Dispatch from Mom Camp, no. 2

Let’s mention the good things first — it was a full out of office week for me, and I had childcare for three of those days. I spent some time doing a really big clean out of our closets, took my kids swimming, and took walks with my daughter before camp drop off. We discovered our son loves basketballs. I have an excellent stack of holds from the library currently (though I am slightly panicking about how I’m going to get through them all). We had a quote from a contractor come in way under our estimated budget. We celebrated a friend’s wedding. I deep cleaned the washing machine.

And also, I’m working through an intense case of writer’s ennui (hence, why this post is quite late). I have so much to say but as soon as I write it down, I am immediately overcome with the urge to delete. To set the scene for you — it’s a rare moment of quiet in my house, and my last full day of childcare for both kids for the summer. My husband is handling camp and daycare drop off, as I’m perched at the kitchen counter with a cup of coffee, some toast and yogurt, and NPR playing on the radio.

I’ve been typing and deleting sentences on my computer for the last few days. To be fully transparent, morale is low. The air quality from the wildfires kept me from long walks and swimming outside. My personal anxiety threshold about the cyclospora parasite ruined most of my meal plans from last week. Mom camp goes on though. And, as I commented on Ariane Anusbigian’s post this week, maybe we all could do with a little more boredom and stillness. So I’m keeping this one short and sweet, just focusing on what I’m planning for this next week (and a few recommendations).

Postscript: We went church this morning, and there was a guest pastor who quoted Anne Lamott’s Bird by Bird 1 in her sermon. All week, I’ve been saying to my husband, “I’m just having such a hard time getting started.” I was talking about cleaning up the dining room, doing laundry, dropping off the pile of returns at UPS. I’ve felt listless and unmoored. It was the reminder I needed today, and maybe you do, too — “Bird by bird, buddy. Just take it bird by bird.”

Salads and berries are easily 25% of my normal food intake, so needless to say I’m not thrilled with recent developments. We fortunately get most of our produce locally so I’m hoping for the best 😬 I’m keeping things pretty boring this week, and saving room for ice cream (always).

Three dinners: Ratatouille pasta | Pulled pork sandwiches2 and a garden salad | Grilled chicken and vegetables from our CSA box

Two lunches: Kale Caesar salad with roasted chickpeas | Frittata

One breakfast: Yogurt and granola, with nectarines, berries and banana

Reading: Finishing Wreck, starting Heart the Lover, and I read so many good posts and articles this week, but here’s a few I loved —
In No Particular Order wrote about having an NPR Summer, which I am obsessed with | Another POV — emily had me absolutely cackling with a post about her Whimsical Summer | Wimbledon fashion, because I’ll read anything about tennis outfits (via Lee Glandorf) | I loved sydney overlie’s list of things saving her summer | I’ve only read a few Elin Hildebrand’s books, but I loved this NYT feature about her Nantucket home | Allison interviewed Bobbi Brown about aging and beauty and it was such a good read, and a lesson in speaking your goals into existence.

Reading together: Finishing up Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great, starting Fudge-a-mania (we’re on a real Judy Blume kick over here).

My daughter went to art camp last week and is now obsessed with collaging. I set up a card table in the playroom for her this summer, so she would have a big dedicated space for art and it was the best decision. I’m bringing home some of my magazines from work this week so we can work on a collage together. For movement, I’m aiming for three long walks and three Range classes. I’m also going to restart The Sculpt Society’s Pelvic Floor and Core Recovery program. I have been slacking on my PT exercises for the past few months and desperately need to get back into the habit.

Planning meals and planning outfits always helps me feel a little more settled heading into the week. I’ve got two in-office days and three mom-at-home days this week and the weather looks like it’s going to be beautiful all week (thank goodness).

Full and TMI disclosure, I did not have a regular cycle until I was 33. Now that I do (ish), I’m doing my best to understand what’s going on with my body and trying to make adjustments with how I manage symptoms throughout the month. Here’s what I’ve been finding helpful in the dreaded luteal phase, lately.

Concentration 64 - Luteal Phase edition

headache hat | this perfect hair mask | cozy sweats | the best peppermint tea | electrolytes* | journaling | early bedtime | restorative yoga | an acupressure mat | magnesium glycinate | noise canceling headphones | a comfort show (I went with The Summer I Turned Pretty)

Morale check-in — how are we doing? We’re still deep in summer, and I’m not ready to give up on it yet. Let me know what you’re eating, learning, wearing and playing this week 😘

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