are talking about camping and our need for sleep. Please go check it out so we have more people listening than I have fingers. That would make us really happy! And hopefully, it will be entertaining for you! Here's the link.

Signing off,

There's No Tired Like Thursday Tired

Whew.

We have co-op on Thursdays. If you don't know, co-op stands for "something I don't want to do but would be really good for my kids."

Not really. I resisted joining co-ops for years but finally gave in. Co-op actually stands for "cooperative" and that part means "parents do all the teaching."

Which means I'm really tired on Thursdays. Because, see....it's a fine arts co-op. And since I can't read music, they don't want me teaching choir, or music, or band.

And so, I get to use that degree in Early Childhood my parents paid for. I really like teaching the preschool class. The preschool world is where I belong. It's so ridiculously easy for me to come up with activities for that age group. And really, the morning is not what wears me out.

Our 6 year old got to hold the flag today at our co-op morning meeting. 

We eat a really quick lunch (reminds me of being a teacher in public school) and then it's off to 5th period. THAT period is the end of me. I'm only the assistant in that class, but it's late, the kids are tired, they aren't listening the way I'm sure they did earlier in the morning, and I feel like a bouncer. The period lasts about 10 minutes longer than any of our thresh holds.

But we are home now. The first few weeks I just came home and fell asleep. I wonder if I'm getting too old for this gig? I better buck up because my girls love co-op and we have many more years there.

So now the only thing left to do is unload the car. I usually put this off as long as possible. It's full of all manner of junk---my rolling crate, a ton of library books, my flannel board, a giant stuffed bear, the girls' backpacks, and all of our water bottles.

I did, however, bring in the lunch kit and clean it out.

So I'm doing 50% better than last week already.

But I'm too tired to care.

Signing off,

Labor Day Reset

August is always so busy.

Back to school.

Daughter's birthday.

Wrapping up summer.

I'm thankful that it's Labor Day weekend now. Thankful that husband will have a day off.

We need a re-set around here. Some housework, some planning, some rest...

Hope you all have a very restful Labor Day weekend too!