Today Josh and I spent the morning talking to a grief counselor to set up sessions for Hunter. We figure he doesn’t need much but would love to set up a therapist for him so he has the tools and the dialogue to use when he needs it. Josh and I just don’t have any idea how to proceed with this… and a neutral person, outside of the family, to talk to may be just what Hunter needs. He tries to talk to us but it is a stunted conversation that he stops if he sees me getting too sad…
Today is the day. I say that every Monday, as I see Monday as the day of the week worthy of mini-resolutions. Far from stressing me out, it creates a sense of order and renewal within me. As soon as I have finished packing the kid’s lunches, I sit and eat breakfast, notepad by my side, planning my week every Monday morning. I don’t go too grandiose. I make a giant list of everything I can think of: from “clean out the pantry” to “make hard-boiled eggs”. Those items are amazingly different! The pantry could take me two hours whereas…
Hunter turned 6 years old on Friday, January 20th. My children turning one year older is not something I take for granted, as I used to. Hunter’s birthday was full of joy tinged with sadness. He mourned the fact that his friend B. couldn’t celebrate with him as she was so excited for his birthday this year. We talked to the moon, where she lives, and we made her an invitation and a goodie bag in case her spirit made the trip. Hunter was able to let those rituals lift his mood a little bit and was able to celebrate…
I felt crushed by clutter when I came across the Konmari Method and her book, The Magic Art of Tidying Up. I did not have a hoarder’s palace, by any means, but every time I had to go from tiny pile to another tiny pile of stuff to find what I was looking for, I felt dispirited, my energy sucked dry. Frustrated also became a common emotion; like an old friend, it would hang out in the back of my heart ready to jump out and squeeze my lungs until my frustrated, shallow breaths became a norm. I could feel…
Well, we made it to the end of the week! It has been freezing cold here and my kids have been going a little stir crazy. I have been distracting them with chores, playing with their new Christmas gifts and movies. Isabella has been watching the blu-ray of Anne of Green Gables that we borrowed from the library. I used to have the VHS of it (just dated myself) and I watched it until I wore it out. I was Anne growing up, from age 8 onwards, once I found my voice. I was so excited for Isabella to see…
Hello! Today I feel nearly recovered from my cold. Our family was sick for a month and a half with tiny breaks in between where we were well. It was brutal. I had the flu, a cold, another cold and then the worst cold of all! I currently have a nose that could light the way for Santa’s sleigh, it is that red. I have the driest skin on my lips of all time and my adult acne has returned thanks to the effects of cold pills and subsisting on comfort food (every night is GF pasta night!). I also…
It is a new year! I am wishing you all a….. There is so much pressure to perform better, faster, stronger and more efficiently in the new year. When I was in my twenties, I would write down all of these super-lofty “be perfect” goals the night before New Year’s eve. I would go out New Year’s eve with all the pressure of having the “best night ever!!” and try to have fun. The introvert in me wanted to stay in, but I felt that I would be seen as weird not wanting to go out, so…
Okay, so does anyone love tsum tsums as much as I do? ( I know you do!) I bought a little plastic one for my kids and I fell in love with it more than they did. In fact, my son Hunter gave me his Buzz Lightyear one. Perhaps it is because it reminds me of the cuteness of toys and the rage of collecting while I was in Japan in my early twenties? Stuff like this was everywhere in Japan! Maybe it is my addiction to everything cute? Nostalgia? Not sure, but I vowed to buy 1 and have 5…..…
Isabella is talkative and opinionated, quick to argue her point or get angry about the injustices of the world (she has a temper). She gets mad when upset- and confrontational. Hunter is quietly talkative, quick to hide in his room and draw or play Lego, and wants a hug when there is unfairness apparent to him. He gets tearful and whiny when upset- and withdrawn. They are both Highly Sensitive Children! I speak a lot about their highly sensitive nature but I haven’t explained it properly for a long time. Anyone with a highly sensitive child will have read the…
Hey! We have been sick. Tis the season, I guess. (You get the flu! And you get the flu! And you get the flu! -haha) My kids threw up for 3 days straight, a break of a couple days, then again threw up for a couple of days. Despite early bedtimes, drinking lots of water, and eating a lot of garlic and oranges. We tried to be proactive but sometimes the germs are stronger. It was rough. Isabella usually throws up a max of three times but threw up 6 times in one night. I was the only one of…