September, I love what you bring but this year is especially wonderful... Outlander is here! A friend spied this magazine in a waiting room. She didn't know those "time travel books had a sexy love story." Oh what a tale she is missing!
September also brought a rare couple outing! Dominic and I had the glorious treat of a trip to the home improvement store and grocery store! (Pinterest that hot date night idea!) Aren't these trips easier when your dynamic changes?
My back is doing just fine since I haven't bent over a thing since that mishap. I am missing that connection fiercely. Our back to school transition has had some major hiccups and adjustments. While not appropriate to dive into here, I will say that I have the utmost respect for those in the teaching profession. It is hard work and I know even harder with all the changes in the world, funding, curriculum, national mandates, testing, etc, etc. We've luckily had phenomenal teachers who truly felt called to the classroom to mold young minds. Unfortunately we've run into one who fits those rude viral posts disparaging teachers. The past few weeks have been non-stop figuring out how to improve the situation and then research our options and make a big change after barely a month of school.
Those big decisions impacting children have made for some testy times. I'd use those Hurricane Madeline analogies, but with so many suffering from Harvey, Irma, Jose, and Katia, that seems quite insensitive. What a horrible storm season!
This kid around needed a considerable amount of attention from us after school, her sleep was disrupted, and we're off to work during the day. Having big discussions in passing makes for a stressful environment. We feel good about where this situation ended up, made some big adjustments for us in our budget that we ended up with time to discuss eventually. But we're blessed to have schooling options where we live and have room to tighten our budget at all.
Obviously for our child's sake, I'm praying this all works out. For other reasons, we need some calm here, some time at night for Dominic and I to at least finish a sentence or two, maybe even watch TV together? Dreaming big, perhaps we'll have time to figure out the positions you've all suggested!
This dynamic requires some margin to do well. Very little time together makes it easy to feel like adversaries when you have different views and solutions. Things we can discuss and together find a good answer for seem like huge problems without that time.
Summer, I'm officially kicking you out. Along with the fantastic line up of new seasons you'll bring, (Poldark comes back next month!), I need a bit cooler weather, pumpkin patch field trips, fall festivals, and happy settled and secure children. All these things will be much more enjoyable if I'm regularly well-spanked.
My back is doing just fine since I haven't bent over a thing since that mishap. I am missing that connection fiercely. Our back to school transition has had some major hiccups and adjustments. While not appropriate to dive into here, I will say that I have the utmost respect for those in the teaching profession. It is hard work and I know even harder with all the changes in the world, funding, curriculum, national mandates, testing, etc, etc. We've luckily had phenomenal teachers who truly felt called to the classroom to mold young minds. Unfortunately we've run into one who fits those rude viral posts disparaging teachers. The past few weeks have been non-stop figuring out how to improve the situation and then research our options and make a big change after barely a month of school.
Those big decisions impacting children have made for some testy times. I'd use those Hurricane Madeline analogies, but with so many suffering from Harvey, Irma, Jose, and Katia, that seems quite insensitive. What a horrible storm season!
This kid around needed a considerable amount of attention from us after school, her sleep was disrupted, and we're off to work during the day. Having big discussions in passing makes for a stressful environment. We feel good about where this situation ended up, made some big adjustments for us in our budget that we ended up with time to discuss eventually. But we're blessed to have schooling options where we live and have room to tighten our budget at all.
Obviously for our child's sake, I'm praying this all works out. For other reasons, we need some calm here, some time at night for Dominic and I to at least finish a sentence or two, maybe even watch TV together? Dreaming big, perhaps we'll have time to figure out the positions you've all suggested!
This dynamic requires some margin to do well. Very little time together makes it easy to feel like adversaries when you have different views and solutions. Things we can discuss and together find a good answer for seem like huge problems without that time.
Summer, I'm officially kicking you out. Along with the fantastic line up of new seasons you'll bring, (Poldark comes back next month!), I need a bit cooler weather, pumpkin patch field trips, fall festivals, and happy settled and secure children. All these things will be much more enjoyable if I'm regularly well-spanked.
Glad your back is feeling better! It always amazes me how we long for summer breaks but then struggle every year through getting back into the swing of things really needing that stable routine. Year round school has a point - a few three week vacations instead of all or nothing. Hopefully the kids will get settled in soon and you can ease into a nice healthy spanking. I know I need that! Amy
ReplyDeleteYear round school sounds very appealing, transitions are so hard in our house! Hope your home is settling in with plenty of time for the fun things too!
DeleteThere are definitely times when priorities like kids take over and everything else is put on the back burner. It's not easy, especially with this dynamic, but sometimes we have no choice in the matter. Thank goodness you've made changes for your daughter, a school year of stress is good for no family. I know going forward you will find the time you need with your guy for tv watching, flaking out, all the fun fall stuff, and of course the thing that keeps us sane and happy....a good spanking.
ReplyDeleteSlowly getting into a routine and more time for the fun, relaxing things. The new routine has its own stresses, but they're good and she's happy to be learning. All that really matters :)
DeleteHappy to hear your back is feeling better! I refuse to discuss school as I'm juggling home school for 3 and my own work and after only one week I'm already full of, "OFF with their heads!!". But yay for Outlander!!!
ReplyDeleteHang in there! Homeschooling was briefly, briefly discussed in our big school debate. Much praise for those of you who take on the big commitment. Outlander does wonders for a mood, doesn't it ;)
DeleteMadeline,
ReplyDeleteThere is nothing like the startup of the new school year to jolt a family. Outlander tonight will make it sweet. I am glad you have made changes for your daughter. Things do settle down and the blessing of a routine begins to be seen.
Meredith
All is well, or at least my perspective is as I've caught up on Outlander! Heartwrenching episodes, aren't they? The kiddo is settling in to her new normal, very proud of her resilience. Having 2 first days of school in a month is not easy.
DeleteHi Madeline,
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to spring fully kicking into gear here and warmer temperatures.
Glad to hear your back is feeling better.
It is hard getting back to routine and getting everyone settled after the summer break. I'm sorry you had school issues with your daughter and am glad you were able to find a solution.
Hugs
Roz
Hi Roz, I would gladly send you our lingering summer heat! Nearing the end of September and sweater weather is nowhere to be found... A shame the pools close when school starts.
DeleteHave been absent from blogland lately. It was nice to visit this morning. Hope things will smooth out for your family soon.
ReplyDeleteLife here has not been easy, but I, too, have felt that subtle shift in the seasonal cycle. A bit darker in more ways than one.
Ella
Hi Ella, sorry things are not smooth in your world. Those spells are rough, hoping your fall perks up soon!
DeleteHi Madeline, :) Glad to hear that your back is feeling better.
ReplyDeleteI remember the busy days, of the start to the school year with four children. Once or twice, we found ourselves with each being in a different school. Pretty nuts! Things do settle down. I hope that things improve teacher-wise, for your daughter. There are some teachers that simply should not be running a classroom!
You know, I have to say that in my experience, disagreements regarding something to do with one of the kids, is a very common theme among loving parents. You both love fiercely, and stand your ground for your children. Add exhaustion of the day to it, and it is a setup for moving apart. Knowing that, perhaps you can somehow just find a bit of snuggling time each day- even if you are too tired to talk. Touch says a whole lot. Especially if spanking cannot come into the picture, I think. Just an idea, and my own humble opinion, but I remember those days. Wish I had known then, what I know now! Wishing you a lovely, settled in, fall season! Many hugs,
<3 Katie
Good ideas! Can feel like weeks go by before we have any time where we are "us". It's easy to flop over to sleep when there's no energy for what we'd ideally like to be doing! My siblings and I were never in the same school, I have a new appreciation for my parents sacrifices now that we're on this side of it.
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