Instead of very reasonably cutting Minnie's activities, I decided to ADD ANOTHER THING to her schedule. LOLz for days. But I have never seen a baby who loves story time like she does, and I have taken 4 other babies to story time.
I **did** amend her schedule so that she does gym on a day we have less going on and the added thing fits (perfectly, I think) during the window of time Dorothy has ballet. (also story time is chill and free, so if we don't make it, who cares? (Minnie. MINNIE WILL CARE. But her orientation to time/days of the week is not strong)). Dorothy's summer dance schedule is bananas-- and one day a week she has to skip swim team for ballet but then has a 4-hour break. Lots of driving, is what I am saying.
Dorothy and Cooper had their first summer meet of the swim season, and Coop is SO GOOD at swimming but also he DOESN'T LIKE IT. Such a bummer. It's his 4th favorite (out of 4) and his second best (after dive). He likes summer league and his pool bro friends and also winning, so he is fine with swimming in the summer, but I wish he loooooved it because it likes him a lot. I don't care if the kids go to meets, but they DO have to go to practice every day (except ballet mornings) because its such good exercise, a reason to change out of jammies first thing, and a time to hang with friends outside of peak sun hours.
Dorothy swam SO WELL. She got a ribbon for her (B!!) relay, which is one more ribbon than she got the entirety of last season. She did the swim team at Goldfish Swim School to practice stroke refinement and build stamina, and it worked-- plus she LOVES to swim now. We are over-the-moon proud of her.
I am currently working and blogging at dive while Ben works from home with his nanny Harry, Jack lifeguards, and Dorothy dances. This second Monday is smoother than the first for sure. AND NEXT WEEK MY IN-PERSON CLASS starts and will completely derail our "routine."
(I am so excited about the class-- incoming freshmen, and I teach 2 days a week and my TAs take a workshop day and a speech day-- it's going to be SO fun).
Ugh this weird squishy chick that is half hatched and that Minnie says is a duck. Dorothy has a chart for her nighttime and morning routines because she’s having issues starting large tasks with lots of steps (welcome to the club, sister), and she gets frustrated and screams and then we get frustrated and you get the idea. Anyway, after a week of charts, (she checks items off, and do not scream is one of them on both the morning and the night chart) she can choose a reward. This week, she wanted a squishy animal from this squishy animal and Hello Kitty boutique near campus, and I stupidly brought Minnie along. I thought I could either not buy one for Minnie or buy her a teeny one, but LOL on me. She imprinted on this chick and when I told her I didn’t want to spend $70 on stuffies (REASONABLE) she screamed BUT I LOVE THIS SO MUCH IT IS PERFECT FOR ME. And I guess you cannot put a price on love.
I am laughing really inappropriately hard at "do not scream" (*adds to personal chore chart*) and BUT I LOVE THIS SO MUCH IT IS PERFECT FOR ME (will also find a use for this). That would all be Too Much for me, and I admire you for being up to it all.
ReplyDeleteI need this on my morning chart too- so satisfying to check that box
DeleteDo you have water polo near you? It requires being a strong swimmer and might be another fun water sport option. I grew up swimming, and a few of my swimmer friends “defected” to water polo. It’s a lot of fun!
ReplyDeleteI will look into that— they have water polo wednesdays at swim team and he LOOOOVES it
DeleteGirl. GIRL. I feel like your summers are even busier than your regular non-summer life? The sheer amount of driving, wowza. But yay for swimmy and dancey kids and also for story time (lol at "But her orientation to time/days of the week is not strong"). Large tasks with lots of steps can be frustrating, I hear you Dorothy. I was like, wow, that's a busy summer AND THEN YOU ALSO HAVE A CLASS TO TEACH. Whew! It's a lot!
ReplyDeleteA lot. Yes. But the reason I know my work is ideal for me is that it does not feel like work to add it in— just another source of joy, you know?
DeleteAdding an in person class into an already really busy summer is going to make things extra complicated! But it's great that it's one that you are excited about!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the recommendation for Zenni - I did see your comment about it on Friday's post, too. I know other adults who have had good experiences, too. The glasses Paul tried on yesterday at the optical store were extra comfy as they are very stretchy/seem indestructible. But I don't know if it's worth pay $200+ for some that is indestructable when it might get lost/misplaced? So we will probably start with Zenni and then maybe get the more expensive/extra comfy/extra bendy glasses when he's on my insurance plan.
I think maybe buy whatever is not going to make you mad when he loses or breaks them. Like a nice pair and also several oops I forgot my glasses pairs to stash in his backpack, in the car, on a bookshelf, etc.
DeleteWhat a schedule, Sarah! But it really sounds like so much fun and great stuff packed in here. You have an incredible knack with rolling along with the punches, so I suspect you'll transition into the teaching role with grace and a little bit less time for sleep :)
ReplyDeleteIt's incredible how active and involved your kids are.
I'm with Dorothy. I either want to scream or cry when I wake up. THE WORLD IS MADE FOR MORNING PEOPLE...and *sigh* I am not a morning person.
I think it's her executive functioning skills
DeleteWhat's the penalty for screaming, though? Like. I think it's a good coping strategy for this place in my life?
ReplyDeleteno penalty, but no reward LOL
DeleteI second water polo! It's all the violence of hockey (I think) but in the water so there's the added excitement of maybe drowning! I just keep telling Eli he loves it and then he rolls his eyes at me and we laugh and then he gets kicked out again for fighting which is apparently the point (see, like hockey) But then he sleeps for about three days straight
ReplyDeleteLOVE it— I watched a little yesterday, and it sure was violent
DeleteI'm struck by how you squeezed in story time for the baby who loves it and aren't pushing Coop towards swimming because he doesn't love it... I hope you know what an awesome parent you are! Also, your incoming class sounds so much fun (Your enthusiasm is contagious!). Is it like a camp for incoming students?
ReplyDeleteAwwwwww, thank you. It IS like a camp. Students take 2 classes in 6 weeks and enter freshman year with credit and gen eds out of the way.
DeleteAs much as I love working at home as much as I can, there is something about in-person class that just lights me up, too. I hope your time with the incoming first years is awesome - no one better to get them excited about being here!
ReplyDeleteAnd, I'm kind of dying laughing at you thinking you could get out of the squishie thing without buying Minnie one. I shall use her argument in the future. ;)