First Day of School

The first day of school is always rough.  Trying to get back on track, waking up early and getting out the door on time.  I always feel a little guilty for being so happy school is starting so I have more free time and a stricter schedule.

Where did the time go?

Time has gotten away from me.  It is the last month of school, we took a quick trip out of town, we all got a little sick and before I know it I have missed almost a month of writing.  As I see it, I can't worry about the past, I have to look at today and today I am writing.

My son has 2 more days of school.  Soon he will be a 5th grader and I am realizing he is no longer this little boy starting school for the first time.  It won't be long and my little baby will go from ten to teen.  I cherish these days where he will still hold my hand, he will still tell me he loves me in public, he still wants me to hang out with him but my friends warn me that it will change.  I hope they are all wrong.

As the school year comes to an end so does my job as a Kids Yoga teacher.  It is nice to have the summer break but I will miss all the kids and sharing my yoga practice with all the kids.  I am looking forward to some amazing travel this summer and hoping to share with you my family moments.  No more homework, no more studying and no more lunch box notes - just fun posts of our summer adventures.

Quote of the day:

How did it get so late so soon? Its night before its afternoon. December is here before its June. My goodness how the time has flewn. How did it get so late so soon?

Dr. Seuss

So many books, so little time

Do your kids like to read?  My son at age 10 is consuming books like they are ice cream on a summers day.  I can't keep up with his need to read, trying to find books that are appropriate for his age and also his reading level.  I am sure many other parents are struggling with this problem but I suppose it is a good problem to have.  The alternative would be much more of a struggle and I definitely need to be thankful and not complaining.  I guess I feel guilty that I don't read enough.  I have started four different books this year and still have not finished any of them.  The excuse of not enough time is definitely just that.  You will make time for the things you truly want to do in life so I guess if I want to read more then I need to stop making excusing and just do it.

Quote of the day: “No book is really worth reading at the age of ten which is not equally – and often far more – worth reading at the age of fifty and beyond.” 

― C.S. Lewis

My Cinco de Mayo lunch box note :)  Fiesta like there's no Manana!

“I find your lack of faith disturbing.”

My title today is a quote from Darth Vader mostly because it is Star Wars day but also because it is one of my favorite movies.  I have always loved Star Wars for so many reasons but one of the biggest is the conflict of the "light" and "dark" sides of the force.  I always think of the "force" as being like our inner voice choosing between good and evil.  I think of the force like my yoga practice of finding balance, peace and the mind-body connection.  I guess I would also call the Jedi a type of yoga master in a way.  

As a yoga teacher I still struggle with choices.  Do I eat that? Am I being mindful enough?  Am I a good teacher?  The force is strong in me but I am human and I do make mistakes and that is okay too.  I am not a Jedi master or even a yoga master but I try to do my best in life.  Isn't that all any of us can do?  We wake up every day and we try to do our best.  

Quote of the Day:
“Truly wonderful, the mind of a child is.” - Yoda - Attack of the Clones

Today's lunch box note is my ode to Star Wars Day.  May the fourth be with you!

Mystery Machine

Scooby Doo is one of my son's favorite shows and I love that at the end of each episode we learn some lessons.  We learn about team work.  We learn about bravery.  We learn that all the scary monsters are really just people who when unmasked aren't really that scary.

I struggle with trying to be the best Mom I can be.  Trying to do the best for my child, for my family and for myself.  I struggle with a need to be perfect sometimes when there is no such thing as perfection.  I think that social media makes us feel like we need to live up to some kind of ideals that aren't necessarily attainable or even needed in life.  As parents we can sometimes feel like we hold the world on our shoulders but in reality, we make it that way for ourselves.

I could take some lessons from Scooby.  I can't do it all alone because sometimes it takes a village and we should accept and ask for help when we need it.  I should be a brave knowing  I can allow my child a little more freedom.  He can go on that field trip without his Mommy.  He can ride his bike two blocks to his friends house (as long as he calls when he gets there).  I can loosen the apron strings a little bit and my world won't come crashing down.  Finally, the monsters that social media and the news have made are really just people.  People with regular problems and a regular life just like the rest of us.  We don't need to live up to anyone else, we just have to be ourselves.

Quote of the day:

“To find yourself, think for yourself.”
― Socrates

Today's lunch box note for my son - Happy Friday!

My First

     In life we have so many firsts like your first day of school, first kiss, first time flying.  I realized today, as my child went on his first big field trip without me, that I needed to get a life.  I am sitting here obsessed with how my 10-year-old child is doing 2.5 hours away on a 12-hour field trip without his mommy.  I definitely need to learn a little bit about letting go and learn to create more balance in my life.  I love reading other people's blogs so I thought to myself, why not me?  If anything it will satisfy my need to be creative and encourage me to do more for myself.  I love having a goal and also documenting my journey in life. 

Quote for the day:

“Perhaps there could be no joy on this planet without an equal weight of pain to balance it out on some unknown scale.”

― Stephenie Meyer, The Host    

Here is my son's lunch box note today in the bag of snacks to eat on the bus ride