January 25th, 2012 -- Posted in EZ-blog Oven, domestic engineering, family, knitty/stitchy, life as a mom, pain / disability |
So not only have things not improved in the past 2 months, they have gotten much worse…
In December, I tried my best to give my kids a “normal” Christmas, but of course, I overdid it. Even though I kept cutting back my ToDo list, I couldn’t keep up. Of all my ambitions, many weren’t realized. For instance, I had planned to put an adorable hand-knit hat (or scarf) on the head (or neck) of many many a close friend’s young child! But I only ended up finishing 1 scarf in time to give for the actual day.
I did most of my shopping early, I did a lot of it online. I started wrapping early. I set lower standards for myself (like “only” making 12 handmade cards). I tried to “pace” myself as much as I could (I still have not learned if that’s an official thing you can learn and apply to pain in a unique way, but I just spread things out in a common sense way!). But still, I totally crashed…
continue reading »
September 15th, 2011 -- Posted in family, life as a mom, scrappy / stampy |
This blog post may seem a little late, but the last of our teacher cards were only delivered this month, so I’d say it seems about even!
My son’s cards went out to his teachers on time (at the end of June), but my daughter, who was greatly opposed to the idea of appreciation cards or gifts (apparently this is just “not done” at the middle school level), left them in her bag where they suffered water damage at an end-of-the-year pool party…
They were then found later in the summer, rescued from the enveloppes (which had to be tossed), repackaged, and given directly to the office at the beginning of the new school year. I had compromised by not adding gift cards to the coffee stores inside but this year I may be less inclined to agree to any plans proposed by such an unreliable letter-carrier.
Thankfully, these pics of the cards were taken before the water damage…
continue reading »
June 5th, 2011 -- Posted in domestic engineering, family, life as a mom |
Dear June,
I’ve got a bone to pick with you! You are by far, one of the busiest months of the year for moms of school-aged kids!
You aren’t quite spring, but aren’t quite summer. All the regular school-year activities still haven’t come to a stop, and yet the summer season of spots and activities has just started! This means parents are left juggling soccer practices alongside Beavers, dance classes (and end-of-year recitals!), swim lessons, etc.
Then there’s the teacher gifts and cards! Pressure to find the “perfect” gift to show your appreciation looms overhead the whole month, as time ticks on. I’m lucky that I’m able to design and create hand-made cards to add a special personal touch, but still this doesn’t count as a full gift. Getting the kids to sign the cards is another matter (try handing them over when your child wants to watch a TV show: “You can continue to watch as long as you work on these cards too” – yes, I know, it’s an act of desperation!).
All the spring and summer transition work continues as well… sending all the winter gear to the basement (finding all the lost mitts and wondering why so many of them don’t have their buddy!). Sorting through all the clothes, shopping for new ones (wondering why your son’s pants from last year are now all “capris”!)… it’s time consuming and expensive (my favourite combo! ).
Oh yes, June, you are full of too much work for parents, and then to top it off, you entice us outside! Finally having nice weather (especially for us Canadians who have had extended winter weather… June is the first month we can guarantee to not have snow!) pulls us outside, which is the opposite of getting things done. Well, except the yardwork… all the garden prep and grass de-thatching and starting to mow and water the lawn again. And don’t forget all the sunscreen!
It’s a wonder we can get anything done at all! I just may go on strike!
