Oh I’m tired. This lingering cough is getting in the way. I feel like we need a 5 day yoga retreat with a hot tub! Oh to dream! ; )
On Day 4 of nothing we were back in a semi-normal routine, with the children off to a camp so I could work and get to a medical appointment. They went to different camps then they normally do {they normally attend a very small chinese daycare/camp run by a friend of a friend and it has been wonderful for them, but they are ready to explore more of the world now}. They also went to a different camp to each other, which was very big for them. My son headed off to a gymnastics program and my daughter an art program. They weren’t ready to be apart last year, but this year, with much reassurance, they are. I’m pleased too as it means that they can each follow their different hobbies and interests. It was very weird this morning getting up and getting everyone ready, thankfully excitement was high which helped and I wasn’t in a rush which meant my daughter could sleep in. And sleep in she did, until 9 am, heaven help me when she is a teenager! Still everyone was ready in minutes and I’d packed breakfast and lunch and 2 snacks, so off we went. And boy did I miss them today, even though it was an “easy” transition with a later start and an earlier finish. I kept wondering what they were doing and whether they were having fun. And while I find it very hard to be away from them and would much rather they were with me, or if they couldn’t be then a minute away at the Chinese daycare, I’m pleased that I gave them the opportunity to work through their fears and have a lot of fun cultivating hobbies and interests and I’m pleased I was able to do without a couple of things in November when I needed to book so that I could afford the difference between the daycare program and the camp ($30).
After I picked them up we were home by 5:15 and I declared tonight organizing night. We spent more than an hour going through some of the boxes in our porch from the move. Again, having those goals written out and visible, organized into small do-able tasks, made it possible on a Friday evening when I’m quite tired, to get through a box or two. Then there was dinner and a book about Terry Fox, followed by one of my very very very favourite children’s books “The Seven Silly Eaters” and oh did we laugh. Now one is blissfully sleeping and the other is busy with a craft and soon I will hopefully finish the boxes on the porch and get another thing checked off. Tomorrow my daughter has her very first friend coming over. When she made this friend in September, my heart jumped for joy, she so so wanted a friend and despite being at school here a whole year had not yet made one. And as the friendship grew I could see my daughter becoming more confident. When she finally felt ready to have a friend over to play, I cried. And tomorrow is the day! So tonight I’ll probably get a couple of activities set up for them and then just let them have some free play!
As for buying today, I resisted buying cat litter because I knew it would be possible to hold off for one more day and get it done with a few lingering groceries tomorrow. I’m really hoping that I can get it and fruit for less than $10! I’ve got meals planned through to next week, but we eat a serious amount of fruit in this house, as well as veggies and I do feel like I’m often catching up!
Confession – after my medical appointment I was downtown walking and admiring trees and had a coughing fit. It would NOT stop and as I had drunk all of my water, I decided I had no choice but to buy something because I couldn’t drive it was so bad. I was opposite one of those frozen yogurt places where you pay by weight and I got the smallest amount possible. I’m taking it out the budget so instead of having $10.94 left, I’ll have $9.50 for cat litter and fruit. It did work and I was able to drive, so despite the fact I really wish I didn’t have to, in that moment when I was rushing to pick my children up, I’m pleased and thankful I had that loonie and change on me. And you know, maybe it was a good thing. How often do we give thanks for having change? Today I did and I hope that stays with me. I once read if you have change in your pocket, sitting in an account at the bank, down the back of your couch, or in your wallet you are among the richest 10% in the world – definitely something to reflect on.
Happy Friday; May your weekend be filled with love, kindness and peace. And may you treat yourself well!
Thank you for including me in the riches 10%. I have some money in the bank and little in the house!!! I would say your unexpected purchase was a necessity and wouldn’t beat myself up over it. I’m really enjoying your daily progress through the no spend month.
Congrats on your decision and progress with your goal of spending next to nothing!! Read your last post and wanted to know if you use probiotics for your kids? Just asking because my youngest had years of health issues and malnutrition from her life before joining our family, and the vitamins and chewable probiotics have helped her body balance and the changes in her health have been dramatic. Just an FYI : ) Best of luck for your continued progress, do hope you feel better soon.
Just reflecting on your closing sentence and want to thank you for sharing that thought. I have often found change and even surprise notes in my bag or coat pockets. I envisage this happening less often as I tighten my frugal belt this year. But yes I am among the 10% and will try not to take it for granted. Hope you get better soon.
What kind of cat litter do you use? We buy a bucket and it’s well over $10. Either you’re buying more frequently, or you’ve found a good brand! I’d love to cut down on cat expenses, but there’s no way I can cut down on the cost of their food. Unfortunately I just lost one of our cats to cancer. I thought that with only 2 cats now the costs would go down, but haven’t noticed a difference. No matter how you cut it, we spend at least $50/month on pets, not including any medical costs (although I consider their more expensive food somewhat medical too).
The Seven Silly Eaters is one of our favorites too! Everyone here can recite most of it from memory, but we still have to read it often.
Pingback: Minimizing The Amount Of Stuff In Our Home | Notes From The Frugal Trenches – A Downshifting Journey
You have to give yourself a little grace. You planned but still ran into an emergency. Sometimes life happens. I realize you are trying to instill in your children knowledge about how so many in the rest of the world live, and I know that for many, many people stopping for some fro-yo to soothe a scratchy throat isn’t an option but if you can do it, then I think it is fine.
thank you. I needed to hear that. i felt a tad like i failed, even though it was “do something or not be on time to pick up your children”. silly really!!
You do so much for others, I really wouldn’t beat yourself up over spending a buck or so on really, a necessity. As my husband likes to remind me, the world will go on turning
if I am not 100% perfect on a goal. I tend to be an all or nothing person and often need to be reminded that just because I don’t achieve something “perfectly” doesn’t mean I was a failure in my ultimate goal. At the end of the day, having a goal and working diligently towards it and not giving up at one “set back” is really something to be proud of!
Kelly, I am exactly the same and it isn’t how I want my children to feel (failed, so give up) and I’m already seeing by giving them goals (well they came up with them) I’m being forced to not react like that. Thanks for the kind words and encouragement again!