From Your Publishers

Happy Friday, Arundel Kids followers! Katy, here!

This week has been a roller coaster of emotions. Sunday, we had some epic meltdowns over our return to school. There was so much anxiety over everything from how they would find their class, how they would carry all of their supplies and equipment if they would catch COVID, how they would wear their masks all day. I wondered if I was making the right decision to send them back to school.

Monday morning came and I got up extra early to ensure we were all going to be calm and excited about our morning instead of stressed. We had breakfast, packed up our final items, and headed out to school. On the way there, I blasted some old school club music and insisted on a dance party which resulted in giggles. They saw their friends, jumped out of school with barely a grunt goodbye to me, and off they went. I cried the whole way home.

I had a ton of things on my to-do list for Monday and Tuesday while they were gone. All of the things I've wanted to do for the last year. To workout extra long, to get my work done, and a guilty pleasure, to watch tv alone! I unpacked and organized more things, meal prepped, hopped on my peloton, did two loads of laundry, and worked. And then I watched tv. I sat for about 30 minutes and didn't have to hear someone say, "mommy, mom, mama, mommy, mom, mama" on repeat for hours. I didn't get interrupted, I enjoyed the quiet.

I was so excited to go and pick them up from school. Seeing their huge smiles when they came out of the building, hearing about how much they loved being in-person and seeing some friends, feeling their excitement as they told me all the things. I was refreshed and was so ready to love on them the rest of the day. Taking that time for myself, taking a break, and taking a breath: reminded me how important self-care is to be a good mom, wife, friend, daughter, etc.

So make some time this weekend or next week for yourself. Take a walk, read a book, heck, take a nap! Do something just for you without those littles calling your name 500 times. Take a break and take a breath. It goes a long, long way.

xoxo,

Katy