Saturday, December 7, 2013

Fall

Well, it's happened again, a couple of months have gone by with no postings. We had a flurry of excitement back in October (we were able to successfully connect with M after a couple of weeks) and then went back to feeling like a pretty average family.

The kids are doing well. D has settled into kindergarten and A is excelling in 2nd grade. A LOVES math and both kids have been spending a lot of time playing math games online. We had a nice Halloween (D was a race car driver, A was a firefighter) and some good family outings at Valley Forge and in Lancaster County. D lost his first tooth. The kids played soccer and took kung fu classes. I upped my teaching load. T managed to work on some groundbreaking science while writing two grant proposals. We got together with everyone on my side of the family for a gratitude-filled Thanksgiving. We met a great adoptive family that we hope to connect with again soon.

But lately I've been struggling. It's the time of year. When the days are short, I have no energy. I'm not as creative, as patient, as friendly, as efficient as I'd like to be. I have to work hard to be kind to myself and to be kind to those around me. I know I should exercise more. Mostly I want to sleep. I would love to hibernate all winter and wake up refreshed in the spring. I am dreading the next few months and need to come up with a plan to get me through.

7 comments:

  1. oh can I relate to that last paragraph!
    this year I am trying to meet it head on, I've got a "happy lamp" and am taking more vitamin D, but I've got to admit, the urge to curl up under the blankets is still really powerful ...

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  2. Glad the boys are doing so well! Ditto to the last paragraph. Unfortunately, my daughter has proclaimed herself a lover of the cold and is an "outside" girl not an "inside" girl. Let it be April fast!

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  3. Let me second the vit D recommendation. And yeah, this mama bear would love to hibernate. Or even head south for the winter. I am grateful that my son likes board games and legos.

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  4. You all know what I'm talking about - you are all north of me (in one case way north). I'm thinking of shifting my schedule around to wake up early and be super productive in the morning. Early morning darkness seems easier than evening darkness. And yes, I am taking Vit D and have a blue light!

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  5. I also hear you on the last paragraph. The light and Vitamin D do help, but they don't solve the problem for me. It's just tough. Getting up earlier is a good idea but for me very hard to implement when it's pitch black outside. I hope you find a solution to help you through the winter!

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  6. Yes to hibernation! I say we start a new trend of hibernating moms.

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  7. In less than two weeks, the days start getting longer again.....It will still be cold and the darkness long, but.... the days will be getting longer.

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