Working it some more! And having fun!

Oh yes, life is good.  I had another evening of doing my thing at another school's Open House, promoting the program that I volunteer with.  It's really coming together!  We have more volunteers, which we desperately needed.  It is just, oh, so good.

I also had lunch today with one of my most joyful friends.  She always sees a silver lining in life, and doesn't let nothing get her down.  It's very inspiring.  (Incidentally, she and her husband celebrated their 19th wedding anniversary this year.  They are a great couple.)  We had Arabic food, a first for both of us.  I ordered chicken shwarma, with fattoush salad, the best hummous I've ever had, delightful pita, yummy rice, and red cabbage.  Yum!!  Now that all of our kiddies are in school full-time, and I had a day 'off', we were able to spend time together, just the two of us.  Usually we would have our kids in tow.  It was a delightful time.

Overall, I'd have to say that this new medicine I'm taking is really, really helping me to chill out and stress less.  That's such a wonderful feeling.  I would have been feeling very guilty for taking time for pleasure instead of doing housework and downsizing my piles of useless crap... but no, I'm pretty much okay with taking time for me today.  The crap will always be here, either more or less of it, and I've come to accept that.  I will work at it, when I can, and in the meantime we will live happily together, my crap and I.

The medicine is also helping me to deal with the occasional meltdown that happens (when my boys don't get their way).  An explosion of negative energy would usually send me spiraling downhill, into a type of panic attack, where I feel physically ill, and am shaking.  Not this week.  I survived the meltdown unscathed.  It was a clearly identifiable improvement.

Other delightful things I'm doing this week include donating blood (my 2nd time, I'm very happy that I can be a blessing for someone else in this capacity), going to weekday mass once (what a great way to start the day!), and spending time resting when my body needs it.

That is what matters to me most.  No need to feel guilty about taking care of those things that matter most.  That's exactly how it should be.  I trust that everything else will fall into place, when I spend my time and energy on that which feeds my soul.

Working a crowd

It's been a long time since I've been out in the community, interacting with others and making connections.  I did that tonight!  It feels great!  I made up a presentation board for the children's group I volunteer with, and I handed out bookmarks to kids at a school Open House night.  I spoke to some of the moms about helping us as a volunteer, and some said yes.  Yay!  I also noticed how many hot young male teachers there were on staff at this school.  Yowza!  I mean, they could have been former Chippendales.  Totally.  Hot.

This is one of the very few evenings I have been out of the house at the boys' bedtime.  And amazingly, when I came home, they were fast asleep!  Yay for my Mom, who was looking after the boys.  She rocks.

I'm so excited about being the co-ordinator for this program, and having responsibilities, and working with the other volunteer who is equally enthusiastic, bouncing ideas off each other.  It's fantastic!  This is what I've missed while being a stay-at-home single mom.  I'm so glad for this opportunity to experience a change of pace.

Smooth start to the year

So far so good!  The oldest has been great with going to school this year.  There were lots of tears last year, but this year, he's proud to be one of the 'big boys' in the next grade, and he's already established friendships from last year, so he's cruising.  It's great to see.

Tomorrow is the big day for my youngest!  It's his first full day of school.  I can't believe it!  I wonder how he'll be in the morning.  Is he going to be a brave soul and march off to his classroom with his head held high, or will he go in kicking and screaming and trying to follow me out the door?  Only time will tell!  And, will the teacher have to call me in the middle of the day to come and pick him up?  Could happen!  Anything could happen.

I hope it's going to be a good day, and that the smooth start continues it's trend throughout the week.

All wound up

Here I am, after the first day of school, and I feel like my head is spinning.  I'm not even the student!

My two boys both met their new teachers today, and I was just a ball of anxiety getting them ready.  We were all ready in record time this morning, and I swear we were the first family that arrived at school.  Crazy!!  I can't be that organized all the time.  Do you know how difficult that was for me?  Incredibly!!  Now I feel like I need a weekend to recover, but it's only Tuesday.  Sigh....

I was so proud of my oldest!  He was excited to see his friends again, and thank goodness his best buddy was still in his class this year.  I know that made it a lot easier for him to transition back.

The youngest went for his first classroom visit, and his first full day is later this week.  I'm sure that will be an emotional day for me!  I'm just not psychologically ready to see him 'go'.... and I'm terribly worried that he may not be ready.  In many ways he is ready, but it still might not work out for him.  Time will tell.  I'm just a mess!! I am worried about how he's going to manage with changing his shoes, getting his jacket on and off, etc.  I think he's emotionally ready, and he'll do fine with the activities I'm sure.  It's all the little things, the being independent, without having me there to help with whatever he needs.  I'm not good at creating independence in my sons.  I hope he learns quick 'on the job', out of necessity.  Sink or swim time!

And then my other worry is that I'm completely, flat broke.  Like, seriously.  No kidding.  I am so bad at managing money.  Usually I just get lucky, and somehow it all works out.  But not this month.  So, I'm doing what I can to make sure I survive.  I've got two weeks until more money arrives.  Time to get creative.  Explore my options.  Make it work.  Somehow.

Basically dude, I just need to CHILL.