Tag Archives: summer

the summer crazies

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I’m afraid to check the date on my last blog post – I know it’s been a while.

Just checked and it’s worse than I thought: it’s been exactly a month.

In my defense, can I just say that – short of months when I had new babies or was moving – it’s been the busiest month I can remember.

We had our churches annual conference and were out of town for four days…and I’m still pondering and praying about that and hoping to post about soon.

Followed immediately by Vacation Bible School…which I’m still pondering and praying about and planning to post about soon.

There was the Fourth of July and doctor’s appointments…a lingering cold…special church meetings…more doctor’s appointments even further away…culminating in a fun day yesterday with my parents and nephews to Old Town Sacramento to visit the Railroad Museum.

Whew.

All of my brilliant plans for the summer have been thrown out the window…mostly. The kids are helping with chores quite a bit and earning rewards, but our schedule has been a mess our of necessity. I think we’re finally moving into a slower season of this summer, and I’m so thankful.

I’m also kind of impressed with myself, I have to admit.

I chose to go hardcore paleo again about a month ago, after realizing I felt like garbage and my weight was slowly starting to creep up after the stress of this spring. I also made working out a priority again, starting with a Couch to 5K app and then moving on to Turbo Fire for the last two weeks. I’ve also been tracking my eating for accountability on My Fitness Pal (my username is skwidlund if you want to friend me). More on all of this coming soon, I promise!

And while I’ve lost a few of those pounds again and absolutely love Turbo Fire, even more importantly, I’ve made it through this crazy month without any sort of emotional breakdown or anxiety - and even with an annoying cold, I’ve had consistent energy levels.

Those are the biggest wins of all.

I’m not just surviving what’s been a crazy summer, I’m thriving through this crazy summer.

That’s huge, knowing that come August our lives are going to get a little bit crazier.

I’m comfortable – for once – saying bring on those crazies!

I’m ready.

our no excuses summer

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Last night at Little League, I had one of those moments of clarity that come every so often when things are quiet.

It culminated in this tweet:

Thinking this is going to the summer of no excuses. My kids are not going to be happy with me. #toodarnbad #paleo #limits

And after a little more thought last night, I realized it’s time to take a stand.

I’ve been so frustrated lately with all of the excuses – why teeth aren’t brushed…homework isn’t done…things aren’t put away…why attitudes are bad…the forgetfulness that’s really just laziness…and so many words that are unkind.

It seems like I hear a hundred different excuses a day.

And I’ve been really frustrated…

to the point that I ended up yelling “shut up” in the car yesterday on the way to a doctor’s appointment.

It’s been a rough year.

It’s been a long year.

We’ve allowed some really bad habits to develop.

But those are just more excuses.

We’re less than four weeks away from summer vacation – something I’ve been looking forward to – and I’m realizing if we don’t tighten up the reigns a bit, it’s going to a long, miserable summer. I don’t want a summer of XBOX 360 and tv non-stop, of complaining and laziness, of arguing and blaming.

I’m realizing that for any change to be permanent in a family, it has to start with mom and dad.

Because I am the queen of excuses – the kids come by their propensity for them naturally.

I didn’t exercise this morning because I didn’t sleep well…I didn’t sleep well because I didn’t eat well…I didn’t eat well because I was tired and stressed…I was tired and stressed because I didn’t eat well or exercise.

It’s an ugly circle that doesn’t do anyone any good.

Tom spoke on Jonah this past Sunday in church, and I was particularly struck by two things – God’s command to Jonah to just go and the fact that Jonah was down in the ship sleeping while it was sinking.

It’s time to wake up, and it’s time to go. Time to make changes and to hold myself – and my family- to a higher standard. I’m not sure exactly how to do it, beyond starting with prayer. I’ll share more, and if you want to join with us in the No Excuses Summer, please share. I’m hoping to have some definite goals up next week if you want to join in.

No more excuses.

No more laziness.

No more bad attitudes.

No more bad food.

No more excuses.