(Hi, hello, it’s been a LONG time. Probably the longest time period I’ve ever gone without blogging. Is anyone still reading? Are blogs still relevant? Whatever, who cares. I’ll catch you up soon on the terribleness that has been 2016, but for now – I want to talk about February and 2017. And making goals/setting intentions because that centers me.)
Health:
Get my medical records. // I have medical records at 3 different offices in Cleveland, Akron, and Massachusetts. World’s biggest hassle, but once I have them, I can more easily get second opinions and change doctors. Which will help with..
Contact maternal fetal medicine specialists in Boston. // I have four names in Boston of doctors I need to get in touch with review my medical history and figure out why my babies keep dying. Maybe I’ll do that this month. Maybe next. Depends how long it takes me to get my medical records.
Make a PCP appointment. // I had an intake appointment last summer, but I need an annual physical. That seems like an adult thing to do.
Self-Improvement:
Do a phone bootcamp. // I use this app daily to keep track of how much time I’m spending on my phone. It has a 10-day bootcamp with a challenge for each day- like take a walk without your phone, get off your phone an hour earlier than you usually do, etc. It’s a great app and helps me realize just how much time I can waste on my phone. (Though to be fair, it also includes Google Maps in the usage time.)
Finish couch to 5K. // I restarted C25K in December after taking the past few months off running. I’m in week seven and it’s been so great to get back out there. Plus!! We finally have a treadmill – so I can run inside too, now. (I prefer walking on the treadmill because then I dread it less. But I can handle some minimal running on it. I’d never train for a half marathon or anything on a treadmill. I’m far too wimpy for that.)
Family:
Decide about spring break. // Do we want to stay here and not break? Do we want to fly to San Diego or Palm Springs? Do we want to drive down to the Outer Banks again? TBD. I need to lay out the costs of each and decide! It’s only 6 weeks away.
Get a character development book for Gabe. // One of my big goals this year to do more character development work with Gabe – aka: keep him a nice, kind human being and not spoiled or bratty. I’m already reading this great book but I could use more resources, especially since they could be used as homeschooling activities. I did character development lesson plans for the elementary school students I worked with 10 (!) years ago and it was really fun.
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Since I’m sharing goals and aspirations, I’ll also share my Big Yearly Goals. It’s a little embarrassing to admit I’m still working on some things (like being nicer to my husband and not being on my phone all the time), but hey, #3 says I should.
My 2017 Goals:
1) Be kinder to Mike. Snap less, laugh more.
2) Be present and mindful. Break phone addiction and meditate regularly.
3) Be more open with friends. Invite people over and be vulnerable enough to reach out to make new connections. (Experiencing so much loss and heartbreak last year has made me prioritize more authentic, vulnerable connections. Especially with people who are broken and get what it’s like.)
4) Strength train regularly. (I’m getting older. I need to take care of my bones)
5) Enforce chores for kids and do character development with Gabe.
Little goals:
– Open 429 accounts for kids
– Establish family traditions on Friday and Saturday
– Read to Theo as a part of daily routine
– Shift savings from downpayment to retirement
– Take a road trip out west?
– Get involved in community
– Go to a work conference
– Eat more greens and protein
– Donate more
– Get passports for kids
– Read more
Ughh the phone thing. It’s scary how vulnerable we feel without our phones – like if I leave it at home, it’s like I’m missing a limb. So bad.
Ask Arwen about the “virtues” program her kids’ school uses. The principal basically wrote it, and it’s awesome!
Oof, I tried a phone app like that & it made me feel so guilty that I just became extra-anxious each time I opened my phone. DELETE. I love the idea in theory, though!
I know the pain of having all your medical records spread out around the country. My back X-rays are in Cleveland & D.C., my gastrointestinal records are in D.C. & New Hampshire, & I’ve seen probably 13 dentists over the last 10 years… what a mes.s I hope that once you gather yours, you’ll feel well-armed & ready to go see a maternal fetal medicine specialist. Sending you love.
I just wanted to let you know since you mentioned 429 accounts for the kids that Citizens Bank has a college savers account that gives them an $1000 when they turn 18 (at least in our area) in case you wanted to look into it.
Something we’ve done in our house that would combine the enforce chores/behavior and family traditions goals is the following: My daughter struggles with getting her morning and evening routine tasks (ie, toilet, get dressed/undressed, etc) in a timely manner on weekdays. We set up a deal that if she does the routines in a timely fashion AND without complaining, we stop at the library after school on Friday and she can pick out a DVD. My husband works near a fancy popcorn shop, and he brings home a bag to share. After our toddler is in bed, we all sit on the “big bed” and watch the movie with the popcorn. She loves this so much that she very rarely melts down during her routines, when it used to be a near daily occurrence. I didn’t even appreciate how much she cherishes Friday night movie time until she had to write a book at school about her favorite things and it appeared in there twice!
Also, being totally nosy, but the last time you talked budgets you mentioned that you weren’t really going to do college savings for your kids because of getting a tuition break via your husband? I’m curious about what has changed. I also hear you on retirement savings. We talked about this last time – but with all the doom and gloom about the retirement picture for people our age, we recently upped our retirement savings to 20% of our income. I think it’s insanely high, but even then some online calculators tell me that isn’t enough. I am holding fast, though, in that I want there to be some money to enjoy now!
I hope you get some good answers and direction from the medical community soon.
If you come to San Diego or take a road trip out West… I’ll happily drive the rest of the way to see ya! (Or you can crash with us if you want to see Yosemite or some beautiful beaches just a couple hours away.)
ooooh, that would be fun! :)
I’m still reading! So glad to read your post. I have the phone problem too and am also working on putting it down more and being more present with my kids. Please keep writing!
Oh, thank you so much for the encouraging words! :)
I hope these Boston doctors can get you some answers. <3
I need to be on my phone less too. But man, it's so hard.
It’s helped that even Theo has started saying, “Mama you get off you phone!” Oops.
Happy to see you blogging again! Wishing you luck as you arm yourself with your medical records and seek out answers. I admire you advocating for yourself.
Thanks! Don’t admire me too much – taking action is mostly to make me feel like I’m doing something, ha. :)
Of course it is still relevant! I love reading about child education, home schooling, minimalism. I have a son the same age as Theo and had one loss last year and will waiting for another pregnancy. Please share about character building and how to raise good children in general! Thanks for sharing your live and your art,
Aw, thanks for reading. :) This is encouraging!
Welcome back. I am scheduling all of my annual appts and I need to find a new dentist. I hate adulting sometimes.