Super Glad

We are headed toward yet another fun-filled weekend, and it is not at all lost on me that our weekends, in all the years that I've known Dylan, have not always looked the way they have lately. Remember when I worked Monday thru Friday? And then Dylan was gone over the weekend for work? Probably not, because that was many moons ago...but I was a miserable person. The picture of our life right now is so vastly different and so much more whole and happy and better in a million ways. Even when I stopped working all week, most of Dylan's jobs over the years, with the exception of a few months here and there, involved mostly weekend travel. It's a bummer whether or not I'm clocking in during the week, myself, and it's been a bummer before and since having kids. Now, he'll have to travel over the weekend sometimes, or even just one of the weekend days, and that's no big deal every now and then. And for all the times in-between when we've been able to enjoy our Saturday and Sunday (and sometimes Friday and Monday) as one whole cohesive family unit, I've been relieved and happy and fulfilled. (For the record, we miss him a ton when he's gone during the week, and often he is, but it stings a lot less.)

Good health also has us happy and relieved and fulfilled. Gavin is noticeably plumper and healthier and eating so much food that I don't know where it is all going. Graham is rolling right along as well, and even though both boys have noses that are draining like faucets, I'll consider that the norm and just feel thankful for the bigger picture. After the call from the dermatologist today with the good news that I'm free and clear until my next visit, I can honestly say that appreciation for good health has been at the forefront of my thoughts today.

This week has been as standard as it gets. We've had Dylan in town...so actually maybe it's been a step or two above just standard. I was able to sneak away for a happy hour, and Dylan even took on swim class duty so I could head to the gym solo and avoid the racket of the Kids Club because of Spring Break this week. Somewhere in there has been work for both adult parties in this family.

You know, I've been thinking a lot about work in general during this most recent round of checking in at the same old pharmacy for the last eight years. One night a couple weeks ago we were really busy, and then the next morning Dylan asked how work was the previous day since he hadn't had a chance to ask me when I got home. I told him that it had been over an hour since I had left my job for the afternoon, and it was all completely deleted from my memory so I couldn't answer that question.

Sure, I don't enjoy the work any more than I ever have. Yes, I still check my soul at the door and then collect it when I drive my car out of the parking lot in the afternoon, just as I have for years. But as soon as I reclaim my soul and delete the day from my memory, I'm good to continue on with my life. Now, do I really want to be deleting two full days each week from my memory?

Well, the short answer is yes. It's better than allowing it to make me unhappy anytime outside the hours of 8-4 on Tuesday and Thursday. There was definitely a time when the misery consumed me. Luckily, I've been able to shake that millenial-esque attitude of feeling entitled to do something fun and amazing for work, and instead I've just turned into a grown-up that goes to a job because grown-ups go to jobs, and whatever. (Only working two days per week most certainly helped in that attitude adjustment.) And yes, I do like breaking up my week, I do like being in a place where generally people tell me I'm good at something, I like having a reason to blow-dry my hair and leave the house in normal clothes, and I really, really like being a part of something bigger than myself. But let's be honest...without the money, none of it would really be worth it.

Is it really all about the money? Not all...but mostly. Should I be experiencing some sort of moral crisis because I'm not above checking my soul to earn a paycheck, even though my family would remain sheltered and fed without it? I don't think so. I'm just a person doing what people do, and I have bigger aspirations for what I'll do with myself when my kids are a little older and in school. Right now is just not my time. Some day, but not now. So yeah, Tuesday and Thursday are what they are...but Friday thru Monday are so super sweet. On most days of the week, I'm doing my life's most important work, but I'm glad to have the chance to change the scenery, too. I don't think that's a rough way to live by anybody's standards.

He loves getting ahold of this whistle...whatever it takes to make things louder and crazier

A shared bowl of ice cream at the park...

...that only ended in tears for both parties involved

Ate a blue pencil. NBD

Balance beam practice at the park

Leading outdoor yoga. What a perfect downward dog.

He loves anything with wheels lately

Still stirring up trouble on the see saw

Look, a bird

I suppose the takeaway from this meandering blog post that has touched on many varied points is that, overall, we are coasting along in a pretty good place with very few complaints and many reasons to be grateful. We hit hiccups and bumps along the way, but with my old age, it's been a lot easier to take things in stride. With a little step back and a look at things as a whole, well, 2017 is shaping up to be a-OK so far.