Here we are. Three months into this grand school experiment. I’ll do a full recap of the fun things that my girls have been up to this semester, but for now I’d like to prove that I too have been doing fun things. They are fun Mom things…akin to how a great Mom Christmas present is a vaccum cleaner and kids universally roll their eyes at such things. So no, I’m not lounging about in my pajamas watching endless cartoons, playing video games, and eating junk food. My 11 year old is so disappointed. My daily is filled with cleaning and cooking and all the other stuff I already did. Now I just do it listening to podcasts, and without the concern that I probably should be checking on someone because it’s too quiet. I also squeeze in projects that just make me happy or tie up loose ends. Also Halloween costumes and soon-to-be holiday madness.
To be honest, I’m not settled into this new normal yet. I miss Garyn and I miss my girls when they are away at school. My mornings are crazy fast and go go go as are the evenings. But during the day things are quiet and move slowly. This rhythm still feels foreign. But it’s fine. We are moving forward and there are always beautiful ways to fill my time.

My daughters went through a brief but intense Diamond Art phase. They got me my own picture to work on for Mother’s Day two years ago (I think). I finally finished it. It’s now framed and hanging in our kitchen.
Neil started crocheting a wolf for Corra years ago. I finally finished it.
Layna loved her quilt from Grandma so much it needed some love back. I finally repaired it. Leaning heavily into Kintsugi. The quilt is loved and is a big part of Layna’s story. As such the patch didn’t need to perfectly blend in.
Our bathroom desperately needed a new rag rug. I made our old one when we moved to our last house is Las Vegas. I’m confident the orange will be just as bizarre with the new color scheme thats happening as it was the old color scheme. It makes me happy.
I’m keeping up with funny or cute or just nice notes for my girls lunches. I aim for one a week and it keeps me drawing.

Going back to kintsugi…I’m having to repair some big holes in my heart. They aren’t bad and they make room for all the things I know are coming. But sometimes the repair process of filling the holes is a bit painful and complicated. Things are really different now and even though it still feels unfamiliar and rough…it has all the golden shininess of novelty and adventure.

Smooching my husband randomly during the day without Layna yelling “ROMANCE!” and giggling maniacally is nice too.