I feel like I have been making a lot of decisions lately. I’ve also been putting off a lot of decisions. Some of them feel monumental, but they probably aren’t. This is 2020, and it seems like everything is serious, and I have to take everything seriously. Not even washing my hands can be done half-heartedly.
Decisions
Staying home
I decided to not go back to work this school year. This has been a great decision. I am now at liberty to get my kids where they need to go without also wondering when I will get my grading done or if I will get my own butt to school on time. This is a huge stressor off our family. Hubster still teaches full time, pastors on the weekends, and drills (virtually) with his army medical unit, so he’s got the job thing covered. While our income dropped a bit, not paying for full-time childcare and my ability to plan meals and shopping has helped offset a lot of the difference. My primary job is making sure lunches are packed, teeth are brushed, and I remember to pick everyone up. If they get a bath a few times a week, we are ahead of the game.
House
I decided not to let my house stress me out. We recently moved into a bigger house in a new neighborhood. It’s a bit farther away from our desired area, but we are on a double cul-de-sac with LOTS of young families, and we’re close enough for Hubster to ride his bike to work. We are nowhere near fully unpacked, but as long as I do one “cleaning” task every day (this might be as small as vacuuming one room or doing the dishes), then I’m at peace.
Volunteering
I decided to continue volunteering at our Lutheran high school as a Koinonia adult mentor. This program groups 10-12 students together (spread out by grade and gender) with an adult in the building to meet weekly all four years of high school. It is one of my favorite parts of my job. I get to shepherd these kids, the same ones each year, through Bible studies, chapel, annual service days, and really through life as they struggle with all the stuff kids deal with: school stuff, driving tests, sick relatives, death, relationships, first jobs, and figuring out who they are and want to be. I pray with them and for them, and I love them deeply and cherish the relationships I get to build.
Side hustle
I’m still deciding what I want my “side hustle” to be. It might be my Teachers Pay Teachers store. It could be this blog. It might be a resume and college application business. It might massive amounts of volunteering at my church and my son’s Lutheran school (once the schools let parents back in the building!). Or do I even NEED a side hustle, or is that just the career woman in me who isn’t quite acclimated to domestic tranquility?
My village
Many people around me are making decisions. Hubster is deciding if he wants to pursue a Ph.D. My parents decided to fully retire. My brother decided to take a Call to a new church closer in the Midwest after living in Florida. My son Spartacus decided that maybe kindergarten isn’t so bad, even if he has to “sit around” more than he would like.
Life is not as complex as it used to be when I was working. We are blessed. God is good. As challenging as 2020 has been for everyone, I am grateful for my family, church community, and the rest of my village that helps us juggle life with three kids under 7. We haven’t totaled a car in over a year, so that’s win for our family. Spartacus and Little Miss can go to school in-person even if masks are standard. Even though we’ve only lived in our new house for a month, the homecoming TP-ers still found us. We are still waiting to sell our old house, but we will get there. And today I unloaded the dishwasher.
More to come from hELArious Lizzy, once I decide what it is that will be!
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