Happy New (School) Year, Moms!
We are beginning our third week back -- I've taken two weeks' hiatus, did you notice?
It was not necessarily by plan or choice, but as a result of my experiences, I have some very important advice for parents, on Back To School:
TAKE IT EASY!!! -- Breathe -- Relax -- Recover
And then give yourself a week -- two or three, even; maybe it should be one week of recovery for each child Back To School (I still have one week left, in that case!) -- to get back into the swing of things.
I know whereof I speak:
Our first week Back To School, two weeks ago, I went a little further than crazy. I tend to be an Overachiever (not always in a good way), and too-frequently test the limits of sanity (my own, and that of everyone around me, even Mocha-the-dog, who is the only one who really listens to me, anyway, until she finally gets up and walks away to lay down in another,
quieter room).
Anyway, I decided the kids were Back To School, hubby was Back To Work (after our wonderful 20th Anniversary getaway long weekend)...I should be Back To SOMETHING, too.
So in the first week of school, you know, aside from all the shopping for school supplies and preparation for getting three kids organized at two different schools; getting everybody back on the school schedule and homework routines; with three homemade lunches to pack every morning; I decided I could also handle the following:
- A Major Project Proposal I wanted to get out on Monday;
- Negotiate a Two-Book Deal w/my agent on Tuesday;
- Keep up with Rebel Housewife Blogs, Reviews & Contests as usual;
- Get the whole house back in order and FINALLY catch up with the laundry!
I bought a new DayRunner (outside)/Franklin Covey(guts) organizer -- the 2008 Weekly Planning Pages were $1.00 (normally $30) for the entire year's package at
Office Depot. I thought that was a great deal for five months' calendar pages I needed (August - December) and I would be all organized and efficient in no time at all.
(Hah.)
I decided to work out everyday with the new
Wii Fit, while the kids were gone I would finally have a chance at the video games! That's a whole 'nother story, but that is actually the only thing I have managed to do consistently, at least for the last two weeks -- and today! -- and I am very proud of myself, for figuring it out and for keeping at it -- and, I have actually lost ONE POUND (only 19 to go)! And it's kind of fun -- no, really pretty fun, actually -- and interactive, so there you go.
As far as everything else...yeah well, it went downhill quickly: on Tuesday, I teleconferenced with my (once and now-former) agent, who brought me right back to reality on the current state of the publishing biz (not so good) and our chances (worse), without a whole lot of work. By Wednesday, I was commiserating with my best friend over lunch, which only remained non-alcoholic because the particular restaurant doesn't serve Mommy Margaritas at noon...and by Thursday, I had my first knock-down (figuratively), drag-out STALEMATE with
13yo Puberty Angst Boy (8th grade) over homework and Bonus Points:
Why would you NOT do an assignment to turn in Friday (not to have to worry about it all weekend) for an EXTRA 10 BONUS POINTS?! (Especially when it's not like you're not going to NEED those points, at some point, based on last year's grade report...)
13yo Puberty Angst Boy response:
"But it's not DUE until MONDAY..."
(That's the very short version of a long argument -- I left the dinner table and hid out in my bedroom with a book; he did NOT play his online computer game all night; nor did he do the assignment.)
Aaarrrggghhhh -- is it just ME? Really?
So, trust me, dear Readers -- Happy New (School) Year, Moms!
TAKE IT EASY--