Monday, June 29, 2009

Ready, Set...

Today is the next to the last day of June. Which means that Wednesday is July 1st. Which means that a month of summer vacation is almost over. And I have done nothing. Well, not nothing exactly. I have gone to the movies and played a lot and read a lot and spent a night at the hospital. But I have done nothing on my mile long to do list. You see, I am going to be teaching this fall. Half day kindergarten. And I know that it is hard, extremely hard, to be a working mom. And I've only ever done it with two kids. Now I have three. But the good thing is, I know it's hard. So I have a plan. My plan is to be prepared and ultra-organized so that things go smoothly. I have about 7 weeks until it's time to start working in my classroom. That's 7 weeks to cross off everything on my list.

The first thing on my list is to be spiritually and emotionally healthier. I know from experience that that makes a world of difference in all areas of my life. So I have been praying and reading my Bible more. I have been spending quiet time outside every day. I have been trying to focus on being who I want to be in those areas of my life. But I know that it's a life long process. I am taking it one day at a time.

The next thing on my list is to make sure my body is healthy so that I have the energy that it takes to be a good wife and mom and a good kindergarten teacher. And believe me, that takes a lot of energy. (Five year olds suck the energy right out of you!) So healthier eating and more exercise are on my list. And that's going to take some adjustment. Why is it so hard anyway?

Next on my list is to get my house in order. I live with at least 3 packrats. (I don't know about Julianna, yet.) So there is a lot of stuff in our house. And I don't do well with clutter and so I HAVE to deal with that before school starts. I have been encouraging the other members of the family to help me with that and they are starting to which is good, but we have a long way to go. I am hoping to throw away, give away, and sell lots and lots of our "stuff." Then I can breathe a big sigh of relief. This will also lead to an intense marathon of deep spring, I mean summer, cleaning. Just thinking of a clean, organized, clutter free living environment gives me a feeling of freedom.

I also want to fill the freezer with healthy meals that can be quickly and easily fixed for my family on school nights so that I don't have to worry about cooking every night. I like to use the crock pot, too, so I want to find some great recipes for that.

And of course on my list is summer fun. Free movies. Beach days. Summer Theater and girl's nights. I won't give any of that up. So I have a busy seven weeks ahead of me.

The last few weeks of summer will be used to get my classroom ready for the school year. I probably need to paint and clean everything as well as decorate, prepare lessons, and all the other stuff that teachers do. It will be so much easier if all this other stuff is done. Wish me luck!

By the way, I would love to hear any suggestions you have regarding my life overhaul. I'll take all the help I can get! :)

4 comments:

Katrina said...

No suggestions here. But when you shift into that mad-frenzy cleaning mode, I'd love some tips on how you pushed the Start button.

I went through the last half of the school year thinking: "Once summer gets here, then I can do all those little house projects I thought I would do before we moved in!"

So far? Nada. Just like you, I've been majoring in playing and movie watching and pretty much slothing it up nerd-style.

I just need to find that Start button...

kathy said...

I've cleaned out my closets, the boys' closets, and Steve's closets. Hooray! Who knew how many bags of clothes we never wear were taking up so much space? Next is the basement. I need some zip-fizz to even get started on that! I know! We can work really hard on our projects this week and then have a party on Saturday at your house to celebrate our freedom from clutter! Garage sale, anyone?

Unknown said...

Wow what a list! I'm the same way, though. I pictured myself jogging every day, reading lots of books, spending time with my friends who work during the school year, hiking every weekend, going to the beach. So far I've read 1/2 a book, jogged... once? twice?, spent time at home alone, hit the beach once, hiked once.

I'd be up for a collaborative yard sale.

And do you want to hang out? You're one of my hang-out-with-during-the-summer friends.

Jen said...

Katrina, I think the start button is somewhere behind the dvd player, the computer, and the book shelf. I'll let you know when I find it.

Kathy, Great job on the closets! Party Saturday? It's on!! And I'd be willing to participate in a garage sale even though I say every time I do one that I never will again. And aren't you the one who's supposed to remind me of that, not encourage another one?

Alyson, jogging is NOT on my list. You're one step ahead of me for just having it on yours. We should hang out. The girls would love it, too.