{ One blink and they're all grown up }

It's crazy just how quick life goes by.  One minute you're rocking your kid to sleep, the next you're helping them do their taxes.

How nuts is that?

I find myself a little taken aback at times, just trying to soak in the moment and reminding myself that this is a new chapter, a new journey.  But boy is that pill sometimes hard to swallow.

So yes, that happened today, I sat back and watched her do her taxes, giving her advice here and there, showing her where to input this or that.  While she did it, I sat behind her and just stared, trying to adjust myself to this new way of life.  She's an adult, she's about to turn 20, she graduated high school, she's working, she is talking about traveling, she makes her own purchases and hair appointments, doctor appointments and so on.



It's just all so strange at first, because you're used to doing it all for them, and now you take the back seat and learn to give your input if asked, otherwise it's the end of the world LOL

But anyway, she is a good girl, has a good head on her shoulders, is thriving and we're very proud of her.

Today was a pretty laid back day.  It's that time of the month, you know.....enough said, and I have found that as I've gotten into my 40's, the hormones are all over the place.  I get hormonal headaches which I never used to before, I have night sweats a few days before and during my cycle, and I get quite light headed as well.

I've mentioned it to my gynecologist every year at my annual, and she has told me that it's perfectly normal as my body begins preparing for menopause and then mentioned peri-menopause and pre-menopause and all that fun stuff.

Another new normal for me in my life.  It's quite funny and interesting too, how life and circumstances and everything changes as you go from stage to stage.  It's all about finding the joy in every moment and adjusting to your new "normal".

Housework was done early this morning, just so that I could take the afternoon off to lay in bed and try to calm these cramps.

I did however update my chalkboard which I hadn't done in....oh....months?

I had my daughter's work schedule on there for a while, but not the meal plan, so it was nice to be able to get back on track with that.  It also saves the constant questions around dinner time "What are we having?  What's for dinner?  What are you making?".

I simply point to the board.

I did however have one of my *moments*.  You know the ones where you walk into the pantry to put something away and walk out an hour later because you've decided that NOW was the time to reorganize, clean and refill all your jars?

Truth be told, I organize this pantry endless times, and all it takes is a few days of my kids going in there for something, and it's like a bomb has gone off again.  I don't understand what they do in there.

Like do they have food fights?  Do they wrestle with bags of chips?  Or take pleasure rearranging the shelves?

But anyway, I labeled, shuffled things around, got rid of bulky boxes, redid drawers and baskets and so on.  Quick question, are your kids like mine?  If a cereal bag is taken out of a box and just tightly folded or put in a ziploc, they will not touch it.  Like seriously, they will NOT eat it again unless it's in the box or in a glass container.

Crazy kids!!!

Pantry got organized and then I turned right around and reorganized my kitchen drawers to make them more functional.

This is how I deal with my laid back days.  I think the minute I tell myself that I'm going to take the afternoon off and want to get everything done in the morning, my brain immediately finds new tasks to do as if in an attempt to make up for the hours I'll be doing nothing later on.

While I was in the pantry working on all that organizing, I quickly gave my kitchen towels and some of the placemats a good wash, then hung them to dry inside.  It was far too windy and cold out to put them on the back patio, and they dry overnight inside, which is fine.  I prefer it this way than running a cycle in the dryer and wasting so much electricity.

With those jobs out of the way, I sat down and worked on some sewing for my brother.  I had forgotten just how much I enjoy sewing, it's such a relaxing homemaking chore, I need to find more time for it.

And that friends, is basically what my day was.  I watched some TV with Jasmine, she came to lay in bed with me as she didn't work today, and is currently under the weather too.  We got under the blankets, Marley came to snuggle and sleep by us and we spent the afternoon talking and laughing and enjoying each other's company.

So at the end of the day, as much as things change and they grow up, a part of them will always be that little kid that likes hanging out on the bed with mom, and I plan on soaking in every moment because I know that far too soon I'll be longing for those days again.