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I started the week with a comedy of errors: I accidentally popped out a filling and will be dealing with a massive hole in my molar until the dentist can fit me in sometime in the next two weeks. I got stung by a hornet or yellow jacket while moving pigs on pasture and had a localized allergic reaction. We’re also dealing with a fox snatching our chickens and our attempts to trap him have been frustratingly unsuccessful. Thankfully, God is gracious and knew I needed one small win: our first week of school went smoothly and without complaint!
This week was all about figuring out a new routine with six school-aged kids: what subjects can be completed independently vs. what do I need to be present for, is it too much work or too little? and on and on. Like every year, fitting in household chores is the last puzzle piece; when do I even have time to do the laundry?! Dinner was also a poorly planned hodgepodge. Oh well…it will all work its way out in time.
The science experiments for Week 1 were a big hit. In seventh grade, my son dropped M&Ms in water and vegetable oil and we were surprised to discover that the “m” on the candy is made from edible paper! When put in water, the candy will dissolve, but the “m” will float to the top. My littlest boys learned about light and shadows and watched their chalk-traced shadow move throughout the day. So fun.
Baby steps from burnout update: I have put on some weight (ahem…) and my ill-fitting clothes have put a damper on my desire to dress nicely. So with my husband’s encouragement, I decided to buy some items in my current size. I am firmly in the camp that you can be realistic about the body you have right now while also working toward a healthier one in the future. Weight is what it is and I don’t find my identity in the number, but I do know what size makes me feel best. My box from ThredUp arrived this week and I was pleased with about 90% of it. Now I’ll be able to feel a little more confident in clothes that actually fit while working toward my health goals.
I decided that my early mornings with the dog (hours before anyone wakes up!) could be an opportunity to start a new mother culture habit. Currently working my way through Land of Hope: An Invitation to the Great American Story, Pioneer Priests and Makeshift Altars: A History of Catholicism in the Thirteen Colonies, and The Secret Diary of Elisabeth Leseur. All really good so far! I’m learning a lot.
