I’m posting this update on October ten days into November because I wish October never happened. There may have been a few high moments but it was mostly a month of worry and stress. The month started out peacefully enough and then without notice, we learned our daughter’s best friend was diagnosed with cancer. This little girl (and her entire family) is dear to us–hearing this news felt like we were hearing news about our own daughter. While they are on their treatment journey right now and everyone feels hopeful, there was a confusing two weeks where no one knew what would happen. For now, it’s a continuous cycle of loving, supporting, waiting, and let’s be honest, periodically drinking.
October was terrible. No two ways about it. So I’m happy that we’re on to November even if it’s super cold in New England.
So, October….
Things I want to do weekly:
- Exercise 4x a week: 14 visits to my exercise class. I came down with a serious cold that knocked me out for a week. So getting back to 5am workouts was tough.
- Give kids weekly allowance: Nope.
- Do one act of kindness each week: I baked for people. I brought bagels to my friends in the hospital because I didn’t know how to help. I helped organize meals. I tried to help my friends. All I did was try and be kind (when I wasn’t busy being angry)
- Read one full length article in a magazine every week: I read one incredible article after hearing its author interviewed on Another Round.
- Read it: Going It Alone but Rahawa Haile
Things to do every month:
- Regular library trips: The library is a part of our routine now. The girls have books everywhere. I’ve taken all of my book club books out of the library. The girls ask about going to the library after school on Fridays. It’s AWESOME!
- 2 Yoga classes: Zero yoga classes.
- Read 2 books: 1!
- Weapons of Math Destruction by Cathy O’Neil. There’s no way I can convince you to read it because it has math in the title. But this is a book about how racism is encoded in big data and it was fascinating and depressing and important.
- Write 2 blog posts: Yes!
- Choose outside: I know I was outside a lot. I don’t remember all of the times I was outside but summer never ended in New England so I was outside as much as possible.
- 1 date night: date lunch but no date night
Some other great stuff that happened this month:
- Celebrated dad’s 73rd birthday
- Took kids to Great Wolf Lodge and survived
- Took kids to see School of Rock and they loved it
- Survived a solo trip to IKEA
- Attended a great training in Boston (Tufte)
rogue cheerios 