Monday, February 24, 2025

Happy Monday! Happy 1st bday to Eddie Otis! What a year! He has brought so much fun and energy into the house. Sometimes he has brought too much energy!

He looks like he is in a police lineup here:

Let’s link up with Sarah and Holly to share our weekends, eh?

Screenshot

First off, I am staring down at 4 five day weeks and 4 days before Spring Break. That’s really only 24 school days and we really need to be in school! I have no travel plans yet but in light of what my year has looked like, I feel like I need a tiny beach trip. But, what about Eddie Otis? I will miss him. I don’t know if I have the energy to even plan anything. Advice is welcome! There’s also a part of me that would like to stay home and read!

My sweet co-worker Sarah brought my family dinner for Friday night and it was so cold outside that I was able to use my “red neck fridge”. No offense to any red necks.

Mason was available to be my happy hour person after school but he had just eaten leftovers for lunch at 3 so wasn’t too hungry.

Still, this is quality time and his love language so we had a nice time chatting – mostly about places we would like to travel to – and then we popped into Kroger next door for a couple of things.

Sarah’s dinner:

She made poppy seed chicken and cheesy bread. It was really good! I have been really taken care of. Food is always the answer when someone goes through a hard time. But, self care and pampering things are great, too.

I only had two in person days of school last week but I was tired and really emotional. I feel like I held it together for the school day and then crashed after school. I have found a hot shower and pajamas as early as I can to really help me. So, that is what I did.

But, I had nice days at school with my students. We are doing a unit about work and community and I had them ask me adulting questions if they wanted. We had just had a college and career fair, too, so it all kind of went hand in hand. They are so sweet. They are so stressed about college and money. They literally know nothing. We aren’t teaching the practical in schools today. Some of the questions (this could be a whole post):

How do you find your passion in life?

Do you find it stressful to be an adult?

How do you balance social life and studying in college?

Should I start a 401K now? (lol)

How do I work on my credit score?

How do I decide what to major in?

Sweet babies! I love them so much.

Sister Molly texted early Saturday morning and said two deer had set off our parents’ house motion detector during the night. We think it was our mom and dad! You can barely see them on the right.

We chatted for a bit and made a plan for meeting at the house to start the work. I’m not in a big hurry but they don’t want to wait until summer to begin. I’m super overwhelmed about the house contents but I am trying not to stress out before the day comes.

I finally gave up on this book. I just can’t with the weird underlines.

I did a few funeral related thank yous. I really underestimated how sad these would make me. I have to pace myself.

I went to the library and to Sun Tan City – I have a membership this month so I thought a little color would help.

I also needed a little color here. I had several gray hairs come in this month!

New hair – I need to start back on the neck cream!

I did laundry and read Saturday afternoon and then it was time for GNO!

Heather is so creative – she made espresso martini shots in little hollow bunnies:

And, then we had a reservation at Mesh.

Pomme frites and beet salad!

Chicken sandwich and grit cakes!

You guys – don’t get me wrong – it was a lovely evening with my Heather and Heather, but was it kiddie night? Mesh is a nice restaurant and we had 4 tables around us with loud kids. I love kids but not when I am trying to have a nice conversation. This ain’t Chilis! No offense to Chilis. The 6 or 7 year old girl at the next table was playing a very loud game on a phone. After 10 minutes of this game, I finally turned to the table and asked if it could be turned down a bit. Yes, I am a Karen. Also, just sayin’ – there are these things called headphones.

I finished this and really enjoyed it. I definitely learned something from hearing about the experiences Melanie had with her mother and that her daughter had to navigate with mean girls in high school.

Spoilers coming so scroll past if you want…

The part about mothering – yes!

And this…

It’s so hard to see our parents as people and not just our mother or our father. While my story is nothing like Melanie’s, it was good for me to read right now, I think. My mom could be very difficult, but there was no doubt that she loved me. I just think we didn’t always speak the same language, if that makes sense.

Reading some of my mom’s letters to her mom from college are helping me to see my mom as a real person maybe more than I did before. She had childhood trauma and a fractured home life.

I pre-ordered the book well before my mom passed away. Maybe coming to an understanding about someone after their death is better than never coming to one at all?

May your Monday bring happiness in a big or small way,

Amy

22 thoughts on “Hello Monday”

  1. Happy Monday! Happy birthday to EO! Give him a cuddle from me!

    Your hair looks great!

    Thank you for sharing excerpts from that book. The first page really hit my heart since daughter no. 2 just left us this morning and will be away for three weeks. We’re real empty nesters here! And first day of spring break (sports break) so I’m going to enjoy myself.

    You too I hope!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

      1. Yes, I’m aiming to be no 1 all week! 😀

        I will enjoy myself, but it’s strange, that feeling of emptiness… I think I will go to the movies today!

        Happy Monday (again!)

        Liked by 1 person

      3. Yes, I agree, it’s the first day! I’m absolutely ok with oldest being in Austin! Whats Up is a miracle gift!

        60, that’s great! So back to outdoor reading, right? Daughter luckily bought a puffer and a hat to Austin, she has really needed it! 39 over here… Spring is far away, sigh.

        Like

  2. My husband and I were just talking about things no one ever teaches you– even beyond school age– when we went out on our date night this weekend. One of the older lades at our gym is having to put her mother in a nursing home (she’s 102!) but the process for getting her admitted and all the financial aspects sound really overwhelming. Which then to talks about probate and such that we really don’t know anything about yet either. Evan and I are having lots of talks as he’s touring colleges since he’s really not 100% sure what he wants to study but he thinks he knows… and so few schools offer it. He really fell in love with one school we toured but it doesn’t have the major he’s thinking of studying but I told him, in my opinion, it’s more important to pick a school he loves and thinks he’ll fit in at and can see himself going to for 4 years because his major could always change. If he finds a teacher that’s passionate about something and that ignites a passion in him he’d be stuck at a school he didn’t really love just because they once had a field he was interested in studying. But then I also assured him NO decision he makes now is irreversible; people transfer all the time and I’ve told all my boys to just make a decision, give it a fair shot and if it doesn’t feel like it’s working out after a semester or even a year then we reevaluate and make different decisions. Nothing is set is stone; the next step he takes is NOT going to determine the entirety of the rest of his life. This choice doesn’t need to have nearly the amount of pressure we often make it out to.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Joanne this is basically word for word what I told my students!
      Put your assets in a trust to avoid probate. My mom had just done this. I’m getting an education for sure.

      Like

      Reply

      1. Good to know! As of right now our assets are set to go into a trust to be divided between the 3 boys but I know that’s not how our parents have their wills set up…

        Liked by 1 person

      2. So smart. My mom has the same. Everything is divided in thirds. We were already beneficiaries on life insurance and financial accounts and house is only thing in trust. Maybe talk to your parents about it?

        Like

  3. One year with EO! So sweet. He’s a good looking boy! I’m glad you are doing what you need to do for yourself…pjs, dinner with friends, etc. I can only imagine how overwhelming the house things (& other things) are. These next few weeks will be interesting…glad the weather is looking good this week.

    Like

    Reply

  4. I was just at a Celebration of Life yesterday for someone who died way too young and was such an awesome person. These things always make me think about my life and what if any, impact I have on others. It’s a weird stage in life as we watch our parents age, and die. Several friends have had to make tough decisions lately. It’s a lot!

    Thank goodness your mom had her affairs in order. I know it will still be quite a bit of work for the 3 of you. Boy what a blessing that you are all teachers and can take some time during the summer to do it together!

    Your GNO looks like fun – what a great idea to serve the espresso martinis in the chocolate bunny!

    Finally, I hope you do schedule a little getaway for spring break. I think you need it!

    xo,

    Kellyann

    Like

    Reply

  5. Eddie Otis is huge! Happy birthday to him!

    I wish I could find a good hair place. I wouldn’t mind paying for highlights if I liked the place…the only I did use a few times closed down.

    I think 4-year college is a scam at this point for *most* kids. But then I also see kids who are choosing not to go or to go online and I feel like they’re wasting potentional. I think it has to be a direct pipeline to a job. But working 10-12 days for the rest of your life is also overrated. Tens of thousands in debt is what prevents young people from starting families too, because they feel both parents have to keep working at the same pace forever. I think a 17 yo old really needs to think about what they want…it can be hard to transition from the model of “going to school every day” to the freedom of college and life post-school.

    Like

    Reply

  6. Enjoyed reading this post- it covers both heavy and light topics- one of my types of posts. First though, I applaud you for saying something to the girl or the family of the girl whose game was super loud at the restaurant. There are good restaurants to take kids- Chili’s is a great example. The Melanie Shankle book sounds good. I’ve not read any of hers though I know they’re popular. This one might be the one that resonates well with me. I feel badly for high school students who don’t know what they want to do or study in college- many middle class kids of reasonable intelligence assume they should go to college after high school. I don’t think that’s the answer for everyone but that seems to be the default next step. Lots of things to think about. I hope you have a great Monday!

    Like

    Reply

  7. I’m so glad you had time with Mason and with the Heathers this weekend. I would have been frustrated over the loud kid noise as well, and have been in that situation before. I didn’t say anything, but we asked the waiter to do it for us, because we were at a nice restaurant for our anniversary. I am so glad you have this book, and that you’re getting glimpses of who you mom was aside from your parent. I think we all need those doses of perspective, and I hope I remember to keep that in mind and to offer grace for the times when I need to extend that. You are strong, my friend. One day at a time.

    Like

    Reply

  8. I feel like these are such good topics. Your students even thinking of these questions shows their maturity, yet it is sad there isn’t more preparation for real world post high school taught to them. I didn’t order Melanie’s book, but thank you for sharing these insights. I would think this could be a little bit of a hard read, but good at the same time. I think you are wise to take these steps day by day as you are still fresh on the healing journey of grief. I hope you have a good Monday friend!

    Like

    Reply

  9. I can’t believe EO is already one!!! Happy Birthday EO!! 🥳 🐾You remind me I need to get Melanie Shankles new book. I love her books and always find them very relatable. Schools need to teach a mandatory personal finance course. Parents should be doing that at home but it’s not happening. Most parents need a personal finance course themselves!

    Like

    Reply

  10. Happy birthday to Eddie Otis! My Jack is snoring at the end of the couch, or I’m sure he’d be wishing EO the same. We keep talking about putting our home in a trust, but that’s as far as I can get Mike. And, we’re much older than you. My mom had taken care of so much as she got older. It was just one more way she showed us her love. Don’t you think schools are pressured to just teach what will get kids into college with no thought to beyond? Even in fourth grade, I felt that. How about a staycation at one of those cute hotels with an inside pool…one minus noisy little kids?

    https://marshainthemiddle.com/

    Like

    Reply

  11. My 16 year old was asking me the other day about what “going in to debt for college” means so we had a talk about that and other stuff similar with him and my other two kids. It reminded me I need to talk about those sort of things more! I should probably come up with a list.

    I remember when you first posted photos of Eddie Otis so I can’t believe he’s a year now! What a big boy!

    I think if the idea of planning a trip stresses you out, you should stay home but chill!

    Like

    Reply

  13. Happy Monday and happy bday EO! My dad passed a few months after your dad…. So I’ve been thinking about my mom a lot. She is still living alone and doing good but we are starting to notice some changes with her short term memory- my middle sister is going to her doctor appointment with her today, but my mom is very very mad at us for even suggesting that something could be amiss. It’s so difficult. Hang in There with spring break coming soon. I’m off to Disneyland with my oldest daughter and SIL tomorrow. My youngest daughter sold her home this month and moved in with her fiancé yesterday— big changes for our family !! My husband sold his business of 39 years and merged with the 2nd largest pest control company in the world- Rollins. It’s been a very stressful year and it’s only Feb 24! Haha! He will stay on while everything transitions and be fully retired in July!! We are both excited for our next chapter!!! Ok enough of my sharing. Just wanted to say thanks for always being a fun read on here!!

    Like

    Reply

  14. Happy birthday EO!

    I have been on a plane where the mom thought nothing of letting the kids watch a video device loudly-no headphones. There’s a large portion of parents that do not want to have to deal with their kids so hey, the rest of us get to do so.

    Maybe it was just my experience but tell your students we didn’t know all there is to know either! You learn, you grow, you’ll never have all the answers, but you do the best you can.

    Like

    Reply

Leave a reply to kedarhower Cancel reply