Anxiety doesn't win today

I woke up this morning at the  terrible hour of 5am.  The crazy thing was, that my husband was already up and at em' going to work early, and invigorated by the fresh start.  It's funny how some people are so energized by the early morning hours.  I'm not one of those people.

So why 5 am?  Because my anxiety was kicking in, threatening to ruin my sleep for the day.  I did a few mental exercises and drifted off to sleep for another 40 minutes of sweet light sleep.

And then the adrenaline began.  For me it begins at the base of my neck and spreads down my whole back.  At this point, I knew it was get up or get worse, so I got up.

I tried to find a Yoga video on  Netflix  I could do before the kids had to wake up.  No luck.  Not even a Pilates  or any kind of exercise video to be found.  So I turned on Pandora and did my own exercise  in my room.  Hmm.  After 10 minutes I felt worse, though at least my heart rate was up because of movement, not just adrenaline.  I knelt down and said a prayer for some help with this as I could see it wasn't going away easily.

At this point I was starting to feel like I was going to pass out and laid down.  I knew what was happening.  Classic anxiety for me.

So I decided that my body may be on high alert, ready for all sorts of crashes and trouble, but my mind was not going to join in on the fun.  I put all sorts of ideas about health emergencies and worsening situations out of my head and focused on the tangible.  I took our dog outside, and enjoyed the cool air for about 30 seconds, after which I made a mad dash to the bathroom and threw up.

Kids earning the big bucks

Summer has officially began, and I warned my kids that we weren't going to just kick back, but that we'd work hard and have fun!  We are trying out a new system of earning money and doing chores, originally adapted from this post at 71 toes (a blog I adore).  

In it, you essentially pay your kiddos their age in dollars every week for a completed chart.  The charts include 4 duties per day, and ours are customized to the things I happen to care about most.  The first box is for the 'zone', or the area which they're in charge of cleaning for the day.  This is picked by a spinning wheel (which was easy enough to make). 

Our zone wheel includes cleaning the family room, kids bathroom, scooping dog poo, watering the garden each morning before 8ish, washing drying and folding a load of laundry, and vacuuming one room.  Those chores are great for the ages of my kids, but older kids may need different chores.  Each day they switch.

 

Once their zone sticker is earned, they complete the other 4 duties and earn stickers for doing so.  They have to clean their bedroom, read for 30 min and finish their "nighttime 3" by the time the timer beeps.  This includes brushing teeth, getting dressed, and going potty.  When that's over we read scriptures, say prayers, and get into bed.  

Except Dan and I.  We get to go another round of cleaning or working until our eyes inch shut in an unreal fight to finish the task or show.

When the kids have filled up their charts with sticker, we get together and pay them for their good deeds.  They can earn as many dollars as years old they are.  If there are 2 or more empty squares, they only get paid half their age.  Though they can earn one sticker for doing something extra special, like practicing a deck of subtraction flash cards, or serving someone.

Today we tried it out, and although I felt like I literally pushed them for every inch we gained, we did it.  And at the dinner table during 'most favorite least favorite', each of the kids said their most favorite was earning stickers.  My jaw dropped.

The good news is that tomorrows zones will be MUCH easier than today's, because we can maintain now instead of picking up all the rocks in Mordor to get this house clean.

I'm praying it will stick!  I'll keep you posted, even if we drop off the charts (ha. I hate puns.) midway.

Have a great Tuesday!

Late Bloomer

I suppose that as a mom, I can't help but worry about my kids, and one of our boys in particular.  Sometimes he cries when others his age don't, he needs sleep more than our other kids ever did, and he always seems to be in the shadow of his older brother.  I silently wonder if he'll be left behind in any way.

But the other day I was taking the dog out and I noticed  a bloom on my favorite tree (a Magnolia).  I had long awaited the blooms on that tree all winter.  And when they came they were magnificent.  This year they didn't even freeze.  They lasted and now the blooms are done and have fallen to the ground.

But not this one.

And I can't believe how beautiful it is among the leaves that weren't there before. The colors are brilliant together.  Such an unexpected delight.

It's a sweet reminder of what I might have missed if those late bloomers hadn't come around 

when they did. 

I suppose that my boy growing up in his time frame is like that.  Maybe it's a gift from heaven to see things I may not have caught before, and to savor the joy of being his mom.  

Blooming late may not be so bad after all.

Soccer Moms Unite!

What is going on with all the Soccer moms who don't give out any secrets to making crazy Spring soccer manageable?  We're in our 2nd half of soccer seasn, and I just figured out how to keep my 3 small kiddos warm at the FREEZING matches. 

 It's one thing to get out there and play soccer with a jacket on under your jersey (also discovered that tip on my own, after wearing the jacket on top of the uniform).   It's another thing entirely to brave the wind and cold rain while sitting on the sidelines.  And we happen to have games and practices right during the dinner hour.  So, here is our solution: delicious ham and potato soup!

Dinner and hand warmer in one.

Pour it into a mason jar, and pack them into the lunch cooler.  Done!

And while this sweet boy is kicking away,

we are happily eating our warm dinner.  Warmer on the inside and warmer on the outside, 

and soccer star here gets to eat as soon as his game ends.  

Now take that idea to your soccer game and let the other Mommas know!  

Then maybe their kids won't come home crying from red hands and cold noses.