This is a solo parenting week for me (T has been away for practically the whole month). Am keeping my head above water, as much as I can. Let me share some updates.

My daughter and I went to the Korean sauna last Sunday. Our sauna had a “family” weekend where kids of 7 and older are welcome to come along with their parents. We decided to leave the iPad at the house and instead bring books, crayons and paper. She went in and out of sauna with me, hung out in the lounge area and had snacks. We had bibimbap for lunch and finished our visit in a Turkish sauna.

Books. I finished Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano and started “This is a Love Story” by Jessica Soffer. It is set in NYC, and features an elderly couple, with one of partners having a slowly declining memory. The husband has to continuously retell their life together to his wife, whose memory is failing and is failing fast. It is SAAAAD. I am not sure if I will finish this book.

Still reading the Correspondent on Kindle. Am kind of liking it now.

Outside. This week I haven’t been outside as much because… it’s in the 50s! Albeit I did go to the park on Wednesday while my daughter was at her piano lesson. I made a bird friend!

Exercise. I miss it but I have not been to the Y this week. I did weights at the house so I’ll give myself credit for that.

My mood is definitely reflecting the lack of exercise. Plus, I am in my luteal phase so beware, world!

My son got another stripe in BJJ!

Sources from this week that I want to share with you all:

1. On not having a “village” as a mom- this is close to my heart because I don’t have a village. Never had. I have my sister-friends but they are not really a village that helps with parenting. T’s mom is in Maine, and my folks are in Russia. No distant relatives, no cousins. We do have two good sets of neighbors so maybe they are part of our village?

2. On how parenting advice is actually what is causing our anxiety. I don’t do parenting books or podcasts because I just know- I am the best mom for my kids. I am not a good fit for someone else’s kids but I am a great fit for MY kids. Yes, I speak to them quite sternly at times, especially when they are being little shits but OVERALL, we are GOOD.

3. Instead of journaling with words, one may want to try “reflection calendars” – I am not artistic but I enjoyed looking at some of them.

4. A journaling meditation! This practice helped me get some clarity one morning. I’d say it’s a meditation/contemplation with guiding questions to write about. I enjoyed it so much.

Hope you are having a good week!