Time perception is a funny thing. I said to myself several times this week, “Wait, it’s still September?” We left for our Yellowstone trip on August 26, meaning that Wednesday this week had been one month since that flight. It seems like a lifetime ago. Much memorable and new happened, and as I learned from Lila Davachi’s TED talk, more memories means more time.
However, we are starting to get into more of a routine at this point (which, sure enough, is starting to make the time speed up). Between Labor Day, and the various Jewish holidays, this week was actually our first full week of school. I feel pretty good about how everyone is transitioning. I went to the middle school open house on Tuesday night and ran through my kid’s schedule. I mean literally ran, as we got 10 minutes per class and then a 4-minute passing period between, complete with a bell. I have not changed classes with a bell since 10th grade. I am not a fan of changing classes with a bell. BUT I liked my kid’s teachers and programs and I feel like he is in good hands.
The 3-year-old is also adjusting to preschool. And he is sleeping! This has been a long time in coming, but on the nights I put him to bed, I can usually just kiss him good night, turn out the lights and walk out. He stays in his bed! And in the morning, he’s been playing quietly or looking at books until it’s time to get up. Indeed, when I checked this morning, he told me he would come down for breakfast a little later, because he was finishing a story. I hardly dare write this because I don’t want to jinx myself, but it is amazing how much easier life is getting as he gets older.
My second kid turned 9 earlier this week. He asked for (and got) a Nintendo Labo kit, which has turned out to be the neatest thing. It’s an accessory kit for his Nintendo Switch. He’s built a remote controlled cardboard car, a steering kit for a motorcycle driving game, and is now working on a fishing kit. (He does this all himself — I enjoy seeing how he likes problem solving. This kid is also my coder and Lego robot builder). If anyone has kids who like video games and putting stuff together, I’d highly recommend this as an option.
My mother-in-law is coming to visit for a while, and we successfully finished cleaning out and re-doing the guest room before her arrival (see photo of the new chair, lamp, and cleaned off desk). Phew!
Juliet’s School of Possibilities comes out in a little less than 6 months. I’ve also started working on a new novel (with a tentative title borrowed from a post-that-went-viral: The Norwegian Secret to Enjoying Winter). I really like the main character, so it’s funny to think that he only exists in my head. With all the character sketching I’ve done, I feel like I know him. Now I just need to figure out how to introduce him to everyone else!
Laughing out loud at the little one telling you he had to finish his story before he could come down to breakfast! It has taken a while and it has not been easy but how wonderful!
Your guest room looks so cute! I love the chair- a lot of guest rooms offer just a bed for seating. It makes it look more like a private little living area.
@Sarah K – thank you so much! A chair with a lamp really does make a room look put together. It’s nothing shy of amazing.