I planned so granularly last Sunday and yet… it didn’t keep me from having kind of a shite week, but many factors are out of my control.
Changes in the district. I can’t talk too much about it here but our board of education implemented a new policy that will have a HUGE impact on ALL of the full-time educators in the district. It has to do with assessing students and testing. A lot of this policy goes against my whole being but it’s policy and we all have to follow it.
On top of that- a new principal in our building started TODAY. Am still to meet her. Only wish her the best, she really is coming in at some turbulent times in the district. BUT! She has a strong cadre of educators at my school that care about student learning that that’s HUGE.
Solo parenting. T was away this week so it was me and the kiddos. Nothing bad, just hard, because it IS hard. We did manage to have some giggles and laughs at bed time. L was playing “Keepy-uppy” with a balloon (try to keep the balloon up in the air as long as possible), while R had some tickles and giggles, too.
The kids had their after-school activities of piano (once) and jiu jitsu (three times). As planned, during the activities I read my book and wrote in my journal. I felt miserable the whole time just thinking about the changes in the district…
Physical and mental health. I followed the physical exercise routine that I laid out for myself here, last week. On Tuesday and Thursday it was the Y time. On Wednesday it was nothing due to L’s piano lesson. Today, Friday, went to the Y again. Three times is excellent for me. A person who doesn’t really exercise.
I was asking myself the other day, “how did you get over yourself with exercise?” I don’t know. I just go to the Y after work and I don’t think about it.
Mentally, I am feeling down. See above in regard to changes in the district, the end of the marking period, *some* student entitlement issues, and just an overall state of the world. BUT! It’s the weekend, and we can possibly have a snow day on Monday so I’ll have some time to pull myself out of the funk.
Russia news. Snowmageddon in Russia’s Far East region and Moscow. Some images are so strange that are very hard to believe, and I’m sure many are doctored by AI. But the situation is dire. My parents are in the Urals, they have snow, just not as much as the Far East people. By the way, Far East is an actual name to that region.
Speaking of snow…. We have 12 to 18 inches coming in, on Sunday and Monday, here in New Jersey. Possibly a snow day. Or two. Which I’m fine with.
My word of the year is DELIGHT, so let’s see what delighted me this week:
– putting my audio book “Wild Dark Shore” on a timer and falling asleep to it. Except… I think I missed some things.
– certain students who asked “what’s wrong?” when they saw my face this week. They are picking up on my mood and are just amazing human beings. They truly make me feel better.
-my trips to the ymca to exercise
-the sky at sunset and the spindly trees against that sky
-music. Specifically, the “Chill mix” made for me by Spotify: Hermanos Gutiérrez, Novo Amor, Agnes Obel, Hozier, Raye, Blanco White, etc.
-cuddling at bed time with the kids
-reading at bed time with the kids
-writing this post while T is “doing” the kids upstairs (piano, bath, Chinese food, Legos).
This weekend…
- A drum Tao performance- solo! On Saturday night.
- Lots of snow- forecasted
- YMCA: a cycling class, Saturday and Sunday mornings
- Skates on Sunday- if we can get out..
- Swim on Saturday- before the snow, in the afternoon
- Kids’ passport appointments on Saturday, to renew for this summer Italian trip
- A movie or two with T
- A conversation or two with T
- Read my book
- Grade Spanish 2 quizzes
How was your week?
What do you have going on this weekend?
What do you do to feel better, mentally?
Mom of Children 