Welcome to anyone checking in on the weekend. I hope you’ve been able to successfully track your time, even if you haven’t necessarily been at your desk or laptop (or even on your phone).
The 5-year-old came home at 5 yesterday, so I grabbed my laptop and finished a few things while hanging out with him. Then my husband and he played video games together (I am not thrilled about all these games but they do enjoy spending the time together), so I hung out for a bit and started cooking around 5:45. This was the 10-year-old’s birthday dinner: make-your-own-pizza and mac and cheese. We ate around 6:15 as a family. I mostly cleaned up after and then I played the piano for 15 minutes or so, sight-reading from a book I got for Christmas, until we did cake and presents at 7:30.
The 10-year-old got a few video games, some art canvases, a customized figure from Funko Pop, and a 3D printing pen from his cousins. He quite liked the last one and made me a thing that says “I [heart] mom.” Very cute!
I then escaped to my room to read the Economist for an hour (I assume more video games were happening at this time). This time I was able to focus on the special report on economics in Africa — a task which had eluded me on previous nights. At about 9:15 I finally managed to get the 5-year-old into his room. We did some more of those 4+ Legos (as in, I did the set and he mostly watched) and then I sat with him as he fell asleep. I chatted with the older kids, made sure the older boys were ready for an early morning, and was in my bed by 10:30.
I briefly got up at 5:15, went back to bed, and was up for good at 6. I went to make sure the two older boys got up, and helped them get out the door in their dress clothes (with ties!) by 6:30. They are off at a technology competition all day.
I slowly then got myself ready, hanging around the quiet house, until I got in the car around 7:10. I met a friend to run on a nearby trail. It wasn’t that cold (like 33 degrees) but the air was really damp, which made it feel a lot chillier. We ran 5 miles, chatted for a bit, then I drove home, stopping to get gas on the way.
I was home around 9:15, and ate a bigger breakfast. I took my shower, watched my husband and 5-year-old win a video game together, and helped the 5-year-old get dressed (he is better at video games than dressing himself). Then (10 a.m.) he went off with his Saturday sitter for a few hours. My husband took the 10-year-old to go try on his diving equipment at a dive shop around 30 minutes away. He will be getting certified over the next few weeks. I tried to convince the 13-year-old to go to the art museum with me but she was…not excited. So I went on my own!
This is probably something I should do more often because it was so easy. I was in the car at 10:40. I parked at the art museum at 11:05, and was in looking at exhibits by 11:10 (we’re members). I enjoyed lots of impressionist works and a few other things that caught my eye. I will admit that I partly did this in order to have a little adventure to write about during my tracking week but…I was glad I went! I was back to the car by 11:55, thus getting free parking (first hour is free for members) and home by 12:20.
I ate lunch, then at 12:45 I drove my daughter to Old Navy (she found this more interesting than the art museum) and we shopped for a bit. We got a few things, stopped at Starbucks, and were home by 2. Then she and I stuffed goodie bags for the 10-year-old’s party on Monday. I did a tiny bit of work, sent out the family schedule for the week, and now I am typing this.
It looks like we’ll be getting snow tomorrow but the good news is I don’t have to drive around too much! Most things are local for me at least. There is a swim meet but my husband is covering that. I’ll likely be watching the Eagles at 3.
Hope your weekend is going well!
Friday
4:30 pm work
5 work (watching H)
5:30 hangout, start cooking
6 cook, eat dinner w/family
6:30 eat w/family, clean up
7 piano, hangout
7:30 cake + presents
8 kids, read Economist
8:30 read Economist
9 read, H Legos
9:30 H into bed, kids, etc.
10 A, ready bed
10:30 in bed/sleep
Saturday
5 5:15 bathroom, sleep
5:30 sleep
6 up, boys up, coffee
6:30 boys go, ready, hangout
7 ready, drive/Beethoven (listen)
7:30 run w/friend
8 run (5 miles), chat
8:30 chat, drive, gas
9 home, breakfast
9:30 shower, dress, H video game, dress him
10 G here, R chat, ready
10:30 to car, drive downtown
11 park, art museum
11:30 art museum, to car
12 drive, home, lunch
12:30 lunch, drive w/R
1 Old Navy shop
1:30 Starbucks, home
2 gift bags, work
2:30 admin, work
Photo: Wintry trail. I will admit it looks a little bleak. But thanks to yesterday’s 40 degree temps at least most of the snow/ice was gone so it was passable.
What video games does your five-year-old like playing with your husband? So far Paul only has an iPad, but I kinda like the idea of playing video games with a parent to make it more interactive to some extent?
I ended up delaying my time tracking for a week, so I will start on Monday. This past week was just way too abnormal with so much resting, reading, etc. Next week won’t be normal either but more normal than this past week!
@Lisa- yes, your week was definitely abnormal! We have an xbox – two in fact. They usually play on that. We have a big screen in a “movie room” that works for group playing. Not something I would have prioritized in a house but hey!
Thanks for all the tips & questions on the time tracking, Laura.
It helps a lot.
@Running Rooster- so glad you’re finding them helpful!