Monday, August 5, 2013

10 Things I Learned In July

At the end of each month, I write a post about things I learned. This practice has helped me pay attention to life. Some lessons are deep, some are mundane.

In no particular order, here are 10 things I learned in July:

1. I am very grateful for my husband. After a 10-day stretch of him being away, I was particularly thankful that he manages our property and tenants, mixes amazing drinks, and plays hide-and-go-seek with Aaron when I'm over it.

2. Triple cream Brie is blow-your-mind good, and totally worth the extra money (and calories).

3. Amidst all the Trayvon Martin news and subsequent conversations about race and power, I am more aware than ever that I have my own prejudices. 

4. If you get stuck in an airport with two tired kids because of a cancelled flight, it's best to just laugh and visit the airport Dunkin' Donuts.

5. I need daily quiet rest time as much as my kids do, usually for about an hour in the afternoon. It helps me refresh, and be less prone to crankiness and Mom Tantrums.

6. Honeycomb Candy (my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE thing to get at See's Candy) can be made at home. You can't see me right now, but I'm doing a happy dance.

7. Anticipating a month of Aaron being on summer break is stressing me out. Long, extended weeks of managing two kids (with two sets of needs and napping schedules) starts to wear on me, and I'm trying to set up the month with various rhythms and activities that will allow us all to thrive. Freezer meals, anyone?

8. My perfect s'more: one marshmallow toasted evenly to a caramel brown, topped with semi-melted dark chocolate, and sandwiched between two graham crackers. None of that double or triple-decker business, and definitely no charred-in-flames marshmallow.

9. Pandora is all the music I need.

10. After a year of nursing my daughter, I am feeling ready to be done. 

2 comments:

  1. Love reading about all you've been learning. Any tips to share about how to get that hour quiet time with two kids? Do you enforce a quiet time with Aaron?

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    1. Haha...yeah, it's a challenge with two kids, huh? Yes, we have Aaron do a "quiet rest time" every day from about 2-3pm. Most days he naps for 1 1/2 to 2 hours. But even on the days he doesn't fall asleep, he knows that he's not supposed to get up until the digital clock (very important device!) says "3." Since Alex takes an afternoon nap, we just put them down at the same time - Alex in the kids' room, Aaron on our bed.

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