A Few Lessons Learned

So I may not have the numbers of a star blogger, but my readers rock! Thank you all for your support, encouragement, and advice on getting through this rough first week of school. The writing for the sake of writing is always cathartic, but it's the love I feel in the comments that truly make this endeavor worthwhile to me. Thank you.

I don't know why Jen of A2eatwrite's suggestion did not occur to me, but I abided by it and wrote a note to Riley's teacher about the lack of friends Riley's made. Riley's teacher called me last night and told me she's asked a few girls to look after Riley during recess and lunch, and said that Friday at lunch Riley was playing with a group of kids. She did seem happier yesterday when I picked her up. I'm so glad that we have a 3-day weekend to recoup, relax, and rejuvenate before a 4-day school week. (Happy Labor Day, everyone!)

Riley also seems to have a really stuffy nose, so her physical health may be part of the reason that she's had a more difficult time adjusting than her sister.

Sylvia, btw, has had a very smooth start. She's really happy, is excited that she's in Band and Acting, and already has a lot of friends. I think that year at KIPP gave her a great foundation. (And that first awful night was the last of her bad temperament.)

The main lesson I learned, though, is that part of it was me. Big surprise, right? I realized that the lack of commute wasn't giving me the decompression time I used to have between work life and home life. So, per Kori's suggestion, I'm going to take 15 minutes for myself before I go get the girls to give me the time I need to switch gears. It's not that I've done anything wrong, per se, it's just that I haven't been of the state of mind to do my best because I haven't quite adjusted.

I also realized last night that I have to get back to doing things I enjoy - like keeping up with my Reader, and blogging more regularly! The constant struggles between Riley and me kept me from doing that most of the week. I would fall into my sofa and watch the DNC and then drag myself to bed. (The DNC helped, BTW. Who knew I could find comfort in politics?) And, truthfully, I've been slacking on my housekeeping duties, too.

Now I can keep making excuses to myself that there just aren't enough hours in the day, but I know that's really not true. I just haven't been utilizing them in the best ways - for me, for Riley, for our family.

Riley (and most kids) can pick up on our moods and respond to them. Now, there's nothing really wrong, but when I'm not doing the things that make me feel my best, there's a difference. And even the slightest bit of negativity can build as quickly as a rolling tumbleweed. But it's not unstoppable. I just have to make the decision and take the action to stop it.

We'll be okay. We'll all be just fine.