Thank you for the kind words on my last post. I know there are extenuating circumstances making life harder right now. I realize I have not mentioned that my husband is seeking mental health support at Kaiser. The process is slow and byzantine, but he’s taking the necessary steps (and filling out the endless, infuriating forms). Eventually he will ask about medication, but he can’t really do that yet; he’s not far enough along in the process. But he is getting there and that is HUGE.
In the meantime he has stepped it up a bit this week around the house. And I’m taking small but meaningful steps to clearing the clutter. I just need to insist on following through, on not leaving shit partly done all over the place. If I can just put the bag of clean laundry away right when I fold it that would be huge. Every night I clear off a surface that is causing me stress. Already the house feels a little more manageable.
Today I went for a run. I was going to (no staff meeting!), then I wasn’t (it rained all night!), then I was (it cleared up!), then I wasn’t (it’s still cold and a little cloudy and I forgot my running jacket!). I finally committed at the last minute (the sun came out again and I decided I’d probably be warm enough once I got started) and I’m so glad I did. I really needed the break from thinking about anything, and the time outside.
I got back home and my husband and I had a good talk. I had some time to work before my daughter got home from swimming and even though I was spinning my wheels a fair amount, I did get some stuff done.
Oh and this happened!
Tomorrow is my marathon teaching day, and my student teacher will be navigating her first full block period. She is supposed to be teaching two classes a day entirely on her own but at this point she needs me to teach the first one then she does the second one. It’s frustrating because this was supposed to be my big pay back for all the prep I lost, but it is what it is. Hopefully next week she can take both classes each day.
I really want to get to bed early tonight, so I’ll leave you with pictures of these cats, who have been quite the characters lately. The Christmas decorations have them all riled up.
Exercise outside really can help. Inside does too but I find outside is better for my spirits.
Proud of you and happy for you. The student teacher needs to step up, and next week hopefully will do more and discover they can! One step at a time done regularly helps more than one expects so yes to folding the laundry (it helped me to actually use a timer and discover how fast that can be.) and five minutes only of putting things away every day also is cumulative and assistive. HANG IN, you are making such progress……. remember back 10 years ago. Be proud of you, I am.
Yes, running helps everything! It looks like you have a beautiful place to do it.
It sounds like this is a temporary thing for you, but I’m reading a book called How to Keep House While Drowning by KC Davis. It’s geared towards people who are struggling with housework for various reasons, and it’s really helped me!
I love the cat photos : )
This is so great that your husband is seeking help. It’s hard when you’re feeling down because it feels like there are all these extra hurdles to get over, which you need energy for that you don’t have, but I am sure it will help in the long run.
And a run always (!) helps clear my head. I am glad you got out there! What a beautiful day!
Exercise does help!! I just wish I could do it more often. You are very disciplined with it! Your kitties are adorable. Our kitty does not climb she is old and a bit too fragile. Piles, yeah, I make sure that I am ruthless, both at home and especially at work. I do not hold onto student work, the moment I grade it, they get it back.