I’m not sure what to write. I woke up with a cold last night and I don’t feel great. The 15yo has this cold (she gave it to me, how kind) and it seems to be lingering for her. I’m trying to accept it with equanimity. because it’s not the worst timing, and what can I do?
The kids and I cleaned the bathroom. The shower was disgusting. DIS-GUST-ING. All three of us worked on it and it took a couple hours. It was really stressing me out, so I’m relieved that its done. I’m also relieved that I am teaching my kids how to do some deep cleaning. I definitely need them to help more around the house, but they can’t help if they don’t know how.
{Turns out the husband also can’t help if he doesn’t know how, but the thought of having to teach a grown ass adult this stuff hits different. I know I’ve helped create these patterns, that verge on learned helplessness, but this is all fodder for another post.}
We watched RRR tonight with the kids. They LOVED it. I must admit, I’m a little impressed that they could hang for a three hour foreign language film (we watched in Hindi with the English subtitles). We haven’t watched a movie together in a long time, and it was a lot of fun. I really enjoy watching movies with my family.
I started the calendar. I plan to finish our version (which I also order for my parents) tomorrow and then work on the version for my in-laws on Tuesday. Tomorrow I have to update all the birthday squares, which always takes longer than I expect. I’ve been working on it while the 15yo and I watch the third season of the Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, which definitely helps. 😉
I think I might almost be done getting Christmas gifts for the kids. I have a couple things I know the 15yo is going to love, but I’ve been a little stressed about the 12yo; I just don’t have anything I think he’ll be really excited about. In the hope of avoiding a mediocre Christmas, we just booked the same AirBnB we went to in the snow last year, because he’s been talking a lot about how much he enjoyed that trip and wants to go again. Now that is going to be his big surprise for Christmas (I’ve been telling him we can’t go again this year). I really did NOT want to go to the snow again this year (you may remember I thought the trip was pretty “meh” last year), but the 12yo is not always super enthusiastic about the non-video game parts of his life, so it feels like indulging his desire to visit the snow with his family is not a big ask. I really want to plan a final visit to Disneyland at some point but that costs serious $$$, and I don’t think anyone else really cares about going, so I’m reading the room and making the easier, cheaper, trip happen.
Ugh- sorry you’re sick!
You’re reminding me that the shower in my daughter’s bathroom (which also becomes my son’s bathroom when he’s home) needs a DEEP cleaning. Jeez, I hope it won’t take two hours!!!
Hmm, husbands and cleaning. My husband does well if he has a specific task, but if I say “Can you tidy up the living room?” he’ll say, “okay, what needs to be cleaned?” and I’ll be looking around with disbelief at the shoes on the floor, mail strewn on the coffee table, empty glasses here and there, candy wrappers (from Halloween) on the couch…IS IT NOT OBVIOUS???
I think boys are usually harder to buy for than girls. I have lots of ideas for my daughter’s Christmas presents, but nothing for my son yet. We’ll be discussing that when he’s home!
It took two hours because I was showing them how to do it and checking in as needed. I could have knocked it out in an hour or less I’m sure. Teaching takes time! 😉
We legit took the kids on an African safari last year for the same cost that people spend on Disney. As someone who didn’t grow up going to Disney and has never been as an adult, I truly don’t understand the Disney hype, but I also have a friend here who LOVES it and they take their kids every single year. I cannot fathom that when there is an entire world to see! I’m selfishly glad you’re surprising your son with a trip he loves instead of Disney. We also do very little for Christmas gifts, always do a trip with the kids (and often their cousins) instead. Figure spending the money on an experience trip + quality time together will mean a lot more to them than whatever gift I could come up with. Bonus, I’m a TERRIBLE gift giver but a fantastic trip planner, so it fills my cup, too. 😉
It’s so crazy expensive to go to Disney. And now that I’ve admitted to myself that no one really wants to go as much as I do, we may never go again. Which is fine. Le sigh. We need to save for some bigger trips that we want to do in the next few years anyway.
Being sick is awful, but cleaning the shower while being sick sounds miserable! This reminds me that my daughter’s bathroom probably needs some parental intervention. It’s been awhile since I’ve deep cleaned it and I know it’s due.
It definitely got as bad as it did because it’s the 15yo’s job to clean it. I’m glad I’m teaching the 12yo how to help with it because it really is a big job. The sliding doors are hard to clean thoroughly. And yeah, helping clean it on day one of a cold was not great.
What a great achievement to get both kids more up-to-date on bathroom cleaning. May help them both to notice what a difference is involved but know it takes repeated instruction over a time period. Best wishes.
Doing that while in the first stages of a cold is particularly impressive. Hope your cold is lots faster to disappear than your daughter’s! I am back to ‘it takes a long time to get over any virus age’ but you are piles younger so hopefully, esp as a teacher, your immune system is ready to overcome the cold.
Thank you for writing when sick!!
I feel so much better about my life knowing I’m not alone in having to tackle a shower that is need of a deep cleaning. Plus – I have a husband who doesn’t know how to do things . . . he didn’t know we could return things to a different Target. Last week, he didn’t know the grocery store/pharmacy had a bathroom. What? I’m sorry you caught a cold. I almost stuck my fingers in my ears and hollered, lalalala, knowing you have your kids’ gifts already bought.
I am sorry you were sick and hope you feel much better by now. My husband has a few chores he takes very seriously (more seriously than me LOL) but generally, he doesn’t “see” work unless I point it out to him. What is it with men?