by Christina Renee | Children, Meals, Parenting, Simplify
While at my physical therapy appointment, we were talking about about school day mornings. She was saying about how difficult is was to serve breakfast at 2 separate times and get herself and the kids out the door on time. I have children in 3 different schools, all with separate times. We do not serve 3 separate breakfasts.
The Night Before
All great morning routines start with a great night time routine in place. At least a little. Backpacks and shoes need to be in their proper places. My son hangs both his backpack and jacket on hooks on the side of the shelves in his room. The girls stow theirs in their closet. All papers need to be signed the night before and any thing needed in their back packs. Clothes need to be laid out for the next day. Bedtimes need to be observed. We have 2 times we count down to. Each of them have separate times based on age but all of them have 1 time to be in bed and they get an additional 1/2 hour to read before lights out. This keeps them reading, because what child doesn’t want a later bedtime. It also gives them time to slow down.
Rise and Shine
All the children get up at the same time. No matter what time they go to school they all get up at the same time. I usually get up at least an hour before the children. (Unless sick or recuperating.) I have time to dress, quiet time and make my bed before they even get up. I can get them ready without it but I am not nearly as cheerful. My children all have their own alarms and get themselves up. Toward the end of the week I sometimes hear the alarm go off a little lot longer than normal and I have to go in and prod encourage them to get out of bed. Then they have to get dressed, brush teeth and hopefully make their bed. I’ll be honest, their beds don’t get made nearly as much as I would like.
Plan Ahead for Breakfast
Then they need a good healthy breakfast to eat. I try to freezer cook ahead of time so the days that are busy, I’ve fallen behind or just chaotic are covered. Mornings fit all 3. This is not to say I never cook breakfast but I try to prepare for the mornings I don’t want to. I have made quiche (or any other breakfast casserole) in the freezer and I put it in the oven as soon as I wake up, then get ready. I have assorted muffins, (pancake, blueberry, egg, banana, etc) that they can pull out and are microwaved. Waffles can be put in the toaster or boiled eggs in the fridge. I also have mini mixes that just feed one that you can make in under a minute. I have also done crock pot meals for breakfast. Egg casseroles, different flavors of oatmeal, tapioca, “fried potatoes” with eggs. Preparing ahead makes breakfast a snap.
Out the Door
Watch the clock to make sure no one is late to school. We also have an app at our school and it emails you when the bus is near. Have everything together to make getting to the bus stop easy. Then I have time for a cup of tea and a chat with my youngest daughter whose bus is later than the rest. What have you done to make school mornings easier?
by Christina Renee | Thoughts
Hurricane Season
I was talking to my sister this morning and she was talking about checking updates on the latest hurricane information that was supposed to hit this weekend and she preparing for it. She was getting a cooler full of ice, closing shutters, stocking water and getting as much ready as she could control. I’ve done the same thing when we have snow storms, stocking up, getting ready, whatever I can do.
Unexpected Storms
While we can prepare for the storms that we know are coming, what about the unexpected. What do you do then? Some things are easy, also easy to forget. Making sure the gas tank is at least 1/2 full, and you have a spare, car essentials kit makes you driving prepared. Having a list of emergency numbers so you don’t waste time looking them up. A baby sitter check list, fire safety checklists and drills all work great, when you have them ready. Do you need to take time and plan any of these?
Uncontrollable Storms
Some things are totally out of our control, what then? A call, your dad has cancer. A wreck, car totaled, injuries, lengthy recuperation. You miscarried, again. You need to prepare, I’ve never had a patient live 5 years without a heart attack, stroke or death. Your house is on fire. What do you do then? Who do you lean on?
The Calm in the Storm
During the midst of all these things happening that I never planned for, anticipated, or even thought this would happen to me. I have a wonderful support system, my family is fantastic. Every time family, extended family and friends were there to support me. I’ve turned to them, talked and shared with them and they’ve been there. But mostly, Jesus. He could take all the feeling that I had inside, my pain, my confusion, the lashing out I didn’t want to do to my husband or children. He comforted me and was a calm place in the midst of the storm. While I don’t have any answers to the whys, I do have a safe place to turn. Who do you turn to in the storms in your life? I’d love to hear.
by Christina Renee | Thoughts
Oh, Give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good.
Psalm 107:1
I am thinking and planning to celebrate Thanksgiving but do I remember it on other days? The Lord is so good to me all of my days, not just on Thanksgiving day. I know I have so many things to be thankful for; a wonderful husband and children, a warm house, wonderful food to look forward to eat , great medical care, friends and family.
Blessings disguised as work
But what about the things we take for granted, things that might look like work, of instance. All the dishes after the meal, I hear groans from children sometimes helping to clean up or asking to use paper plates instead of china. Folding clothes and putting them away; we can complain about it or use the opportunity to both be thankful for clothes but also pray for whose ever clothes I’m folding.
Celebrate
Shouldn’t we be thankful for a day to celebrate and use the china, be thankful for dishes to wash. There had been plenty of food on the plates. Am I as thankful about folding clothes as I should be, after all they keep us warm and nicely (most of the time) covered. We had a fancy dinner a couple weeks ago. My daughter planned it and it was amazing. But when we were all done, I asked if she wanted to do it weekly. She said no, it was to much work but monthly would be good. Celebrate life in little ways.
Ordinary life
What about the ordinary things, a smile from a little one. Changing a diaper, wiping little faces, helping with homework, teenagers coming in to talk at many a late hour; am I tired of repeating this activity over and over or am I thankful for the opportunity? I need to change my focus instead of it as another thing to do as an opportunity that God has given me to be thankful for. Lord, please help me to be thankful in all things.
by Christina Renee | Health
Going, Going, Gone
I have Charcot, a bone disease that destroys the bones in my foot and ankle. The doctor described it as a crush injury because the bones just disintegrate. This is a disease that keeps taking things away. Living with Charcot is painful.
Bones have been gone, I’ve lost several and the ones left fuse together.
Lacking mobility, in the acute phase I use a knee scooter or a wheelchair. My foot won’t flex the way it used to either because of the ways the bones have fused. I have to watch the amount I walk and sit to do a lot of tasks.
Gone is the ability to do most exercise. I can’t do most cardio, never a treadmill again. I had almost all the Walk the Away Pounds dvds and loved them but they’re not allowed any more. No walking around the neighborhood. I can use a stationary bike or swim IF I don’t have any open wounds, which is rare.
My fun, beautiful high heels I am no longer allowed to wear. Somehow, the men in my family don’t understand why this is a loss, but I am sure some of you do. I’m not comfortable wearing sandles either.
Gone are 2 toes from it. The cast rubbed all the skin off 4 toes and it wouldn’t grow back on two and there were bones showing through so they were amputated so my foot wouldn’t be. I do get to wear many colorful casts but it’s just not the same.
Missing Pieces
I’ve had so many bits chipped away it feels like I have had to reform just like my bones do as reshape and reform with the missing pieces of bone. I’m having to reform my life with the missing bits too.
I now have a special boot for my foot when the Charcot is flared up or had been recently. I have special insoles and shoes for when it’s in remission. Living with Charcot never completely goes away.
Flexibility and Help
I’m learning to be a lot more flexible. I love making plans but my plans and what my body can actually do that day are many days two different things.
Learning to accept help is hard. And to ask for it. It was always so easy to volunteer help but not nearly as easy to take it. It is very humbling to be pushed in a wheelchair, especially by your 73 year old mother.
I’ve learned to lean more heavily on God, from crying out in prayer and many whys, and learning to accept. God has been my Rock to lean on.
I hope you do not have a disease that chips away, but you may have something else that takes pieces from you. Something that makes you feel you may never be whole again. God heals the broken pieces inside. He restores my soul. And He is ready to help you too.
by Christina Renee | Family, Parenting, Thoughts
It is so easy to go through the days with the hugs and kisses from the little ones in the house. And I can be so overwhelmed with kisses that I can neglect it with the older ones unless I am thinking about it. My 3 that are 10 and under come up to me every day with hugs, kisses and cuddles.
Right now my 7 and 4 year olds are there a lot since they are a little insecure about Mom being sick and have been in the hospital and away from them. Serene would sit most of her time right next to me, on top of me even if she could, just to be as close as possible.
Older Children
So I have been making a point of giving my older children extra attention too. My 2 older sons 12 and 14 next week aren’t as demonstrative unless I initiate it. I pat them on the back or shoulder, give them hugs, ask for a kiss and give them one when they or I am leaving, ruffle their hair. I can see them responding even thought they were still at first.
How did I get out of the habit? By not making it a priority, I was getting all the hugs from the younger group and didn’t notice. I have to tell you though it isn’t as easy as it sounds.
Checklists
I have checklists to get thought the day, right now I am very forgetful. So I have my children on a checklist for me too. Did I say something positive to encourage this child today? Did I hug him or her? Which one needs some special mom time? I have to write it down or I forget. Some would thing it is because I have 10 children but I wasn’t always this forgetful. My husband thinks it’s all the meds I’m on. And yes, I have him on the list too. With older daughters it is easier, they accept hugs easier although one daughter I always have to point to my cheek at night after I hug and kiss her for a kiss back. She just grins and kisses me. I know she loves me , she is my daughter who is always bringing me hot tea too. So try and make the effort if you’ve gotten out of the habit.
Older children need this too but just don’t want to show it. I have so many things pulling at my time and energy this can easily fall by the wayside if I don’t plan for it. So make good use of your time even if you have to use a chart to do it.
