Well, just when we thought life was going back to normal after the holidays – BAM – snow. Of course, as former beachdwellers, our kids were beyond thrilled about this. And, honestly, the excuse to not leave my house at all was pretty awesome. (I couldn’t recall the last day I hadn’t left my house and gotten in the car.) Of course, we were stir crazy and by day three the kids were kind of driving us nuts with the bickering, but overall, it felt pretty fun. We made fresh cinnamon swirl bread, the kids took big, hot bubble baths, we watched movies and had the fire going, we took walks in the woods, the kids did some sledding, and, overall, we reveled in the seasons and the change.
Now, REALLY, things are back to normal. Work hours, teaching fitness, music and sports lessons, and school is back in. I am also working hard on my goals for 2020 (setting and settling in to them) as well as preparing for the new year with a clean slate. But for now, it’s the weekend!
Our favorite Instagram we’ve shared this week:
Our Family Friday Five picks this week include:
1 – This article on Qustodio discussing the appropriate age (and why it matters) to give kids their own phones.
2- I got this dryer brush for Christmas and I LOVE it. How has it taken me 41 tears to have this in my life?! It makes coaxing my hair to look professionally styled so much easier.
3- I am reading this book right now (well, listening to it on Audible) and it certainly is making me take a long, hard look at some things in my life. It is wildly popular, and I get why.
4- I have been hearing a lot about this book, and even made my sons be quiet in the car so I could hear a full interview with the author on NPR the other day. It intrigues me. Calhoun speaks to exactly what I feel currently (her statements make me tear up, actually). And while I am not an active care-giver for aging parents right now thanks for those blessings), I know those days will be coming. So Calhoun’s article in The Atlantic seems prescient.
“Take time for yourself,” the women’s magazines say. “Practice self-care.” What they mean is that once a week I should take an hour for highlights or a massage or an exercise class. What I hear is that I should treat myself by paying someone to help me look less tired than I am, because no one wants to see that. And I do some of those things. But the only thing I’ve found that actually helps is being in the company of other women, like the one I sat with for that hour in front of the school. Laughing about school admissions, about the cold, about how ridiculous it all is, that’s what we really need—not self-care, but solace.
5- I really want this sweater. Because I wear my heart on my sleeve…literally?
From the archives:
Looking for some New Years inspiration?
We hope your 2020 is starting off great! Have a wonderful weekend and, remember, the best trip is a family one.