We’re getting up at odd hours, between 4 and 5 am, and I’m wondering how long until Anders is back to his 7 am (we’re lucky) wake up. Ever? I made the mistake of staying up late because the past two mornings we were progressing–4 am to 5 am wake up–but then he backslid to 4:30. My mistake! I am lighting a candle in the morning, making coffee, putting my robe on, listening to music. Yes it’s jet lag, but it’s jet lag at home, in my home, and there’s a certain amount of loveliness that comes with being home.
Everyone’s asking about the trip and I say, “The trip was amazing. A grand adventure! But I could not maintain that frenetic pace of life forever.” Probably longer if it were just Steve and I, but even so, there’s comfort in being home. The other day I even took pleasure in the tiny mundane things that otherwise I’d miss entirely. Like putting my dishes away from my dishwasher, or cleaning my countertops. It’s my space again! It’s nice.
When I sign onto the computer, I never have fewer than five tabs open at once, doing too many things simultaneously and yet doing none of them well. Like just now. I picked up Anders, and then clicked over to ASOS to look for a pair of shoes, and then swung over to google organizational planners, and now here I am again. How about an organizational planner for my brain?
Anders is a different baby entirely then when we left. You usually slowly baby-proof the home. Ah, he’s found the plant! Time to move it. Oh, the stairs now, where’s the baby gate? We left, and he barely sat up, hardly mobile. And now? He’s crawling all over the first floor, up the steps, under the table, everywhere. This is a certain wake-up call to Parker, who’s used to setting toys up on the ground only to now discover a little blonde wrecking ball heading towards his train set up within moments of him laying it down. Little brothers.
I made chili the other day in my dutch oven. You know, that’s one thing that brought me comfort while away. A big pot of hot something-or-other in my dutch oven upon return. Steve’s excited to eat some with his first football game of the season.
But really, what do you do for organization? To stop the chatter in your brain as my sister calls it? I have to-do lists all over the place and can’t even keep them straight. I need a to-do list for my to-do lists: Organize to-do lists.
I'm the queen of lists and I have found list/to do peace with my Erin Condren planner. Great quality, beautiful colors and very functional. They just started selling them at Staple so you can check them out in person and use a coupon!
http://www.erincondren.com
I used to do a million things at once but I am starting to learn how to focus on doing one thing at a time. It's less stressful for your mind.
Welcome home. Are the big kids back at school? I'm curious how it works for them to miss 2 months…hope you will post about it.
they are–as of today! will post on that.
When you find an answer, let me know because this preggie brain can't remember anything!
Hooray!
Welcome home! It must feel simply lovely to be back and I'm sure you all will get back on a good sleep schedule in no time…fingers crossed for you at least! There really is NOTHING like being home after a long adventure.
xoxo
We just went to and came home from Denmark with 6-month-old twins. The jet lag is EPIC. I feel you.
I just started using a planner again for the first time since high school and am loving it. A proper paper book that I usually leave open in the kitchen. As soon as I think of something I can write it down and then stop trying to work on remembering it.
You should get a Get To Work Book! http://www.gettoworkbook.com
ok, that book is awesome!
Certain ongoing lists on the iPhone under Reminders (groceries, hardware store, pharmacy) but the big household To Do list is still on a legal pad on the desk. When a task is done it gets a highlighter mark across it as a quick visual reminder (pat on the back) that progress is being made. New list is made every Monday. I've tried lots of other ways but I am old school I guess.
Bullet journalling! Basics are at bulletjournal.com, but it's super modifiable. Mine is mostly daily to-dos, interspersed with meal planning and grocery lists, with a few more long term lists at the back (Christmas gifts, house projects, stuff like that).
Welcome home!! I am sure you will find your groove again soon.
So glad you guys are home!
After trying to use my phone and doing the streamlined moleskine thing, I went back to a paper planner-Plum Paper Designs on etsy. You can customize with whatever you want, so rows in each day for family members, meal planning, to do, etc. Like Erin Condren, but cheaper. I also just read Marie Kondo's Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up and it's brought some calmness and organization too!
Wunderlist is a great to-do app. You can share lists with other users.