Getting Back in the Groove

"G" for Groove.

Whew! After having two weeks off from work, I truly realize how busy a work week is and why the house gets to be the disaster it is. I LOVED the break because the house got cleaned, I didn't have to take too much time to tidy up, and I felt relaxed. The thing was, I had the time to tidy up each day, and put the dishes on the drainboard away.

Now, I'm back to work and it feels like things are stacking up: junk mail, clean dishes to put away (at least they are clean, right?), grocery lists to make, laundry to do....I wish every work day felt like a vacation day, relaxing, don't you? But that's just not possible.

As I mentioned in an earlier post, it takes a certain mindset to keep sane in all the chaos and busy-ness. I have to tell myself that this just is the way it is, and move ahead.

For instance, we used to put my son to bed and be able to watch a 7 o'clock show. Now he's not down until almost 8 and doesn't go to sleep until about 8:45, calling out every 10 minutes or so for something or another, "I finished this book...want another!" "My tummy hurts. Need kiss." "Mommy, I don't want you to come...(though that's what he wants). That's a new normal and I just mentally need to accept it, be happy in it, and move on, because my son is awesome and healthy, and I have a lot to appreciate. Even if I can't watch a show even at 8 o'clock now, without pushing pause every so often to see what he needs. I know, I could be the meanie Mommy and tell him, "Go to sleep or else," but he's just not tired it seems, and truly enjoys the downtime in his room by himself, even if he has to check in from time to time.

My son is starting a new preschool tomorrow and I am excited for him. We went to tour it Tuesday and he didn't want to leave! He kept saying, "No leave Mommy. This is MY school!" I think he's going to love it. It will set us into another new normal though, in that I'll actually get to leave a little later each morning. It is attached to where I work, which will be WONDERFUL, and also different, in that I used to run errands before I picked him up, and now, well, we will be a team! I realize in all of this that I think he is ready for such adventures, and a lot more responsible than he once was, when he would take off in the blink of an eye. I'm actually REALLY enjoying him at this age (3 years and 2 months). He understands expectations, we can talk about things, it is a blast.

So while I'm getting back into the groove this week, I'll be getting in new grooves, with the new preschool and expectations, making school lunches and snacks. It is all really pretty exciting.

What kind of new grooves are you going through right now?