Welcome to the Broken Bone Club

Well shit.

Those were the very first words the husband said to me after I told him what had happened.  You see- I woke up one Monday morning and it hurt to walk.  Like- A LOT.  So I babied my offending foot that day and prayed it would be better by tomorrow.  It wasn't.

Then I tried all the things in my arsenal.  Icing, elevation, Epsom salt bath, special essential oils to help with aches and pains, massage- tried it and not a single one worked.  So by Thursday, I had had enough of the hobbling around and I called a podiatrist.  Unfortunately the soonest they could get me in would be the following Monday.  A whole week after the pain first began.  But I had hope that it would heal and I would make a miraculous recovery over the weekend and could then cancel my Monday appointment.  It did not and so I went.

Turns out- I have a stress fracture, or a tiny little broken bone, in one of my toes.

Boo.

I'd been walking around with a BROKEN BONE IN MY TOE FOR A FULL WEEK y'all.  Ah-mazing really when you think about it.  I'm a ROCKSTAR and clearly my pain tolerance is BEYOND.

The Boot

I'm now in a "boot" and let me just say that I am NOT PLEASED.  This damn boot hurts worse than the broken bone.  It's heavy and holds my foot at an uncomfortable position all day long.  I have also been instructed to stay "immobile".

BWAHAHAHAHA.

Now that's funny.  The timing could NOT be worse as I'm working all weekend, it's the kiddo's birthday tomorrow, we've got family parties, friend party, karate belt testing and the last soccer game until the next session.  I am also not a person who sits around doing nothing.  This is physically VERY hard for me.  And can I just say that I've been sitting for 1.5 days (in between cooking and doing laundry) and I've already done WAY more online shopping than should be legal.  And read two books.

Save me Jesus.

So the point of all of this you're probably wondering?

Well....do you remember a couple blog posts ago where I was lamenting the possibility of Mom Burnout?  It turns out....I was probably right.  I'm thinking this broken bone, of which I've never broken a bone before ever, was a sign that I need to slow down.  I need to rest more and give my body the calm and relaxation it needs and deserves.

So y'all- my message to you today is simple.  Take time out for yourself.  For YOUR health before you find yourself in a boot and a member of the Broken Bone Club.

Convo's In The Car- Learning Happens In the Everyday

If you are a regular over on the Facebook page, you've seen me post "Convos in the Car."  These are perhaps one of my most favorite regular segments.  Although "Hey Girl Fridays" are super fun!

Convos in the Car is the idea that we can take tiny and unassuming moments to TEACH our children.  They reinforce the concept that learning happens in the everyday and that sometimes the simplest moments (like riding in the car) can have a big and lasting impact on our children.

For that reason- I just LOVE Convo's in the Car!

Here is the latest one I shared about 9-11.  This conversation was prompted from a bumper sticker the kiddo saw and the questions he asked me after.  We then went home and did more learning on The Google.  The learning happened in an organic way and the result was important and good.

Convos in the Car:

Kiddo- Mom, I thought only a couple hundred people died in 9-11?

Me- No child. THOUSANDS died. Almost 3,000 I believe and easily double that were hurt very badly.

Kiddo- But how?

Me- Well, the World Trade Center was a VERY big building. I went up in it once while in high school, I think it was the tallest building in New York City. Over 100 floors high. Think of all the people that would hold. Think of everyone just working & visiting the building that day. Then remember all the people on the planes.

Kiddo- On the planes?

Me- Yes. Two planes FULL of people. Plus the one in the Pentagon that everyone seems to forget. Those planes crashed & everyone died.

Kiddo- Everyone? How many people are on a plane?

Me- I don't know- lots. We can Google it when we get home. But it wasn't just the people in the planes & the building. Remember all the people who came to help. Many of those people lost their lives too.

Kiddo- Wow....That's a lot of people.

Me- Yeah, it was....

*This convo was prompted from a bumper sticker the kiddo saw on a truck in front of us. "We Will Never Forget" happens when we continue to speak & educate our children about the tragedy that occurred that day, when we take the available opportunities to really TALK about what happened & why, when we remember the everyday folks who died & the impact their deaths had on their loved ones & the community.

Can I encourage you to seek out & jump on these moments? It's important.

#NotAllLessonsComeFromATextbook
#RaiseThemUp

I Could Never Do That

A phrase that I hear all the time is "you homeschool? I could never do that!" and I have to be honest and say that can really irritate me sometimes.

Why?

Because I simply don't feel like I'm doing something special and amazing and over the top.  This comment, "I could never do that" implies that I'm doing something most people can't.  But the truth is that I'm just doing something most people won't.

When we first started on our homeschooling journey almost 9 years ago now, I was nervous and had my doubts that we could really do this.  But I soon learned that it's not all that difficult- at least not to the extent I had built it up in my mind.  Especially in those early years when children learn mainly through play- it's just all about exposure and lots of play time and reading.  Done and Done.

While I will admit that we've had some struggles along our journey (learning to read, fractions, etc) it has never been something so difficult and trying that I'm willing to throw in the towel and admit defeat.  It is simply an extension of our parenting.

If your child is acting a fool and refuses to do his chores, do you just throw up your hands and say "OK son" or do you buckle down and teach them it's not an option?  When your kids are cranky and don't want to go to bed early, do you allow them to stay up even later?  Or do you handle your business like a MOM and get those temperamental children on the path to dreamland?

Homeschooling is exactly the same.

When my kid throws a fit because he doesn't think he can learn how to multiple those fractions, we sit down and we go through it together.  When he whines about his geography work or laments that fact that those spelling exercises are pointless- I do not just give up and let him run the show.  Just as I wouldn't do with traditional "parenting issues", I take the same approach for our homeschool.

I'm not doing anything differently.

I take the same approach to education as I do to the rest of my parenting.  My job is to cultivate, encourage, support, provide, uplift in ALL THE AREAS.  This isn't extraordinary- this is simply called parenting.

And every single one of you CAN do it if this is what you desire.

Please don't let your fear of the unknown overwhelm you.  Have confidence in your ability to raise a good child and know that homeschooling is simply an extension of what you are already doing.

So now when someone says to me "Oh but I could never do that", I smile and respond, "you'd be surprised what you can do."

Mom Burnout

Well shit.....this month has completely gotten away from me.  Legit, I am lagging & feeling TIRED.

I'm usually pretty good at recognizing when I'm overworked and attempting to fill my plate too full.  But this month- ugh.  I cannot with this month.

February has become a trial for me.  By now, I've got no more "holiday" excuses left as to why we are not back on track with homeschooling.  So of course the Mama guilt emerges because I feel as if I'm failing somewhere.  One of my jobs sees the most calls and customer issues during this month as business picks up for Valentine's Day.  Another job has decided that two people need to be scheduled for each shift where once we just had the one.  This means my hours have doubled this month and every month moving forward until we can hire on more people.  To summarize- I am working pretty much non stop.

And let's not forget that it's Valentine's Day and I need to plan something special for my boys.  But the big event for February is the kiddo's birthday.  In just 11 days, my baby will turn another year older and I have done NOTHING in preparation for this big day.  Not a thing y'all....

I am really feeling the pressure this year and think I may be approaching BURNOUT status.

I am sharing this with all of you- not to be a whiner, but to simply say that it happens to us all.  At some point, you will reach max capacity of what you can handle.  I think the most important part is to be able to recognize you're reaching the limit and take steps to combat it.

I am in desperate need of a hot bath and a good book.  A date night out with my husband.  A day off work.  A weekend home instead of going to an event or working.  I could also use more quiet time and I'm feeling that a break from social media might soothe my soul.

Because honestly- I do not want to see another political post from anyone.  Can we just go one damn day folks?!?  One day....

Unfortunately, I do not think I will be able to get any of these things this month but I will do my best to make some time for myself as soon as I can.  And this is simply my message to all of you-

We cannot pour from an empty cup.

Take the time to heal, to be still, to rest and to fill yourself back up.  Your people deserve you at your very best and yes- this means you need to make yourself a priority too.