Saturday + things on my mind

Today was a nice, slow day. A day filled with some relatively easy chores but also some empty space.

I cleaned the house, with vacuuming and mopping with Murphy’s oil

My daughter decided that she needed to organize her room (unheard of) and she did organize her clothes (sweaters with sweaters, pants with pants, etc)

Mid afternoon, I took a nap and read some of my current novel

Around 4pm, I went for a walk, alone and with no phone. The sun was setting and tops of the trees were tinged with gold.

T and I put away laundry

From about 6 to 8, the kids played so nicely, T and I started a movie. The kids arranged all their plush animals in a big circle so I asked “you guys are doing a ritualistic sacrifice?” They go, “no, we are playing school.”

Other things on my mind… I worry about my parents who live in Russia and are both in their 80s. Dad is a stroke patient, and mom is his caretaker. I have a feeling that one day my life will be turned upside down, that I may have to take an extended leave from work to go there.

Also, perimenopause and how it is making me feel, especially the time after ovulation leading up to period. During those two weeks I am struggling with low energy and moodiness.

I often think about my friend group. My sister friends are very special to me but, the four of us are slowly growing apart. We used to touch base every few days in the WhatsApp group, and now it’s more like every few weeks. Two friends are divorced, and one is a widow. All three ladies are either actively dating or in a committed relationship. One is a new grandma. Meanwhile I’m juggling small kids, still. It seems that all of us are in entirely different stages of life.

How was your Saturday? What is on your mind? Do you have some friends that used to be close by slowly grew apart?

This month I am participating in #NaBloPoMo2025. A running list of participants can be found on San’s NaBloPoMo p a ge as well as more information about this lovely initiative on this NaBloPoMo p a ge.

Pic on the front: a fiery tree in our back yard.

Posted by:

Daria

Mother, teacher, partner, friend. I love coffee, books, and travel with and without kids. I dislike exercise. Nothing glamorous here but do have moments of insight.

6 responses to “Saturday + things on my mind”

Lisa’s Yarns

November 23, 2025

It would be hard to have your parents so far away and then in a country that is difficult to get into due to sanctions and such. My heart goes out to you!

Friendships as an adult are tricky. Phil and I have both felt quite lonely at times this year. We both invested a lot in our friendships since we got married later in life and we were used to seeing our friends quite regularly. But it’s gotten much harder over the last couple of years. And then since I travel so much, I don’t feel like I can take more time from my family to see friends so I haven’t felt like I’m a great friend to others. One bright spot is my blogging friendship, though! I am closer to many friends I’ve made through blogger than I am to IRL friends. Now if only they lived close so I could see them in person without getting on a plane!

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Maya

November 23, 2025

I understand all the concerns you’ve listed here, Daria. I share some of them too. ❤

May I offer something funny to distract?

Here’s a list called: Thanksgiving or Perimenopause?

https://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/thanksgiving-or-perimenopause

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San

November 23, 2025

I can very much relate to your worry about your parents. It’s hard to live so far away and not be able to be there and care for them. Is your brother near by?

And friendships have been such a wild ride as we get older… all my close friends live a minimum of 1 hour (drive) to 10 hour (plane) away and it’s hard. I wish I had a local friends’ group but it’s also hard to make these new connections when you’re older. I can see how it’s difficult to maintain the same level of closeness with your friends as you all go through different phases in life. Hopefully, that is only temporary and you’ll always feel connected, even if your communication ebbs and flows. I actually think it’s normal for friendships to fluctuate and it’s a conscious decision to “stay” in the friendship again and again.

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Ernie @ nosmallfeetblog.com

November 23, 2025

I can’t imagine how challenging it must be for you to live so far away from your aging parents. That breaks my heart.

Your post about friends is timely – I spent my day yesterday driving to visit Mini and her friend/their parents. It was the last home game tailgate for her college days. It was a blast. I was chatting with a friend though about how I’ve drifted from my college friends. Even friends I saw so often when the kids were tiny – we just don’t see them much anymore. I have a few close friends, but what I would love is a group of friends. It would be great to be connected to a group, to have a close knit sense of community. I think it gets harder the older we get. People get busy with their families and work, etc.

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Suzanne

November 25, 2025

My heart aches for your parent worries. My parents are aging and seem to have a rolling series of health issues, but they are nearby now, which makes it much easier to reassure myself that they are still chugging along. This time of life is so challenging, with kids who are entering new phases of life, and our own hormonal transitions, and dealing with our parents.

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Stephany

November 25, 2025

We were riding the same moody wavelength on Saturday. I started my period on Friday, and hoo boy, did the hormones hit me extra hard this time! I was in such a crabby, existential mood all weekend!

Keeping in touch with friends on a regular basis is something I *really* struggle with. I’m trying to be better about just reaching out and saying hi to at least one friend a day. It does help me feel a lot more connected to other people!

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