Mama’s Shit List - June Edition
We're back. Well somewhat. We are kicking off a new monthly newsletter sharing the good, the bad, and mostly the ugly of the last month. What is saving this mama's life right now and what is making it to the top of her shit list will be shared each month for those of you who might need to feel like you are not alone in the crazy.
In the South, the end of June marks the halfway point of summer vacation—a marathon moms train for all year. We deploy all of our planning, multitasking, and mom-hacks to survive the inconsistent schedules and incessant demands for snacks while maintaining the professional demands of our work lives. Here is a short list of things that I have decided are at the top of my shit list and those things that are helping me keep it together. I don't know if this list will help anyone else, but the simple act of making a list - both the glows and the blows - has been therapeutic, and if nothing else, I highly recommend just the simple practice.
Shit List
Homeownership: Like general adulting, this mainly falls within the garbage category. I love our home, and I know what a privilege it is even to have a house to complain about; however... in the last nine months, we have had to either replace or do major repairs to our air conditioning units, water heater, and dishwasher. Should we have a robust emergency savings fund? Of course. Do we? No. So, we, too, like everyone else these days, are reconsidering our budget and the few luxuries of life we still enjoy.
Swimwear: Approaching 40 and three kiddos later has left my general body shape to have shifted in a way I have found pretty unfamiliar. I am okay with the shift, but finding swimwear that fits this new figure has been an adventure. I either feel like I am stuffing myself into swimwear that leaves very little to the imagination, or I succumbed to a swimwear circa 1910 (look it up, shockingly accurate.) I have found one bathing suit that works, so I bought it in multiple colors and called it a day.
Dinners: We have a 3, 5, and 7-year-old who have sucked the fun out of dinner. Our seven-year-old is game for a wider variety of meals, but the 3 and 5-year-old basically eat two categories of food - chicken and beans. I have tried to add some new and different summer meal options, but they have been quickly vetoed. The last dish I tried was described as borderline torture. I'd ask for recommendations in the comments, but I am not really sure it is worth it. I can only pray that this, too, shall pass.
Helping Me Keep My Shit Together
Louis Penny - The Three Pines series with Detective Gamache brings me such joy. There are about 20 books in this series, and I have made it about halfway through. I love this series on audible as the narrator reminds me of my father-in-law - kind, wise, and strong. Committing to the series has allowed me not to toil over my next read and provided an easy choice. Her writing is beautiful and profound in a way I have not found in many other mystery series. If you are in a reading slump, I highly recommend it!
Cutting Garden—Last spring, my eldest and I decided to try a cutting garden. For Easter, the kids got flower seeds in their baskets, which they loved sprinkling in our garden at the front of the house. We had no idea what we were doing, so I was shocked when the flowers furiously began taking over the entire flower bed, but the colors were so wonderful. They bring the most beautiful butterflies to the house, and once a week, I trim the flowers for a fresh bouquet for our kitchen island. We have loved this so much that we will create flower beds dedicated to seasonal flowers this fall. We look forward to this becoming a small family tradition.
Pools - We live right outside New Orleans, so saying it is unbearably hot is an understatement. This summer, we decided to join a local pool, and it has been one of my favorite decisions of the season. The pool is nothing fancy or special, but the kids love it. When we have a few hours of nothing planned, we throw the kids in the car and head down the street with a cooler of kid and adult beverages and snacks. If we are lucky, some friends will join us there, and we can enjoy ourselves while the heathens splash and entertain each other in the pool. It was worth the hundreds of bathing suits I tried this summer.