First Week of School

This may turn into one of those rambling blog posts, so please look away if you are not into mom ranting.  I personally am not into mom ranting either, but here I am - trying to write a follow up post to my week of being back at school and doing it, with three kids-while also working from home.

I am sure the burning question of the hour is, was this week easy?  The answer is no.  You may also want to know if anyone had fun, also no.  One child couldn't remember anything, not even the alphabet while the other cried (real tears) that he was stuck at home (he's a homebody) doing virtual learning and last but not least you have the carefree kid saying "oh my teachers haven't assigned any work today..." he is the luckiest kid on this plant, because the crying one had TONS of work to do!  Go figure.

So, this week has sucked.  I have yelled, people have cried (yes more then one-none of which was me), and my office has went from being a peaceful place to being a classroom.

It's okay though, it's just going to take some time to get into a good rhythm again.  By today, things have gotten better.  Though my patience are just shot. I am ready for a carefree weekend.  And that is exactly what is in store.

I don't know how people do it.  I just don't.  My house is a mess, I can't (or don't want to) cook anymore because I am exhausted at the end of my work/school day and I literally get ZERO moments alone, though one of my brats did say "well you get peace when you're asleep..." and he's not wrong - but still COME ON.  I am tired. I am old.  I am done.  (for the day) lol back at it on MONDAY!

xoxo, Lela

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Friday Wrap-up

Week 7 of working from home and week 6 of distance learning (homeschooling).  What are my thoughts about this week?  I have none, I am numb and feel like doing nothing but watching Lifetime and drinking wine.  I swear I am going to come out of COVID19 fatter and depressed from watching so much crap on LMN.  Oh the drama.

Let's see, Olivia finished up her second packet of work this week.  It's due on Monday, and we'll pick up her last packet that is due May 28th - and after that, she is on Summer Break!  Whoo-hoo!  I wish I could take the summer off too.  And do what you ask, who knows?  Apparently starting Monday parts of Florida will open back up, so maybe the parks will be open and we can at least do something fun when I'm not at work that doesn't just involve our back yard.

You'd think I would have embraced this more, being home since retirement is just around the corner.  And perhaps I would if I could get out and do something when I am not working or teaching, I'd like to be able to walk through the stores like I had all the time in the world, and pace down the plant isles at Lowes for hours picking the perfect plants.

Soon I know, I know the world is slowly opening back up!  Slowly!

Cute kid; being daring in the FRONT yard for a walk!

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Moody Monday

So my moody Monday post today is going to be able lazy teenage boys.  I won't call any one of the two living in my house specifically but I will give you an idea of their entire day.

Wake up late, because they stayed up late.  Lay in bed, waking up for an hour.  Come out of the room at about 12:30pm at 1pm.  Make themselves a big bowl of cereal-sometimes two.  Scratch, adjust their junk while asking you how your day is going.  Put their bowl into the sink, return to the cesspool of a bedroom.  Have to be told to do their school work, wash that fing bowl they carelessly and stupidly put into the sink and brush their teeth.

That is my life, as a mom to teenage boys who are distance learning during COVID19 in America.

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Friday Thoughts

Fridays are a day I look forward to right now, because that is a day I can work in my office uninterrupted all day long.  Not all parties are thrilled about that idea, and I’ll admit I have a little guilt about needing this time to do my work - but I am working on not allowing others to make me 1. Feel bad about myself and my decisions and 2. I cannot be everything for everyone everyday, and I am learning to be okay with that.  I have control issues, I know.  I am working on that too, oh my gosh-so much working.

I come out of my office to find Olivia struggling to work under dads rules as a teacher.  His rules don’t really differ that much over my own, he just wants her to look over her work by herself first and see if she can figure out what steps need to be made to complete the paper.  Which is just reading the instructions.  I go over the instructions with her prior to her working on the paper.

Anyway, to sum up the week-it’s been ok.  I am ready for the weekend however. So on to it I go.  I hope you all enjoy your days off as much as I will.

 To wind down, she played a little pool.

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Friday Feelings

I have worked away from home for the past 27 years.  During that time, I have said to myself, and out loud "I cannot wait for spring break (or vacation) and I can be off work", I have said "I cannot wait for the weekend!" and I have said on Sunday "I don't want to go back to work tomorrow!"

I am sure I am not alone in this.  It's the human condition, right?  But honestly, after being "safe" at home (stuck) for over a month, I am just now realizing I got what I always wanted-without being fired.  And now I just try not to complain. I don't say out loud that I cannot wait for things to get back to normal.

I am trying to stay positive, not just for me but my co-workers as well as the kids I am now teaching at home (two of which can do their own thing) but one is only six.  It hasn't been easy, finding a new normal.  We had to throw the rules out the window and learn to work at a much slower pace-which is something I wasn't the only one struggling with.  We are on week three of distance learning and our six years old cried because she was asked to slow down-it's just not how she has been living her scholastic life for the past two years.

We have gained a lot from this experience though, even though we are still learning how to slow our roll.  I have sat outside in the sun while working on my tablet, I have started taking two breaks during my workday for 15 mins each.  I am taking a lunch break.  I have also been known to jump up and dance to get the blood flowing again after sitting for a long period of time.

I don't have to get into my car at 4:45am-and try not to hit deer on my way home from work and I don't have to jump into my 100-degree car after a long day at the office and make that over an hour drive back home either.  I don't miss that-but so much more free time.

What have we done with it?  We've painted rocks, we've cleaned rooms (closets too), we have sat outside, we have been on walks, we have grown plants, we have talked and played games, we have read books and learn new things.  We have redecorated the living, the office and even purchased a new rug (as you already know if you follow my blog).  We have cooked and baked.  We have made homemade sangria (okay only I did that).

We have not brushed our hair a lot, and sometimes I have to brush my teeth in the afternoon because I cannot remember if I did it earlier that morning. We are not wearing shoes or bras.  No makeup, unless I have to throw on some powder for a zoom meeting.  We are not worrying about making a grocery list or going to the grocery store.  And we are not staying up late.  We are not seeing our family like we used to, or visiting friends.

Teresa won't be able to visit like planned on April 30th.  I was really looking forward to her visit with Oscar.  I don't get to take the kids to the springs, the beach or go to a park for a few hours so Olivia can get some of that energy out.  I am not seeing my co-workers in person or having lunch with them.  Somethings I really miss.

Well, that's it for now-those are my feelings for the day!

Happy Friday loves!

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