Five* 5s on Friday: May was A MONTH

*Actually, make that four. (How is strikethrough not an option in the title block?!)

May kind of steam rolled me. But when I look back at it, it’s clear why.

Work

• Finished the free reading program. I estimated that I checked over 1500 free reading submissions and put that many stickers on bingo boards. I also gave out many, many prizes.
• Planned and executed the blackout party. Tamales, mole and homemade horchata for 40+ students. Also prizes for that many students. I think it went really well.
• Wrapped up video skits. Every 7/8 class did three video skits except one, so we filed eleven in total. They all were edited (in iMovie) and ready to share with students (and parents) in Digital Portfolios and during the Celebration of Learning.
• Finalized Digital Portfolio Templates. I had to create a different digital portfolio for each of the 1A classes. I decided not to do it with 1B this year (it was a thing I could jettison!), but that still left three classes that needed templates with their unique class characters, stories and video skits. Luckily I know how to take little steps throughout the year
• Participated in Celebration of Learning. I got my classroom all cleaned up, made sure students had work to show parents, played the 7/8 class’s video skits, and chatted with lots of parents. It actually went by really quickly.

Home

• Hosted Book Club. I hosted book club at the beginning of the month. I cleaned up the downstairs and ordered catering plates. I’m not a confident host, so it was stressful, but I think everyone enjoyed it. And it was nice to get the downstairs in mint condition. It had been a while.
• Tackled the backyard. It wasn’t even on my list, but once someone pulled me out there I couldn’t stop. It’s so nice to have all that high grass gone. We have more work to do, but the big initial push is finished.
• Packed away the winter clothes and boots. I did not go through my own clothes as much, but all the big winter jackets and pants are packed away in the shed, along with all the rain boots.
• Hosted son’s sleep over. This required a big clean out of his room, and a smaller clean up of the upstairs.
• Hosted daughter’s promotion party. This is happening right now! There are 12 of them upstairs. They are so big and loud. I did a much deeper clean upstairs, and we moved most of the cat stuff downstairs. The cats are sleeping with us tonight. They had never been in the downstairs unit before and the first two hours were tough, but they’ve chilled out considerably.

Family

• Played the family taxi. I drove my daughter to so much swimming. And to friends’ houses. And to other events. I drove my son to the dojo. And to friends’ houses. And to other events. I really spent a lot of the time in the car, driving my kids around.
• Hosted my kids’ friends. I know I mentioned these before, but they are big deals, so I’m mentioning them again. It’s a lot to have groups of my kids’ friends over. Especially to spend the night.
• Supported my husband. He had a crazy two weeks at the beginning of the month. He was working long hours and super stressed. I stepped up a lot to help him. And right when his work stuff slowed down, mine got super crazy.
• Gave my daughter layers. She has been asking for layers for ages, but I assumed I’d have to pay someone to give them to her so I was stalling. A woman’s hair cut is like $90 around here! The thought of spending that kind of money on an adolescent’s hair cut was more than I could bare. Especially since I’ve been cutting all our hair for so long. But she said I could try it, so I watched a couple YouTube videos and gave it a shot. And it came out really well! I’m so relieved, both that she likes it, and that I can keep cutting her hair at home.
• Supported daughter through promotion. There have been A LOT of big feelings about finishing middle school and moving on to high school. It’s been a lot to help my daughter through it. I am tired. I feel like I’ve done a lot to manage other people’s emotions lately. I wish I had more support managing my own.

Personal

• Watched an Vanderpump Rules Season 11 in five days. Title says it all, except it doesn’t mention how much fun I had doing it. That escape really got me through a shitty week.
• Almost finished the summer fun photo book. But I didn’t need to rush it because I had a coupon. I plan to finish it up this week.
• Took a break from martial arts. I’ve barely been on the mat this month and I think that was the right move. Both my knee, and my mind, needed a break. I’m glad I was able to take it.
• Returned to running. I went again today and it felt so good. It felt like a regular run. And it totally turned around my shitty mood. I can’t wait to get back to real running again. It will be glorious.
• Reconnected with friends. Cutting my daughter’s hair prompted me to text a friend who used to cut her hair when she was much younger. And that prompted me to text her daughter, who I babysat for and then tutored until we became friends. The daughter and I are going to meet up when I’m at the KOA with my son and his friends. I can’t wait.

I would love to add a fifth topic to round this out, but it ain’t going to happen, so I’m going to stop writing and just post this already.

May June be a slower, more restful month for me and anyone else who hopes for that.