January '25 News

 

• Big kids have midterms next week.
• There is "the plague" going through the schools - some horrible combination of illnesses that causes fever and vomiting, among other things. 
• My husband has sprained his ankle while away on business trip - he is OK but can't walk around too well.
• C has started cello lessons with a new teacher - and he gave her quite a load of work (like, 3 times more than what she is used to), so she is feeling overwhelmed.
• Our school district pool has been out of commission, which means that H's diving practices have been at a different school (much farther away!!!)
• E is driving (with a permit) - this comes in handy now that my husband is not particularly mobile. Looks like E is going to be his personal chauffer for the next couple of weeks!
• We need to figure out and plan camp schedule for the summer.
• We need to figure out and make travel plans for the summer.
• I do not like planning - so this is making me grouchy.
• H is going to see a gastroenterologist and an endocrinologist. Because she is tiny. People keep thinking that she and C (3.5 years younger) are twins. The endocrinologist might put her on hormones.... I am not thrilled about that. 
• I am also not thrilled that getting this particular human to eat has become an issue (because H is almost never hungry... except when it comes for junky candy).
• E has been missing a lot of running practices (he is in track) - first because he was sick, now because he has so much homework and studying to do before the midterms.
• Life seems OK as long as I don't look at news.
• Parenting is hard. How do I support my kids and their interests? What types of interests do I support (and should this be dictated by time commitment? financial costs? what a particular kid seems to be really into?) How much support do I provide? Where is the line between too much parental involvement and not enough?

Dear Reader: how is your January coming along? What adventures have you had? What are some things you are looking forward to this year?