Some things on my mind this weekend.
Mental Health. In spite of having everything – everything – I need, I continue feeling like I am low on energy. Connected to that is my mood which has also been low. I keep going with all my responsibilities for family and self: going to yoga, taking vitamins, having tea, going to work, getting the kids, driving the car, doing the laundry, texting friends. But on the inside I feel… Flat. Like a pancake. Could I still be wallowing from last month? Am I being a spoiled brat? I am seeing the glimmers/silver linings that are all around me but I may need a regular, not a haphazard, gratitude practice. I read somewhere that low mood is yet another sign of peri-menopause. Great. Also, I keep it cool in the house because… I’m hot most of the time.
Finances. Since the school year started and a full paycheck kicked in again for me, T and I have been trying something new: squirreling away exactly half of my paycheck every two weeks (after all of the deductions, retirement, etc) and sending it to our investment portfolio. We still have his full paycheck and 1/2 of mine to live on but that’s an aggressive form of savings, and it takes a while to get used to. I now think twice about buying things that I want vs need (i.e. coffees out, snacks, and other dopamine hits).
Friendships/being out. I got to see a group of friends last night for my sister-friend’s 49th birthday. We were a group of eight, met at a vineyard, and saw a stand-up comedy show while having dinner there. I got a sampler to try some of their wines and my very unsophisticated palate does not remember. I think I liked Pinot Gris (Gris, not Grigio). It was a late night for me (came back at 10:30PM) and the drive was about an hour, but it was also great to be in a social group, eat, have someone on stage make you laugh, or roll your eyes at their jokes. Or both. The restaurant is kind of on a hill but, as you descend into the vineyard itself, the temperature drops what felt like 10 degrees. A good, interesting experience that left me content and tired at the same time. I mean, our group was all women, in our 40s and 50s, so I think we all felt tired afterwards. Laughing takes energy, talking takes energy, socializing takes energy, then you add some wine into the mix, and ooofffff.
Sunday morning. I rarely appreciate lazy weekend mornings but today I want to describe one, just for my own memory’s sake. The kids were up at 6:45, I heard them both use the bathrooms, then they were playing in R’s room. T got up shortly after and made them breakfast and made us some coffee. I was still lounging in bed: browsed some travel sites (looking for 1 month France itinerary ideas for next summer), read some news, texted a few friends. Checked Google Keep for saved links. The kids then came up to our bedroom and started cuddling: with each other and me. It was so stinking cute. Then they started horsing around because that’s what they do. They reminded me of puppies and kittens that play and wrestle around. They played on and off, while I finished two cups of coffee.
Lastly, we checked off an *every fall* bucket list item: apple picking! Beautiful, crisp day, a gorgeous, small farm, not too far from the house. An admission fee for adults. Kids free. Overpriced apples and pumpkins. Whiney kids because the baskets are too heavy because they picked too many apples. This experience repeats itself every fall, and yet, we keep coming back.
Have you ever picked apples? Would you ever try it?
Mom of Children 