This month has been one of the busiest of my life since even Harlan was born. I’ve been living out of a suitcase for most of it and have probably been traveling more than I’ve been home. It’s been an adjustment for both myself and the kids.
I’ve always thought of being able to stay at home with the kids and work from home as having the best of both worlds. Of course, it’s tough and my work hours are very unconventional, but I get to be with my children, which is of upmost importance to me.
During the week, it’s always just me and the kids (MacKay often works late.) I’m the chaueffer, the chef, the homework helper, and everything in between. I love it. And the kids enjoy me being there too. So when I have to travel, it can take a toll on all of us because we aren’t used to having anything alter our daily routine.
I knew I was going to be gone many weekends this month, so I made sure to make the best of the time that I did have with them.
Earlier this month we did one of our favorite fall activities and took the kids apple picking. My mom was here helping take care of the kids while I was away, and being from Florida, there aren’t many chances to see fall foliage or go appple picking, so we wanted to show her what the Northeast has to offer.
We are very lucky to be only 15 minutes away from a local orchard. We rode the tractor to the fields of apples and started picking. Macks did more eating than picking, while the girls had a blast going to each tree and picking from the lower branches.
We left with bags full of apples and of course some pumpkins to decorate the front porch.
While I get to spend plenty of time with the kids during the day, it’s not until I have to leave them for an extended period of time that I miss those ordinary moments with them. I love getting to take them on adventures of apple picking and pumpkin patches, but I also love being able to sit with them and read a book or have them help me in the kitchen preparing dinner. And this month I wasn’t able to do that often.
I am so thankful for my family that was able to come up and help out while I was away. I honestly couldn’t have done it without them. In between my trips, I’d spend a couple of days home and they would help everything in our daily routine run smoothly.
But one downfall of being away as much as I have this month (other than missing my family,) is that our laundry has piled up. With the little time that I do have at home, the last thing I want to do is spend time in our basement doing laundry.
I know I’ve raved about Tide Pods before, and I’m going to do it again because laundry is something I don’t enjoy doing and they help cut down on the time I spend doing it. All you have to do is put the pod (or pods depending on the size and soil level of the load) into the washer, throw the clothes in, and press start. They dissolve no matter what temperature the water is. It’s really that easy. You don’t have to measure anything, just pop it in and go!
If only everything in my life was that simple and required that little time.
