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5 am wake up call

Tomorrow morning, swim season starts which means Andrew has to be in the pool at 5:30 am. Yes, you read that right…5:30 AM. Tonight he needs to have his swimsuit, goggles, cap and towel as well as a change of clothes and everything he needs for school by the front door.

And – we have to remember to set our alarm clock.

Thankfully, we have a neighborhood carpool. What are the odds that 3 other teens on the swim team live in our neighborhood? One of them lives 3 doors down. God bless all the swim moms and dads! No matter how much we love our kids, no one wants to get up at 5 am every day and drive to the high school. Thus…the carpool.

We take the morning run because both of us work full time, and it’s hard to leave on time for a 5:30 pm pick up. Oh! Did I forget to mention, there is after school practice too? Yep! 5:30-7 am Monday through Friday and then again from 3-5:30 pm. These kids are nothing if not dedicated to their sport.

And they are such nice kids. I couldn’t ask for a better group of people for Andrew to spend his time with. Swimming is such an individual sport, but they are all part of a team. They cheer each other on from the pool deck. They celebrate their victories and mourn their losses like the teenagers they are.

And a shout-out to us swim parents too who drive them to practice and meets Sit and cheer each other’s kids on in their heats. Volunteer to be a timer or a runner during the meets. Work the snack bar. Host team breakfasts and pasta dinners for 50 or so kids on occasion who come for the food and the friendships.

And we make sure they have their swimsuits, goggles, cap and towel by the front door every morning at 5:30.

Here’s to an awesome season!

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The One with the Questions

Hello!

First of all, thanks for visiting my blog. If you have commented in the past–whether on Facebook or in the comments section–THANK YOU AGAIN! I love reading your comments. 

So now, I have a favor to ask of you! Now that you are here, what would you like to know? What question would you like me to answer? What is causing the most stress right now? Maybe I’ve been where you’ve been and can tell you what worked for me.

Go on! Ask me anything! Tomorrow, I will select one or two (or a few questions) and answer them for you! So, leave a comment below and ask me a question!

I can’t wait to see what you have for me! 

Comfort Zones Suck

I’ve never been one to stay in my comfort zone for too long. It’s a lovely place to be for a while, and enjoy the low stress, high-performance lifestyle–but eventually, I get antsy and realize it’s time for a change. And we all know where change lives, that’s right, at the end of our comfort zones.

Take something simple like my haircut. I always want to change it up. I get bored easily. I might want a new style. (Man, do I miss my short hair!) Or it could be less dramatic and more fun, like going from a blonde to a darker blonde to a brunette. Once, I went off the rails and asked my hairdresser to add a little red to the mix. I liked it for a few weeks, but in the end, it wasn’t for me.

But, generally, I’ve always enjoyed and embraced the idea of changing something about myself. Some see it is as a makeover; I see it as rebranding.

Here are a few challenges I’ve put in place to tackle over the next few months.

Because I work in the non-profit world, I tend not to volunteer as much as I should. Sure, I pack and deliver boxes at the food pantry a few times a year, and I’ve organized “dine and donate” events for the school, but I’d like to up my volunteer game. I know I’d enjoy an opportunity to serve on the board of a cause I’m passionate about, or mentor a young professional who could use a trusty compass. I need to replace my “sit on the couch and watch Netflix” comfort zone and do some good in the world.

Here’s another challenge. I’ve never considered myself to be much of an athlete, but I’ve become too comfortable in my own skin lately. So much so that I’ve put on more than a few pounds that need to come off. I’m building a new habit of spending 10-15 minutes a day doing something active. Eventually, that will build up to 30 minutes, but I’m taking it slow. And I’ll need some motivation so I’ll get back to those Weight Watchers meetings I’ve been ignoring on my calendar. Being a part of a community motivates me, whether it is one with writers or one filled with people looking for a healthier self. I need to find that community again.

Finally, I want to seek out more ways to show kindness. While someone may consider nice people to be pushovers, I see it as my superpower. If you are looking for some help with something, just ask. If you are looking for a job, I’ve been told I’m a good writer and editor of cover letters and resumes. If you are going through a tough time, I can be a good listener. If you are looking for a book recommendation for your next book club, I have a kick-ass list. Or maybe I’ll send you a card or a little gift to let you know I’m thinking of you. How can I be of help to you?

Comfort zones can be dangerous places to stay for too long. Time for me to move out of mine. If you’ve done this before, I’d love to hear about your experiences. Please share!

 

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