Here are some of my October learnings as inspired by www.strocel.com
I can go away for a week, and the world will continue to rotate. My first vacation sans enfant to Ontario went smoothly for me and on the home front thanks to several sleep-overs at Lolo’s. Apparently, Theo asked for me several times a day. When I got home, he kind of shoulder shrugged, and we went about our day.
Took my mom to a fancy spa for her 75th with my sister-in-law.
It pays to have another Halloween costume in the tickle trunk. Theo rejected his Buzz Lightyear costume at the last minute: “No Buzz! No Buzz!” Mark’s sister pulled out a cozy dragon costume and he was ready to yell “TRICK OR TREAT!” randomly in the street.
No Buzz!
Toddlers want to be involved in everything. Theo participated in prepping the pumpkin for Halloween, and made his own cappuccino this morning (ok – sort of).
"Making" coffee
Naps have their upsides and downsides. We’ve entered the random nap stage. Some days Theo “fails to nap,” which means the 5 to 7 pm portion of the day spirals quickly into disaster but he’s flat out by 7 and down for 11 to 12 hours. If he naps two hours during the day, he wakes up in a fantastic mood but goes to bed after 9 pm.
Apres nap euphoria.
I can run a 10K but won’t attempt a half marathon anytime soon. I completed my 10K Diva Run in 1 hour, 4 minutes, and found it extremely taxing. I feel no compunction to do it again although I can run for 45 minutes pretty easily now.
The Eastside Fitness team: I'm the one with my eyes closed at the back.
Staying away from adoption politics and controversies is best for my family: There are some deep and complex issues surrounding local and international adoption. In the interests of my family, I’m focussing on our own relationships, which means I’m not commenting on adoption themes in TV dramas, signing petitions or engaging with bloggers or tweeters looking for a tussle. I feel better already.
What did you learn last month? Any stunning revelations?
I really like your last “learning” . . . I am an adoptive-parent-to-be and have been trying to frame the “adoption politics” issue for myself. For a long time, I felt guilty about not engaging in these types of discussions because I was afraid that people would think I was ignorant about the complexities or naive about ethics. But, I’ve had to let it go for my own well being. I am neither naive nor ignorant and I feel good about the decisions I have made for myself. I’ve learned that I don’t need to justify my choices to anyone else, especially not to people I don’t have a relationship with.
I learned so much in October, it could fill a book. But, my biggest lesson: Just when you think things will never change, they do.
Yes. As someone clever one said, “the goal posts keep moving!”
Thanks for articulating what I was actually trying to say! Well put.
Sounds like quite the month! Congratulations again on the big run 🙂
It never occurred to me that our toddler could reject his Halloween outfit. It didn’t happen to us but if it did, we would probably not have gone out at all. It was a bit of a long shot but we squeezed our little guy back into his Halloween outfit from last year. I know! It was a bit big last year and this year it was sort of snug. He hadn’t seen it for a year and probably forgotten about it so he was super excited to wear it again! Hooray for short term memory 🙂
That’s hilarious!
I learned that Halloween is super crazy, but fun with a toddler who is beginning to understand about Halloween. He talked about being Diego for a month, but when it came time to wear the costume (which I HANDMADE), he freaked out because he wanted to zip up the vest and I didn’t sew a zipper in it. Like lay on the ground and scream for 20 mn and kick everything in site kinda freak out.
Glad you had fun on your getaway! Always nice to do that from time to time.
Congrats on your first 10k! I did my first one last november, and by May I ran my first half-marathon. I swore I would never do another one, but I’m definitely feeling the itch to train for another one!
And we are totally in that nap crazy stage too. B goes to all day preschool two days a week and doesn’t nap, while everyone does! Somehow that balances out our week and he will usually nap for me on the other days.
Okay, sorry for writing a book in your comments! Happy November to you 🙂
okay, I have to correct my errors, SIGHT not SITE, and he naps while everyone ELSE does 😉
DOESN’T nap while everyone else does. Sorry, I’m seriously having issues today.
There’s some good food for thought here as I approach the question of how to handle a week away in January. The thought of a week without my little guy fills me with sadness, although I’ve previously enjoyed two consecutive nights away without the earth shattering. Then again, the thought of trying to help my sister with a newborn while also simultaneously monitoring a toddler doesn’t seem the most conducive to my sister’s calm.
Hmm.
I learned a little bit about prioritizing late last month. I can try to do everything, every day, and then I will explode. So it’s probably better to do a little less than everything, and sustain that!
Ha! Yes. Bringing a toddler anywhere = mayem of the highest order! It was hard to leave. I spent weeks fretting and worrying and then when I was gone, everything fell into place.
Found you over at Lori’s blog. I LOVE your blog! Great writing and pictures.
I learned when dealing with the flu, put your hair back and have extra towels.
Love the picture of Theo making his own coffee. In a couple years you and Mark can sit back and have him make your morning java.
Hmmm, I’m sorry to hear there are people looking for a tussle. I always enjoy hearing your thoughts and opinions on adoption!
Oh, the naps dilemma. I sure miss them, and still try to *encourage* them. But, yes sometimes they interfere with nighttime sleep. My guy is four now… may have to give up altogether on naps… but I don’t really wanna!
Happy 75th Harriet’s mommy! YAY! My mom turned 75 in August.
Can Theo come over and make me coffee? That is an excellent skill to have at such a young age. LOL.