2014 Goals: July Update

We are now much closer to the end of the year than we are to when 2014 started! How that's even possible is beyond me, but the days and weeks just keep flying by. And this half of the year always seems so much busier than the beginning of the year, making time tick by that much quicker. Between birthdays, holidays, the shortening of days, and other activities that keep us occupied, the tale end of the year will be here before we know it.

July was ... well, it was okay. Right from the beginning, plans fell through, and things didn't go exactly as we had planned. The first hurricane of the season was "scheduled" for the weekend of the 4th, cancelling our plans of hotel stays, beach visits and concert-goings. Bummer. We still saw fireworks, but they just weren't the same. We dealt with plenty of doctors' visits, a lot of weekends spent at home soaking up the sun and heat, and a few more botched plans for movies out, summer library parties, and MOPS playdates that just didn't work out for us.

Although it wasn't exactly what we were hoping for this month, July wasn't all bad -- let's see how things went:

Last month I mentioned that being six months through the year, it was now easier to focus on daily/regular goals without having to constantly remind myself of what they were and what needed to get done. I'm pretty sure I jinxed myself with that one! All month long, if things were not written down, right down to "Wash laundry // make bed // take shower" then things just didn't seem to get done. Thankfully, I have a daily planner, which works well and allows for plenty of room to write down those tedious, mundane tasks that most people seem to just remember they need to do.

Up until this point, most months I spent time focusing on myself by getting myself a little treat here or there. Some new clothes, new nail polish, or a coffee break out solo. In July, I took care of myself in a different manner -- I finally went to see a psychiatrist! Over the past few months, my doctor kept switching up my medication every time I went to see him, for one reason or another. Either I was constantly tired, feeling nauseous all the time, or on edge. Nothing seemed to be leveling my feelings out or helping me cope throughout the day. And I just wasn't satisfied with that. So psychiatrist it was! And after just that initial meeting, I was already feeling enthusiastic -- and like this was the right step to take. Moms -- you NEED to take care of yourself, first and foremost, before you can ever take care of your little ones the way that they need and deserve!

Schedules around here got better, as well, now that I am focusing more on the family time we spend together. The kids have been waking up earlier and earlier -- and although I normally cherish that early morning quiet time to myself, I have gotten used to little feet and loud noises first thing! All that means is that by 8am, we are all fed, showered, dressed and most of the chores are done for the morning, leaving us plenty of time for errands, play dates and outside time. M and I have been making more of an effort to head to bed at the same time, and sleep in together on his days off, instead of me setting my alarm 7 days a week. The extra sleep has been nice -- although, once again, it means a loss of morning quiet time. You win some, you lose some.

And again this month, the house has been getting plenty of attention! I did a little diy project for our bedroom, painting a wicker table for one corner of our room. I've cleaned and tidied, gotten rid of and avoided buying unnecessary items, as well. I finally finished deep cleaning all of the rooms, taking care of things that weren't where they should be, wiping down and washing spots that don't often see a wet rag, and going through all the nooks and crannies, finding lost items, tons of cobwebs and messes I never realized existed. And I've really gotten into a regular routine -- if only I could convince the kids that there was no reason for making messes just 5 minutes after I've cleaned a room. (Yeah, right!)

July came and went. It wasn't exciting. It wasn't eventful. But it didn't burden us, either. We weren't left with feelings of regret or resentment towards July -- and in fact, we were left with smiles from some pleasantly hot and sunny weather. We may not have followed through with the plans we had laid out, but we filled our days with other plans, other memories, and a different kind of agenda. July -- you weren't good. You weren't bad. You just ... were. However, I have high hopes for August. And I know they won't go disappointed!