Hi friends-
I have to be honest with you. This mama is having a hard time gearing up to launch my oldest to college.
Caroline leaves our home and moves into her dorm in 19 days.
NINETEEN!
How is that possible? It feels like yesterday she was teeny tiny and had this raspy little voice that was so deep, we jokingly nicknamed her “Two Pack.” (Because it sounded like she smoked two packs a day.)
I’m grieving how fast it all went. Yet I’m so excited for her future. This is the goal of parenting, though. To launch them...and launch them well. Right??
Easier said than done.
What I’m really dreading is the moment we have to say goodbye. When we move her into her dorm, then walk back to our car without her. (I’m not a crier, and I’m crying as I write this.)
Some friends of mine have said that nothing prepares you for that moment. And even those parents who are void of emotion break down.
My friend Niro Feliciano, who has four kids, recently told me to make sure that there’s something for you to look forward to once you’ve dropped them off at college. Maybe it’s a girls’ night out or a trip. Something to help channel the inevitable emotions.
What advice would you give to parents who are launching kids for the first time? Please share it in the comments. We need all the guidance we can get!
In other news, my July Sabbath has been so enjoyable. I’ve been spending lots of time on my social health/relationships (Psst: I’m doing a podcast series on social health/relationships this Fall and why our connections to people are the greatest indicator of longevity).
And this past week, I won a challenge with my kids. I wake surfed!
Every summer they ask me to do it, and I always say no. My son JJ was tired of my excuses, so earlier this summer he challenged me: if I didn’t wake surf, I’d owe the kids $1,000.
Well...that wasn’t going to happen.
So I did the thing and wake surfed behind our boat. I was so proud of myself and, to be honest, my kids were proud of me, too.
Remember how we’ve been talking about “proof of mom” this summer? And how moms deserve to have a summer, too?
I’m doing it, friends.
PS: Next time we talk, I’ll tell you about my jury duty experience. I’m being summoned next week!
-Paula xo
If you’re struggling with fruit flies, I have some tried and true solutions. First, pour scalding hot water mixed with white vinegar down your drains and sinks. Get the showers, too! Do this several times a week. Second, cover your sink drain when not using. In your bathrooms, just push the sink stopper down. In your kitchen, put a cover over the drain. Those pesky flies live and procreate (by the thousands which is honestly so gross) in your drains. Third, when you purchase fruit from the grocery store or farmers market, particularly bananas and apples, soak them in water before putting them out. Fruit flies re-enter your home whenever you purchase fruit. We’ve really mitigated our issues by doing these three things.
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We’ve all heard that we must start building muscle by lifting heavier weights, particularly in mid-life. But, I’m NOT a fan of long workouts. I love 20-minute workouts, like this one that are efficient and effective from Peachie Spoon. She also happens to make my favorite protein powder, which you can get for 15% off using my code: PAULA. Because…we gotta reach those protein goals, too!
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