Excuses, excuses

I can't believe September is almost over and that we're heading into the holiday season.  I was hoping to have more time to write, clean up my house, and do all the stuff I couldn't manage to find time to do as a homeschooling mom last year; but no such luck.  Each day brings more and more things added to the schedule : good things such as having coffee with a wide variety of friends who share having kids in school in common, and not so good things like having to drop everything and head downtown to pick up a sickly kid at school, well not sickly but cyclical if you know what I mean; and then drive her back to school several hours later for a freshman class (all girl school) sleepover.  I feel like I'm doing less and still feeling more exhausted at the end of the day. I also often feel like everyone else must have figured out a way to have more hours in their days because I just can't seem to get enough done.  I don't sit around, am on the go pretty much constantly, and maybe that's the point.  Maybe I'm on the go going to too many coffee dates, serving volunteer hours, carting the family all over creation, etc., etc, and that's why I'm not getting enough done at home.  Time to find that proverbial balance.

Our local Buddy Walk was yesterday, Sunday the 26th.  I used to help out with the planning and working the registration table for the event, but no longer.  It's run by a great group of people but I ended up with too much else going on right around this time of year.  It is so great to see lots of families with kids like Miss Marisa, but also to see all the people who come out in support of the kids like Marisa.  Buddy Walks around the country are yet another thing that gives me hope for the future.  Now if I could only find hope in myself to finally clean up the dining room, formerly known as "homeschool central."

Oh well, tomorrow is another day!

Back to school and blessings received

I'm not complaining.  Little one is at school for the whole day today.  This is her very first experience with all day school, and I am excited and anxious to hear how she did.  Last week the 1st graders just went 1/2 days, so now we're in the big time. She had to adjust to eating lunch in the lunch room, getting up at the crack of dawn again, and getting used to a whole new set of kids.  Last year she went to public school for only 2 months and then I homeschooled her the rest of the year.  We had our own routine and it worked pretty well, but she still was not "at work" all day.  Thankfully her school is very supportive and believes without a doubt that she belongs there, so that is a big plus.  I am just hoping and praying that she can settle in as quickly as possible and learn how to be successful in her new environment.  She will have an aid for a portion of the day soon, but for now they are just working with her within the inclusive classroom to see what she needs for support. 

I got to walk the dog all by myself this morning and that felt great!  Now I need to catch up on all sorts of projects at home, finish off back to school paperwork (it goes on and on...) for both girls and figure out what to do with my day!  What a wonderful feeling!

Older Sis is working on a service program for her new high school.  She and I kicked off the year by assisting with a festival at a local parish in honor of adults with disabilities.  Nadia and I blew up balloons, tons of them, and worked a craft table.  She wanted me to hang with her all morning, but that was okay.  She was wonderful with all the people we met.  I told her on the way home that she has been given a gift from her sister.  She is able to be around adults with disabilities and not be frightened or put off.  She sees them as people first and knows they deserve respect and to be valued just as we all deserve.  I told her she has a special ability that none of her other friends have at this point in their lives, and she should be thankful for that.  I am very proud of her, and I'm really looking forward to volunteering along side her on many different projects as the year goes along.