Tuesday, August 11, 2009

iT'S TiMe

It’s Time.

I need some space and some quiet and some really deep breathing exercises. These kids are officially off their rockers and driving me INSANE. Is it OK that I’m admitting this? It’s just time for them to go back to school so I can get my house and my quiet and my routine back. I’ve been thinking a lot about the things I want to do for ME when they go back. And call me selfish if you must, but there’s a ME here that deserves some ME time. Some time to focus on me to get me back to where I am happier. And happier means sane, quiet, thinner, calmer, more rested and smiling. That’s what I need to be the happier ME I can be.

So, here’s a list of some of the things I’m going to do as soon as school starts. Which is in 8 days:

Stop eating crap. Because really, I haven’t stopped eating crap since April. And this is what I do – I eat crap until I’m back to not being happy with my body. Then I start over again. It’s like I love the challenge of going back to WW, getting my life back on track. I must be insane. Why don’t I just stick to it? How freaking hard is it to concentrate on what I eat, and still eat the things I enjoy? How difficult is it to drink more water? I wake up each morning and go to the mirror and see the puffy-faced ME that I don’t want to be. I look at my fingers every morning and see that they’re swollen because I’ve got too much sodium in my diet. And yeah, don’t get me started on the fact that my cholesterol is kind of up there, which I knew would be not too good, and I do know that when I FOCUS on ME and start eating better again, then that number will go down, and my fingers and face (and the rest of me) won’t be all oompa loompa-ish.

Bike ride. Because Diva and I went for a 10-mile ride the other day which was amazing. Someone said just the other day that the quickest way to feel like a kid again is to get on a bike and ride through the wind. It is so true. So guess what I bought for myself last weekend? A bike. A cute ‘hybrid’ bike that’s a fun green color. It’s hybrid because you can ride on the street or trails on it. I am getting used to it and finding that it’s a fun activity. I don’t know if biking will aid in any weight-loss program, but it sure does make me feel happy and good, and remember, this is all about ME right now! So, biking. I’m going to do it.

Exercise. Yoga on Tuesdays and Fridays. Spinning on Wednesday. Those are my goals. And biking on my new fun bike when the urge strikes, and I hope it strikes often.

Write AND finish this damn second novel I have been dreaming up of and have ½ of it done already.

See movies. Anytime I want. And eat popcorn while I’m there. And a big old Diet Coke.

Be there for my kids when they get home from school. Physically and mentally.

Work. I love my freelance work and want to continue to do it. I’m at a point now where I’m happy with what I’m doing, with the amount of time I spend doing it, and the outcome of most of what I write and do. See for yourself and check out BettyConfidential.com – a great fun women’s website!

Read. As you all know, I FREAKIN’ LOVE books and stories and to read a lot! I never just sit and read. I always grab my book at bedtime and read a bit while my eyes close. That’s not real good reading. That’s reading to fall asleep. And while I do love it, I think I need to read when I’m not falling asleep. So often I’ll read a book and the following week I swear I cannot remember the title or the story or the characters’ names even though I loved the book. So I guess that means I need to concentrate on my reading. RIght now I am reading a FABULOUS suspenseful great book called The Weight of Silence by Heather Gudenkauf. It's one of those books that I DEFINITELY cannot put down and one that keeps you wondering the whole time what is going to happen!

And great, now Diva just whacked me in the thigh and stepped on my foot, part of it was accident, part on purpose (OK, I was telling her she needed some deodorant, so that’s why this happened, and now I can’t concentrate on what I wanted to say …

Which means I need to start CONCENTRATING! Oh boy. I am just a jumble of everything and I want some NORMAL!!!

So, thanks for letting me rant for a bit. There’s still time to enter to win the Bunch-O-Swag giveaway. I think I’ll do the drawing on Thursday!

Bye for now. And let the countdown begin of only 8 days till school, although my Ajers is going to Junior High so I might be crying a little.

What are YOU going to do with your time to help you find YOU?

Peace UP!

11 comments:

Mame said...

Amen sister!

I'm gonna do the Stephen King Crunch and write 1000 words a day in the morning, Mon.-Fri.

There's a gym around the corner I JUST discovered and it's only 25 bucks a month!

AND, I'm also going to spend less time online, and more time reading.

AND, I'm gonna hang out with my kids in the evening instead of *even thinking* about writing. Brain OFF.

Michelle said...

Wait wait wait... 8 days? I thought we started early on the 24th. Wow! Good luck with those last few days :)

You've definitely got a good list of things to do. I think you need to write it down for yourself somewhere that you'll see it regularly.

My list involves umm quitting my job, doing more with the PTO at both schools, gettin to the gym regularly, going to gymnastics with Little Miss, reading, volunteering with hippotherapy and ohhh so much more!

IamMe said...

During my me-time I search the internet for sites like yours. Thank you for being apart of the "mommies on the net." I truely enjoy stumbling upon mommy-sites. We need eachother!
www.amommysdaybyIamMe.blogspot.com

Monnik said...

Back to school isn't much of a break for me, actually it's worse since activities start up again.

But... self discovery is always a good thing. I really need to find the time to devote to me, myself and I every day.

Unknown said...

Our school started full-time yesterday! But it doesn't really make a difference for me, cause I have to work, so I can't be home. Sometimes I hate it, sometimes I LOVE it!!!!!

Dang girl, I need to lose weight, too. I have never, in my life, been over-weight, until the last year. I mean, only by about 15 pounds, but enough to move up a size or two which I freaking LOATHE!

March2theSea said...

sounds like a good check list of things..looking forward to hearing of all your happiness you get from doing them all!

Anonymous said...

My kids went back today, and what did I do? I spent the morning in my 1st grade daughter's classroom helping out her teacher, then took my 8th grade son to lunch since it sucks to have your birthday on the first day of school. Then went shopping for his birthday gifts, then back to pick up the oldest son from his 10th grade school. Maybe tomorrow can be some "me" time?

My plans for this year - get in shape. I have type 2 diabetes and don't take good care of myself. I'm overweight, and have no energy (part of that was due to the severe anemia I had, but just had two dates with iron thru IV, and feel much better). I'm planning to go to the gym 3 days a week - the days I'm not teaching preschool, and then go walking/biking in the evenings with my husband. We'll see.

Anonymous said...

Last year, I started going to see the movies I wanted to see on Friday afternoons by myself. The theaters do the earlier movies then, so I could go while the kids were in school. I loved being able to do that, and plan to do it again this school year. :)

Stephanie J. Blake said...

After 8 years at home, I'm going back to school to train to be a phlebotomy technician...drawing blood...in 12 weeks I'll be a vampire...and working part-time...gearing up to full-time next year when all the kiddos are in school.

Stacey / Create a Balance for Moms said...

Oh thank goodness I did not win any more swag. My husband would kill me if I brought any more swag into my house.

We met at BlogHer and I recently received a super fun and friendly email from you.

I love this post and would like for invite you to join the inspiring moms club on my blog to write about your ME time as the kids go back to school. I'm thinking we could make it a special Back to School edition. Let me know what you think. You could include a lot of your Me Time activities that you list in this post.

http://createabalance.com/inspiring-moms-club/

Cheers to you for honoring your authentic self and for finding time for Me Time! You Rock and you are an Inspiration to me and to other moms.

MaNiC MoMMy™ said...

I love hearing what everyone is set on doing! These are great ideas AND motivators!

Stacey--I will check out the Inspiring Moms deal - I had seen it before but didn't think I had time to complete the questions. Now, I will MAKE time!

Colorado Writer--What a cool, cool thing to do!!! I can't even say or spell phelmotolotogogist! But always love talking to anyone who takes my blood and finding out their stories! : )