November Goals - How it went

Time to review November goals!  I'm pretty sure I'm not going to accomplish any goals tomorrow - but if work lets of off early I guess I could go for a run or a swim...?  

It was a pretty good month:

Personal:
✔Barre3 x3 (I did 2 of 3, but I also did 2 yoga classes, so I give myself a ✔ )
❌Swim (nope)
✔ Mountain Bike (yes!  I love my new ladies MTB group!) 
❌Run x2 (no.  Zero running. I'll run again in April.  It's very cold and very dark)
✔Blog every day (almost! 29/30.  97% is good enough for a ✔)
✔ Schedule a haircut (Actually got a haircut!)
✔ Schedule a massage (Scheduled for my January birthday)

Family:
✔ Update Family photo albums & kids albums for October (done!)
✔ Take a Family Photo (We took some, but no good ones, so this will stay in Dec goals)
❓ Date night @home with Andy (I'm not sure... I know we went out?  I think our at home time was mostly tired.  We did start watching tv again sometimes.  I give this one a 80% pass?)
✔ Pub with Andy (yes!)

Adventure/Fun:
❌Go to the bank with Isaac to deposit birthday money (nope)
✔ Take Isaac on a big train/plane adventure (yes! Cumbria trip)
✔ Take both kids cycling somewhere - ideally a pump track (Yes - took the kids to the pump track for toddler takeover)
✔ Thanksgiving (yes!)
❌Plan my own birthday weekend (nope) 
✔ Organize community Play Street (yup)
✔ Take kids swimming (yes!)
✔ Visit a Castle (I think a roman ruin counts)

it's time to write out my December goals.  Next year I'm going to do more multi-scale planning. I'm not sure whether to break down goals/objectives seasonally or quarterly.  The finance person in me likes Jan-March, April-June, July-Sept, Oct-Dec.  Very Q1-Q4.  But also, I make seasonal fun lists... and the seasons don't match the quarters. I know, these are tiny conundrums on an otherwise exceptionally over planned life but it's what I think about.

Also, I am aware that this month's "goals" are not really moving me *towards* anything.  I think of them as lists of what a person who enjoyed their month will have done.  I guess sometimes enjoying a month is a good enough goal - I moved pretty hard towards personal/professional development in Spring/Summer 2022 so a fall of enjoyment and adventure may just be the ebb and flow of goal setting.

Do you make goals?  How often?  Do you review them?

Also, here are some happy kids at the jump park:

On Parenting, Resilience, and Expectations.

 Did I think I would be the kind of parent who brought their trouser-less two year old to a mechanic to get a flat tyre fixed?

No, I did not think I would be that kind of parent!

However:

Today at work I completed a "strengths profile". My strongest strength was "Organization" and my weakness was "Resilience"  It also pointed out that I think I am funny and that I've learned to have attention to detail but that doesn't come naturally to me.  So either the strengths profile has been reading my blog or the 160 questions did manage to provide some insight.

Also, we now have a non-flat and non-temporary tyre.  It cost £19.50 to repair.  I didn't know you could get 30 minutes of mechanic time for under £50. 

Sunday - Thanksgiving dinner in Wales

We had our thanksgiving today! I love Thanksgivings.

Menu as follows:

• Turkey
• Gravy
• Cranberry Sauce
• Roast Potatoes & Carrots
• Sweet Potato Roast
• Unstuffed Mushroom Casserole
• Spinach Casserole
• Classic Walnut Stuffing
• Cornbread
• Pumpkin Pie
• Apple Crumble with Pecans

My mom made the turkey, Andy made the stuffing, Sainsburys made the Cranberry Sauce and I made everything else.  It's been a busy weekend! 

I did have help

Hopefully we'll have a new oven by thanksgiving next year, but I was pretty pleased at my oven Tetris

I decided against pecan pie but was happy I made a pecan dessert. Apple crumbles are so good and I don't know why I don't eat the more (obvious sugar reasons aside)

This week:

• Monday evening at home: review November goals and plan December goals (hint: I made 0 of 2 monthly runs in November)
• Writing club on Tuesday
• Office day then out to dinner with friends on Wednesday
• Andy at home night on Thursday
• Not attending Christmas Party on Friday and looking forward to downtime

Football - Cheering for Wales... or maybe not.

It's a very exciting time in Wales, with the Wales Football Team competing in the world cup for the first time in 64 years.  When I moved here 13 years ago Wales was a rugby nation.. the six nations was the sport we all followed. Heartbreak and triumph rested on the future of a grand slam, or a grand defeat.

Now, apparently, Wales is a footballing nation.  Wales has gone to Qatar to represent Wales, and to spread ideologies of tolerance and acceptance.

There might be a hiccup there, as Qatari officials threatened to break a Dutch camerapersons gear on because they weren't filming in the right place.

Or when Wales said they would play with armbands in support of LGBT, but then Qatar and FIFA said no, armbands aren't allowed, and although the rights of LGBT are important they are apparently not as important as getting the uniform standards correct. 

Or when the amazing Laura McAllister was told to remove her rainbow bucket hat because although Qatar is welcoming of all - Laura is gay and allowed to be there - she's just not allowed to support being gay.

I feel even more conflicted at the current adoration of Welsh Football as it's where I worked for a weird, amazing, and interesting two years of my life.  The team I worked with (not the men's team) were incredible - respectful and inspiring. 

I was aware of the men's team, and the people who worked for/with them.  While some were great people, some were not always kind, or respectful.  There were people and politics at play that would not pass for acceptable now. Things that that should not have passed for acceptable then.

When I worked in football I didn't see the #MeToo movement coming.  In my recollection, the women in the support staff, like all women, knew that being kind to people in positions of authority was beneficial to ones career.  Things that I was aware of then, things that were normal at the time, make me retrospectively uncomfortable now.   

The #MeToo movement was more than women telling men what they experience.  Men were surprised and blindsided - and they shouldn't have been.  To me, the #MeToo movement was also the moment that women told other women this is what WE experience. Every person - younger me included - who watched inequalities at play and said nothing was slightly complicit.  Clearly not as complicit as the men who were in power, and certainly not as much as the predators... but I feel a tiny piece of responsibility(??) stays with the observers.*

At the time I didn't think what I was witnessing was wrong.  I didn't realize there were other ways to be.  

Wales isn't unique, and it certainly isn't the worst.  Football isn't either.  But the when Qatar gloss over their human rights issues to host the world up, I am very aware that we are glossing over issues with our footballing structure as well.  While we can support our country with bucket hats and banners, our country can also use a moment of reflection on it's own inequalities at play.

*I thought this was explored really well in The Morning Show

Friday misc - reading and more

This week greats:

• New Yoga Conditioning class with new friends
• Overnight in London and meeting London colleagues
• Writing club at a pub!

Weekend greats:

• Out to dinner with friends tonight
• Local Christmas fair on Saturday afternoon
• Cooking Thanksgiving meal on Sunday!

This week improvements:

• House is disorganized chaos (for me)
• Yesterday's dinner was beans on toast so probably shouldn't serve it to the kids again tonight
• in a Meal planning lull

Reading News:

• Finished Tranquillity by Tuesday.  Even better than expected.  Thinking I need to buy a copy to refer back to... just wish it wasn't' £20 for a hardback.  I love a paperback.
• Went on a massive library hold spree after listening to the holiday gift giving episode of "What Should I Read Next"

Full hold list here

• Emailed the library to request more books.  The Cardiff Library has been amazing at ordering me books.  I'm hoping they will get Work Parent Thrive soon

Thanks for Thanksgiving

In the USA, Thanksgiving is my favourite holiday – it's like Christmas without presents. Everyone is off work, you get a four day weekend, and you get to see family and friends and eat food. And do Turkey Trots! And other Thanksgiving sports!

In the UK, it's a bit less exciting. Today I was in work. I ate sushi for lunch. I had scrambled eggs, beans and toast for dinner with the kids. In the evening I made it to the pub for my writing club. I am thankful for writing club.

The kids brought thanksgiving books to nursery today – Thanks for Thanksgiving is my favourite. 

Isaac brought it in to share with his friends. Isaac made me a Turkey with feathers and Lilah made a turkey handprint, although I'm not sure whether nursery did that for everyone or whether it was just for me because I so clearly love the holiday. I am thankful for a good nursery.

This morning we talked about what we are thankful for. Isaac told me he was thankful for friend that are kind and also for books. I said I was thankful that we all have our own beds and that our beds are nice and have blankets and pillows. Lilah said “Thank you for the food!” which is what we say before eating – I'm not sure the two year old really comprehended the conversation. I am thankful for good conversations with my kids in the morning.

We are having a thanksgiving meal on Sunday. I'm working on the menu now - I am definitely making pumpkin pie, but I always have trouble with the thanksgiving desserts. I see lots of things I want to eat but nothing I want to make. I don't like knowing how much sugar is in those pecan bars, I just want to eat those pecan bars. I am thankful for pecan bars.

My mom reminded me that we're only having 5 people for thanksgiving... I may have over planned the menu. I don't mind – I am thankful for leftovers.

London and career building during the "busy years"

I have been to London a lot.  I am very lucky.

London is so big and full and busy.  What often gets me is the number of people and where they are - they are everywhere! There are people living above shops and across from offices.  There are people living in big houses and in tiny bedsits. There are restaurants next to restaurants next to restaurants.

I am really enjoying my office visit and excited about my hybrid working arrangement.  I'll be hopefully traveling once a month for work, and then spending the rest of the time with the flexibility to enjoy my family and home life the way I want to.

During the pandemic I often felt there was a negative shift in the parenting balancing act, where we told parents that it's okay to work from home, so it's okay to ignore your kids, park them in front of the TV, and work.  In my last role I almost cried when a call with the MD ended with him turning his laptop to show me his ill seven year old, laying on the sofa next to him, starting at a tablet.  

I still fundamentally believe children need parents to be present, both physically and mentally, and I detest the transition to "pick up the sick kid and get back to work".  But also wonder if the remote/hybrid transition is possibly allowing more women to stay in the workforce now... that maybe the glass ceiling of non-office-presence when having a family is becoming a... cellophane ceiling?  

I'm not convinced myself - I know there are huge numbers of women forced out of the workforce for childcare responsibilities during the pandemic.  But maybe now that the dust starts to settle, the idea of hybrid might allow the bit of flexibility in daily scheduling that sometimes precluded mothers from perusing careers in the past?

I'll have to wait and see.

How we organize everything: the F.L.O.M. (Family Logistics and Operational Meeting)

I wish I could ask every person how they organize their lives.  I am so curious – how does it work? What do you do?  If you are in a partnership, what does your partner do?  Every single person lives a life every day of the same number of hours and yet has a vastly different experience of those hours.  When it comes to families there are fundamentals we all need to follow: we all get food ready, we all maintain a home to a liveable standard, we all clothe ourselves and our kids.  We think about school and leisure.  Every family has 70% of the same things on our plates and we spend almost no time talking about how we manage it all.

A year ago my husband and I started having planning meetings.  They’ve evolved over the month and will surely continue to evolve.  Our current agenda is as follows:

• Short review of the week – specifically kids and food plan.  Did the week go well?  Was it hard?  Why?  Can we improve things going forward?  Lots of weeks repeat – I’m in para-finance so my months consist of regular 4-5 week intervals of busy to less busy.  If a busy week went bad, what can we do to make it better next time?
• Look ahead to the following week
• Food plan: go through each day and decide who will make dinner and what we are having
• Nursery run: who is doing drop off and pick up at nursery? Usually whoever does drop off makes dinner.
•  Nursery Cover: Who answers the phone if nursery calls to send a kids home, and who can take time off work to watch any sick kids that week
• Sport/Hobbies: do each of us have enough time for our scheduled sport/hobby in the calendar?
• Family Adventure: do we have at least 1 family adventure planned in the week, or enough family time in general?
  
• Shops and Driving: Do we need to go food shopping?  Anything else we need to drive to?
• Any Other Business: We have a FLOM notebook where we write AOB items in the back, things we need to discuss that we don’t get time during the regular week.  Often this includes holiday planning, potential trips, division of labor (a few weeks ago my AOB was “I don’t want to do all the laundry anymore).  Sometimes we have AOB items that stay there so long we have to schedule a new time to address them, like “pick out cabinet unit for dining room” which has been on the list 6 months and we finally scheduled a time to do it together because no one had the energy for that on a Friday)

We have additional items during our End of Month and Mid Month meetings as follows:

Mid Month:

• Looking at the month ahead to see if there are any scheduling issues
• Allocating days we will be away with work (we both do one to two nights away per month with our jobs)
• Scheduling bigger events like Christmas fayers, long weekend adventures, playdates with friend we don’t see enough

End of Month:

• Reviewing the family budget
• Making monthly family goals / reviewing the month

And that’s our current logistics system.  I know it will change again, and it is a lot of work to maintain, but it also means that hopefully when things start veering off course (as they usually do) we can at least right it in a week or two rather than waiting until everything implodes.

A stoic approach to car repairs

 I recently read "A guide to the Good Life" by William Irvine

I found a lot of it very interesting - especially the idea of leaning into negative visualization rather than moving away from it.  I never got the hang of the whole "these are just thoughts" way of viewing negative thinking.  But the idea of looking at a worry as an opportunity to appreciate what we have makes sense to me.

Recently, the blower in our car broke.  This meant that we had no air... not really a problem except that it's impossible to defog your windscreen without the blower.  For two days we had to thoroughly clean the windshield before driving, then drive with all the windows open.  It's been about 58 degrees F (9 degrees c).  I've been wearing a down jacket whenever I've had to drive anywhere.

Andy fixed the blower this weekend, and when I got in the car and defogged the windscreen with the blower I thought "wow, I am so thankful to have this blower working again!" 

Instead of worrying the blower might break again (which it probably will) I found myself more appreciative of the fact it was currently working.  I think that's something like Stoicism?

Here's what I'm thankful for today:

• Having a functioning fan in the car to defog windows
• A delicious Speltotto dinner
• Finding a new crazy sport-yoga class with a friend who is super keen for really odd sport-yoga
• Going to London for work tomorrow
• Kids being healthy and enjoying nursery
• Andy taking over laundry
• Clean sheets on the bed 

Inspired for next year - a weekend for the remembering self.

I started National Blog Posting Month on a whim, and that's how I missed a day.  It was a day where I actually had free time, but my free time was not in the morning or the evening, and so I didn't write a blog post.  Oops!  Now I can look forward to trying again next November and in the meantime hopefully continue with daily posting through the end of November.  29 out of 30 would be a pretty good result as well.

One of the awesome parts of blog posting month has been learning about new and interesting blogs from the others who are participating.  Here is the full list of participants this year:

Beckett • http://birchwoodpie.blogspot.com
Elisabeth • http://www.elisabeth-frost.com
J • http://jellyjules.com
Jamie • http://mostgladly.com
Jenny • http://www.runnersfly.com
Meike • http://www.homehereandthere.wordpress.com
Melissa • http://www.thebrightonjotter.com
NGS • http://www.ngradstudent.blogspot.com
Rachel • http://www.rachelinwales.com
San (me!) • https://www.theinbetweenismine.com
Sarah • http://www.harrytimes.com
Stephany • http://www.stephanywrites.com
Suzanne • http://www.lifeofadoctorswife.wordpress.com
Tierney • http://www.portmanteausuitcase.com
Tobia • http://www.craftaliciousme.com
Zenaida • http://www.zenaida.net

The odd thing about not writing yesteday was that I probably had something to say. I could have posted about my quick dinner - Chicken Shwarma in the oven.  

I could have written about my good news scheduling update, which is that my breakfast buddy called to say he was very busy and very sorry and could we pause our breakfast dates for 3 weeks until busy season was over for him.  Yes!  Sometimes, if schedules aren't working, it doesn't mean it's broken, it just means life is temporarily busy.

I could have written about toddler takeover at the local pump track, and how my two kids whipped balance bikes over a pump track for three hours. I have never done three hours at a pump track.

I could have written about going out for drinks on Saturday night, with a friend I so rarely see.  I had to fight with my experiencing self to get out of the house... I wanted to experience an evening of pyjamas and TV, and I wanted to experience a 9pm bedtime.  It was cold, and dark, and the pub was a 25 minute cycle away. 

At the same time, I almost never get out with Andy, I almost never see this friend, and it wasn't raining.  Andy guaranteed he would do kid wake up, and off to the pub we went.  The remembering self - the self that recalls the activity - is very pleased that I go out.  On Monday, when people ask what I did, I can say "I went to the pub on Saturday" rather than "on, not much".  I will get enough sleep tonight to cover for my reduced sleep on Saturday.  It's 8:20 right now, and soon I can get in my pyjamas, read, and go to sleep with a hot water bottle.  The experiencing self and remembering self should both appreciate a quiet Sunday night.

Did you spend this weekend doing things you experienced with joy or remember with joy?  Is there any difference for you?

On Schedules and Plans

I am really loving Tranquility by Tuesday.

I'm on the chapter on "creating a backup slot" and the line that got me was "anyone can make a perfect schedule, time management experts can create a resilient scheduled" (sorry, book not at hand so not perfectly recited).

I'm having trouble crafting my weeks, for fairly good reasons.  I have the following constraints/plans in my Mon-Fri:

• I like to be at home every night between 5pm and 7pm.
• I like to be home most days between 6am and 7am (kid breakfast)
• I work away 1 day a week from 6am to 8pm
• I want to fit in 1 evening sport, 1 evening writing club, and 1 other weekly social engagement which has recently been a 6:30am breakfast but may not be staying this way.
• I need to be home 1 full day a week when husband is on his work day.

It's a puzzle.  I'm not actually sure there is a solution... but I'm not sure what to do with that.  Writing club was cancelled last week because I wasn't well, this week because I was away, and next week because I was away again.  I am missing running buddy!

I'm considering moving back to alternate week engagements, although the issue with that is when you miss a week it's another two before replacement time.

I think it's time for me to start time tracking again.

The other problem with backup slots for social events is that both people need to have the same one. 

So it's a work in progress.  

Today I am trying a new yoga class, because my running club is going to end due to the fact that I despise running in the cold and dark and wet and it's now going to be all three for all the future. 

Time to get changed, get the mat, and do yoga for the first time since February 2020. Also, the 1 class I did in Feb 2020 was the first class I had done since December 2018.  And before that it was a single class in March of 2018.  So I guess that counts as a routine practice...?

Adventure Day 4: Trains, Planes, and Automobiles

We are home at last from our long adventure.  Biggest little is completely shattered and had a near meltdown before scoffing two soft tacos and falling asleep at 6:30pm.

Before I had kids I heard someone say that every day without kids was a holiday.  I didn't really understand it, but when I realized I wanted kids someday I tried to remind myself every day that my current life was a holiday.  I'm glad that I was aware then of the freedom I had, and I can now see what the person meant.

As a very small example,  I didn't get to read at all during any of our 8 hour journeys.  I mostly managed a small person's energy level, and then failed at it towards the end when we ate a bag of M&S Cheesy Puffs and he jumped on a train seat.

A holiday would be an 11 hour flight without kids.  What a decadent treat that would be.  I remember hating long flights in my life before... so boring.  Now? So quiet!

Besides this selfish thinking, the little loved the trip and even if we didn't experience every moment wonderfully I know we both will remember it wonderfully.  

Here's a timeline of our adventure today:

4:30 Isaac got up, but I tried to get little to go back to sleep.  I'm not sure how successful it was. 

6:30 Isaac turned on the light and said "Time to get up, I'm hungry" so we had breakfast 

7:30 Drive to the Train

8:16 First train was Carlisle to Edinburgh. I love Edinburgh and I want to go back.  I really want to go with husband for a two night trip but I'm not sure how feasible that is - maybe in February?? Time to call in all the childcare help...?

9:50 Tram from Edinburgh Haymarket to Edinburgh Airport.  The airpot was full of dreams, as expected.

12:00 Little was very excited to get on our orange plane:

1:45 Plane lands in Bristol!

2:10 Bus from Bristol Airport to Bristol Train Station

2:55: Train from Bristol Train Station to Cardiff Central

4:01: Train from Cardiff Central to Retirement Heights

4:15: lovely husband dips out of work to pick us up from the train station.  The train station is a 15 minute walk from our house, though at Isaac speed today we would have probably taken an hour to get home.

And now, I am home.  It's great to be home.  It's great to be away.  I wish my friend lived closer.  

Also, train was 100% better for getting to her house.  As a comparison, we left our house at 8am on Saturday and got to Friend at 2:30 after 2 trains. Total cost £80 and 6.5 hours

Today we left at 7:30, got in a 4:30, Total cost £170 for the flights and all train/tram/bus travel and 9 hours.

As promised - Old Roman Stuff:

Unexpected Excitement in Retirement Heights.

My mom arrived on Thursday for a 6 week stay - yay!  Having family around is great, but having family around that can watch children is the greatest.  We are excited for 6 weeks of having slightly more breathing space in our schedules.

On Friday she texted me "what is the number for 911 here"?  This is a highly disconcerting text.  I texted back "999" and then walked over to see what was happening (she stays in a flat around the corner from me).

My mom was standing outside a woman's house, clearly on the phone to 999, while an elderly woman with a walker yelled "help, help, help" from her window. "Call the ambulance I need help" she yelled.  She was in her mid 90s, I didn't know her at all except she has waved cheerfully from her window at me many times.

I told my mom there wasn't any reason to call 999 - where we live there are almost no ambulances or health service left, and certainly not for people who aren't dying.  

Unfortunately, this left the question, what did the woman need?  We kept telling her that it's OK, that we would help, and holding her hand through the window.  She kept yelling for help.  People kept walking by.  

One man slowed down a bit, to the point where it would have been socially unacceptable for him to keep walking, and asked if we were OK.  "Not really" I said "I don't know this lady and she's screaming for help and I'm not sure what to do".  He knocked on the neighbors door (good idea!) then told us that the neighbor had called the woman's son but that he really had to go.

The woman was upset when she saw him leaving.  "Please don't leave me, please don't leave" she kept saying.

I noticed her walker was jammed under her sofa, against the window she was half out out.  I helped maneuver it/her back, and then realized that she had gotten stuck against the window, yelling for help.  With her walker freed she opened the door of her house.

So we went inside, and told her to sit down.  My mom helped her go to the bathroom.  She must have been stuck against the window for some time.  I found the number for a dementia service that visited.  I found her phone but the mobile had no charge, and I couldn't figure out whether to just try and redial the last landline number she called, assuming it was probably family?

The dementia care number led me to someone who called the women's son again.  shortly after that the daughter in law arrived.  We went home. 

On reflection, this is why I want to know my neighbors better.  I know it's against the grain, but I think community is meant to be built locally.  No amount of digital connection could help that woman, when she needed help.  We all have such wide social circles we are cultivating on the internet, but how will those circles help us when we are 95 years old with our walkers stuck against our sofas?  

Holiday Anticipation

Isaac and I are off on holiday tomorrow.  We're going to Cumbria on an adventure.  It's a big adventure!  A 6 hour train ride to get there.  Visiting my best friend.  Why does my best friend live so far away?  

We are staying for 3 nights.  3 nights away from the little. I've only ever been away from her for 24 hours before.

I think Isaac is going to love split parent holiday.  I can't wait to see what 3 days with just the big is.  

Also, he's 4, which means his train travel is free!  But please cross your fingers for empty seats, because if not he will have to sit on my lap, and 6 hours of train will go slow with 40 pounds of toddler on my lap.

The end of the trip is the biggest adventure - we are flying home.  First we are taking a 2 hour train, then a 30 minute tram, then a 1 hour flight, then a 30 minute bus, then another 1 hour train and finally a 30 minute bus.  

It's basically a transport adventure, with 3 days of seeing my best friend in the middle.  

I am very excited.

Wednesday: Musings on the new normal of hybrid, and some photos of pumpkins.

Like many people, I did the pandemic job hunt and started a new role in august 2022.  The office is 2 hours from my house, but I only go once a week. The weird thing about starting a job 2 hours away, but which is 80% remote, is that a decision to go into the office is a decision to not be home for 13 hours in a row.  When I worked in an office I never chose between seeing my family and going to the office.  I went to the office (early and tired) and left at exactly 4:30 (early and tired) and saw my family (while being tired) and rather stressfully "balanced" both.  

In this new set up, overall I get a lot more quality time with the family. I always pick the kids up by 5:15, and many days I drop them off at 8:15 and still start work on time.   I can cook better dinners by prepping over my lunch break.  I can get menial house-life things done during the work day, like vacuuming or laundry.

Sometimes I find myself resisting my long office day.  It is far, and expensive, and I do spend a lot of it on teams anyways.  But when I go to the office... it's usually good.  It's good to get out of my house.  It's good to remember how to talk to colleagues and to meet new people.  Today I got a drink with a colleague after work.  It's hard to meet new people socially in a remote setting.  

I've realized I need to be a lot more intentional about my different days.  I need to set up in-person meetings during my office days.  I need to try and plan a post work social drink, if I can.  I need make sure my office days flow and feel very differently than my home days.  Office days are not a worse version of home days - office days should be a completely different part of my role.  

Tomorrow, a home day, is a day for planning and prioritizing my work for the remainder of the year.  

In non work news, here are three things that bring me joy today:

Our table, set by the kids, for a dollies picnic.  The kids have never set the table before, but apparently know how, and dollies enjoyed their tea party.  "Dollies drink air" Isaac told me, because I would not put water in any of the cups.

Lilah and Isaac did some exploring with flashlights.  Kids love flashlights.  Kids love tupperware.

My pumpkin collection is on point and I love looking at all of them and thinking about what I will make with all of them. And then I love eating all of them.  I love pumpkins.

Five on a Tuesday

If this post seems a bit... scatty... it's because I am still doing #NaBloPoMo and getting a blog post written on a scatty day is still a blog post!

1) Today I did a 15 minute Barre3 Stretching video before work.  Thank you Barre3 for including stretching!  It was great and much needed.

2) The kids are hopefully going to nursery tomorrow, for the first time since October 29th and hopefully healthy enough to last the day.  We are all still varying degrees of general winter ill.  Why is it that ill kids want to run around and bounce off the walls and ill adults want to sleep?  

3) I went to bed at 8:30 last night, after taking a long bath, and had a great sleep, only waking up at 2:30am for a while before getting back to sleep without reading or listening to an audiobook.  Sometimes the fear I won't be able to fall back asleep is worse than the actual waking up.

4) I have two work overnights in the next two months, which I am trying to be excited about, but I'm not sure whether I actually want a job with travel.  I know life is lived in hours and I love everything Laura Vanderkam writes about career/kids, but what if instead of being around for most bedtimes I want to be around for all bedtimes?  What if I want to miss no breakfasts?  What if I like sleeping in the same bed as my husband every night?  What if I like routine more than travel...?  This is especially odd coming from me, since I moved to Wales specifically because I loved travel and wanted to travel all the time.  

5) I started reading Tranquility by Tuesday yesterday and it was definitely the right choice - thanks Elisabeth.  On page 2 Laura summed up my current state perfectly:"You can keep the plates spinning. With your calendars and your planners you are very good at that, but the performance can consume so much effort that it's easy to become aggravated about the little things. Life can feel like a slog"  I am going to read more right now.