The return to blogging

Longest editor's note in the history of time: 

So, I wrote out a list of goals for myself this year. I’m not sure I’ve ever done that. I usually half-heartedly choose a New Year’s resolution — diets, workouts, budgets and more. They’ve rarely survived past February or March. I’m more like a sprinter than an endurance runner. I start things when the mood strikes and stick with them as long as I’m not bored.

I did a photo challenge in 2012. I was taking lots of pictures of Sawyer, who was 2, but I wanted to push myself to take photos of more everyday things — the smaller events of our life, the stuff that was funny or irritating or just eternal. The things I probably wouldn’t notice or remember if I didn’t force myself to think about taking photos every day. I did an OK job, but I got sick several times in late November and December. I missed my goal by 10 or 12 photos. And it bugged me because the challenge was fun for me (and I just don’t like failing).

I decided to try it again last year to see if I could accomplish all 365 days. And I did. I did not miss posting one day. There were days I shot terrible photos just to meet the requirement, days I was too busy to stop for a picture, and days — despite that rule about actions becoming habits after 21 days — that I forgot till 10 p.m. that I needed to shoot something. But I did not let a day pass without putting something out there. And surprisingly, lots of people said they enjoyed it.

So, back to my 2016 goals: I made a colorful list. I hung it on my fridge. And I’m working toward some things I am not sure I will achieve. One of them is trying to blog at least once a week. I disappeared from the blog for more than a year. I had many photo issues in late 2014, and the blog got more frustrating than fun.

But I miss it. Mostly, I miss being able to look back on glimpses of our life, our triumphs and our struggles. They remind me that, “This too shall pass,” and that applies equally to good times and bad.

So feel free to hold me accountable. I want to go the distance on this one.

WEEK 1: 10 QUESTIONS

To help me get back in the blogging habit, I’m going to cheat a little and start the 10 Questions post. I hope to do this every week, but if I get back to writing regular posts, I might only use this when I’m stumped for something else to write about.

1. What we’re finishing: We’re finally putting away the Christmas decorations and getting the house back to its normal state of chaos. We had lots going on in December (a business trip to Texas, several parties and meetings at night, Sawyer’s birthday) so we got decorations up quite late. I guess that gives us an excuse to stretch them a little longer into January. But I’m ready for them to be put away. Sawyer helped take down about three ornaments before I shooed him to den. I like making him help, but sometimes it’s so much faster and easier to just do it alone.

2. What we’re starting: Going back to school. Sawyer was ready. We were ready. It was nice having a break from the routine. I enjoyed not having to rush in the morning like we do on school days. (Ugh, our lives would be so much easier if we were all early risers and got up at 6 in time to do calisthenics, shower and eat pancakes before leaving. Alas, that is not us.) But after spending the week of Christmas at home every day — largely stuck inside because of torrential rain — and spending a few days at Grandmother’s house, Sawyer was bored and starting to fall apart from the lack of routine. He admitted that he was ready to see his friends and teachers.

3. One hard thing: Only one? It seems like a lot of things have gotten hard with Sawyer lately. He’s become a picky eater, refusing to eat things we cook. He’s not a fan of trying new foods, which makes dinner difficult. He’s becoming sassier. At least with me. I have no idea how to type it, but I caught him mocking/mimicking me when he thought I wasn’t looking. That thing you do where you scrunch up your face and move your lips in pretend criticism — usually just after being lectured when you think the person is turned the other way. Does that have a name? Anyway, he and I have been butting heads a lot lately. We used to be such buddies — he loved doing anything with me. Now, when I pick him up at school, I get a sigh and an eye roll. Because I’m not Dad. Dad is the cooler one now. So that’s been hard for me.

  

4. One easy thing: Bedtime. It still surprises me how little we have to push Sawyer to go to bed. It’s still a struggle to get him to brush teeth, use the bathroom and get pajamas on — QUICKLY — but he doesn’t really argue when we say it’s time to get ready. He knows his bedtime and sometimes will even tell us if we’ve forgotten to keep an eye on the clock. We went to a UNCG basketball game Tuesday. It was a close game so we stayed to see the end. It was well past bedtime. And it was obvious. Sawyer was tired and irritated, and the next morning was really difficult. We’re going to try to stick to bedtime.

5. What he loves: The airport. Sawyer wants to go there. Every. Single. Day. His day is not complete without a visit. Mostly, that’s because his buddy is there. The airport owner’s grandson hangs out there a lot. His brother is much older. And though he’s five years older than Sawyer, they play like brothers. We finally just left Sawyer’s bike there because it’s a better place to ride than our neighborhood. They play hard. And fight too. They’ve both gotten so wet and muddy that clothes had to be stripped off and washed on the spot. Since Sawyer is an only child, I’m glad he has a playmate. I’m tickled he has a place as wide open and free as the airport to run around and be a boy. But it does come with problem.

6. What he hates: NOT going to the airport. When I say that Sawyer is disappointed to miss going, I’m not kidding. It’s like his world is ending. When I say that I get a sigh and an eye roll at pickup because I’m not Dad, I’m telling the truth — but only half of the truth. Sawyer has gotten more attached to his dad lately, but a big part of that is because Dad goes to the airport. Dad is the vehicle. If the destination were different, Sawyer still might prefer to go with Dad. But the end goal is mostly the airport. His desire to go there is so strong that it is an effective punishment. Misbehave during the week, no airport. It works pretty well, but he’s still insufferable about going every day.

7. Funniest moment: Sawyer and I took Hank for a “hike” on New Year’s Day. It was the first day with no rain in a week, and I was itching to get outside. It was still cloudy and cool but tolerable with a fleece jacket. I thought about revisiting the Chinqua Penn trail; surprisingly, Sawyer also asked to go to that “place we hiked that had all the old buildings.” But we left the house late, and I knew it was a bit of a drive.

I searched Greensboro trails and found one nearby that we’d never tried. The Peninsula Trail winds alongside a lake and wasn’t too long. We set out, with Sawyer chirping questions every few feet. We passed a few muddy spots that we were able to walk around, a really neat fallen tree covered with fungi and an old barn in the woods. Then we hit the real mud.

We’d gone probably three-quarters of a mile or so when the trail disappeared under a creek. The trail snaked along around three or four bends — covered with water. And it was not just a couple puddles; it was inches-deep, shoe-soaking, flowing water. As far as I could see — for at least 50 feet or so of the trail — it was a soggy mess. The kind boys like Sawyer live for! I told him that we had to turn around. We could not keep walking through such muck. Our shoes would be a disaster for getting back in the car.



Bummed that the hike had been cut so short, I was determined to get some sense of peace out of it. Sawyer was chattering away, so I said, “Sawyer, why do many people like to get out into nature and go hiking?”

And without missing a beat, he said, “For the quiet?” I was stunned that he nailed it on the first try.

I said, “Exactly. To hear the birds and animals and the water and trees. How about being quiet for the end of the hike?”

Even more stunningly, he said, “OK.”

He quieted down and we walked another 50 feet or so before he started back up.

“Hey, Mom …”

I guess we’re not ready for quiet hikes yet.

8. Sawyer says: I usually pick Sawyer up from afterschool care. Once we’re in the car, I ask about his day, his lunch, what he learned, etc. He usually acts exasperated to answer my barrage of questions. But yesterday, I didn’t ask.

And he says, “Mom, you’re forgetting something.”

I came up with 10 things I might be forgetting, each more ridiculous than the last. His “no” answers grew louder and more annoyed with each one.

I finally said, “I give up. What?”

“You forgot to ask me about my day at school.”

I seriously can’t win.

9. Mom and Dad Say: “Eat. Sawyer, eat. Eat your dinner. Sit down and eat.” At least 25 times at each meal. Ray keeps threatening: When Mom and Dad are finished eating, Sawyer should be too. (This coming from the Marine who wolfs down a huge plate of food in less that two minutes.) That’s unlikely to happen, but he does need to learn to sit and focus mostly on eating. I keep joking that one day we’ll look back on this and laugh. Ten years from now, we’ll be begging him to slow down. Sit down, talk to us. Don’t scarf your food so fast and run.

10. On our bucket list: Hoping to start more swim lessons soon. Sawyer’s had several go-rounds of lessons, but I guess we haven’t done continuously enough or given him enough opportunities to practice that they’ve really stuck with him. He also lets his fears overcome what swimming skills he does have. He gets too psyched out to even try. Hopefully, he’ll have more opportunities to swim this summer. So it’s time to learn in a way that sticks.


HELP ME OUT: Send me some questions for my 10 questions posts! I will seriously get tired of doing these 10 all year. I want to mix it up. Comment here or most of you know how to reach me on Facebook!