- Interesting discussion on my last post. See also Gwinne's posts for more on the topic.
- G & I talked about doing more with our weekend evenings (as a family). We booked a twice weekly dog-sitter, so we don't have to rush home with L while the other takes B to karate---we can go to a park or library or dinner. Its a cost, but we are searching for cheaper dogwalkers
- G is joining me on the no-booze weeknights. This is week 3 for me, though I fell of the wagon one night this week (not counting the 2 happy hours, because my rule was "no booze at home" to curtail the automatic glass of wine or 3 every night)
- I went way over my "allowance" budget for this month due to 2 happy hours and 1 lunch where I treated my leaving tech on her last day and my new tech as a welcome. Worth it. That'll just mean less times I buy crap food from the cafeteria next month
- Finalized aftercare for B, starting the 2nd day of school (I took the first day off...I'm nervous for him, and we'll do something special since its a BIG DEAL!). There is a class everyday that we can opt into, too. I paid for 5 classes for the 2 weeks of September, and we'll see what he likes and then pay for only those going forward (art/drama/karate/gymnastics/dance). Cheaper than daycare, but just barely. But we can pay via CC & get cash back!
- Worked from home yesterday. Productive & much less hectic. Will have to start planning to do that once/week. Had dinner ready to go by the time everyone walked on (in fact, they were late, and I was starving, so I'd already eaten and could run around getting things for them)
- Also need to plan for better weeknights for myself. If I'm not working I'm either watching TV or just scrolling through facebook/email/blogs on my phone. (or reading, but I have no books right now, they'll all come in a clump soon--I'm number 2-5 on a lot of holds at the library).
- Plans for weekend: work out at gym saturday, run with B again on Sunday. Swimming at Y saturday PM. Family movie Sunday PM. Very low key, but that's what we need right now.
Have a great weekend!
I'm working from home today. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm in crunch time (you would not believe my deadlines for the next month-- I thought August was going to be relaxing and really screwed up with scheduling), so I'm spending tomorrow here at the computer crunching data ("What do you mean Stata for Unix can't make .emf files?!") while listening to podcasts. On Sunday we're going to drive to the city to have lunch (Ethiopian food!) with one of my friends from college and to pick up my bridesmaid dress for #2's wedding. Since we dithered so much about the dresses there was a very limited number of colors that we could choose from (they only dye the colors we actually wanted in batches available after #'2's wedding), but I hope the "wisteria" works out.
I am finishing the review of my student's paper, then dinner in a couple of hours and a load of laundry (mostly mine). Shopping early Saturday for the week, and then on Saturday afternoon I am driving ~2 hrs to a major city to get on a 10 pm trans-Atlantic flight, during which I will likely sleep or read Scalzi's "The End of All Things." Or work, most likely. On Sunday transporting self by train and on foot to a nordic city and a hotel therein, giving a talk and then staying there till Friday at a conference. Got a bad grant review yesterday (the 13th, of course) so still grumpy. But bad reviews always make me both depressed and all fired up, so I start sniffing for new funding opportunities and brainstorming. Plus there are some exciting development in regards to a hobby, which cheer me up.
ReplyDeleteWow you really travel a lot! How did you work out the logistics of that in regards to childcare? Does your husband do it all? Do you hire more help? (I'm curious because if all goes well, my job will eventually involve more traveling for conferences/speaking and I'm not sure how we'll handle it)
DeleteOur kids are far apart in age (15, 8, and 4), in part specifically so DH would be comfortable staying alone with all of them. We didn't have more than one baby/young toddler at any point in time. DH was also really reluctant to go for No 3 for that reason, and gave a green light after No 2 was 3 and he felt he could handle a baby. So we have always done just the regular daycare/school plus one parent at home. It's not that big a deal, especially because DH's job is low stress.
DeleteThe worst was probably my "tenure tour" in 2009 (the middle kid was 2) and I traveled like nuts to make sure everyone saw me. That was brutal.
DH is not crazy about staying alone with them, but I spend more time with the kids when I am home (for instance, I put them to bed 100% of the time when home, I get up with them and get them fed and ready to go in the morning (I drive the oldest, DH often drives the yonger two while I stay back to get ready), I get up with them on the weekends while DH sleeps late, and he has lots of space for his projects and his video games in the evenings. And the kids are really not that little any more, so it's not a big problem any more.
Aaaaand, I make about twice what he does, and travel is an important part of the job that basically provides for our lifestyle. He really has a lot of time to himself when I am at home and his job is low stress, so I think he really shouldn't complain and he really doesn't. It took a few years of marriage, but he realized at some point that my job is really demanding and stressful and that he should support me, and that changed his attitude towards housework and staying with kids.
(Sorry for the novel. I am always too longwinded.)
For some reason I thought your husband was also an academic---i.e. not in a low stress job. I'm glad he realized that he needed to step up his game and changed his attitude! That's awesome.
DeleteFor the past several weekends we have gone to my SILs house and spent the night. We all love hanging out and it's so much easier to put the toddler to bed at 6:30 there rather than trying to squeeze in a dinner before she goes to bed. Plus they have a gorgeous house and a pool.
ReplyDeleteWe started wet hot American summer last weekend, so I imagine we will finish it tonight. Hilarious!
that sounds truly lovely! hope it was great :)
DeleteIt's supposed to be HOT here so we'll probably go to the pool (second time only) tomorrow and then Sun are headed to a big amusement park with another SMC family...which will probably be a major migraine (literal and not) for me but fun for kids. And usual grocery shopping trip at some point...
ReplyDeleteomg migraine indeed.
DeleteI had a wonderful Friday - both kids slept ALL night so woke up early & read in bed. skipped out on making kid breakfast by walking the dog, dropped off toddler with my mother & big kid at school then had peaceful solo breakfast at a bookshop/cafe. French toast with fairy floss! Also new books about how to do fancy hairstyles (to please school kid) and Richard III (for me) Back home for laundry & to pick up toddler then out for an errand close to my BFF's house. Briefly got lost but stopped to look at my map outside a cheap flower shop so picked up tulips for my friend. Then Lunch with BFF & her husband & her toddler/my toddler & her brand new baby. Hung out in her yard enjoying sunshine for a couple of hours. Stuck my toddler in car, turned on audiobook. Toddler fell asleep so I drove around a bit then pulled in to school car park and kept listening to audiobook until she woke up 10min before dismissal. Picked up older kid & basked in compliments about how cute younger is. Home to discover my MIL had sent flowers & chocolate & my mother made me muffins for snack. Took older kid to gymnastics & read my book on sidelines. Returned to my mothers where she'd made kids dinner & fed them at her house. They babysat while husband and I went out for dinner. Had a margarita & great conversation. Home & bed where both kids slept ALL night again! Seriously it was my perfect day. Saturday was pretty good too - spent morning in bed reading, had good phone chat with MIL and was hugely entertained by kids conversation with her Nana. Apparently she's part of a gang called "the clever 6" and her superhero name is 'Louisa Lightening' went for a run, takeaway rolls for picnic in park for lunch & played Lego with older kid after she finished listening to her audiobook. Fell asleep 'watching' rugby. Gotta do some chores today & take responsibility for my kids while husband goes on a long bike ride though! However, i have had a peaceful half hour in bed to read blogs, so it's started well. I seriously can't believe how well everything is going right now.
ReplyDeleteWOW! That sounds PERFECT. Was it your birthday or something? Why did your MIL send flowers & chocolate? Are you always off on Friday? I am beyond jealous!!!
DeleteOh and what is fairy floss? Sounds delish!
DeleteYep, it was my birthday and it may end up being my most perfect birthday ever. Fairy floss is aka pashmak, which is like cotton candy made with spun sugar and sesame. It was rose flavoured & very pink so made French toast look like a birthday cake!
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