Resuming/Reworking the Routine

The morning view out my living room window.

I was up before the birds this morning. Getting up before the sun seems to get harder and harder as the sun rises later and later. I shall persevere though, I always do! My alarm went off at 5 a.m. but I snoozed it until 5:30 when I was finally able to drag myself out of bed and to my desk in the living room/office. I warmed up some coffee then sat down and started plunking away on the first article of the day. I can’t even tell you what it was about at this point.

As I was working at my desk I kept seeing something outside the window in the pre-dawn light. I finally turned and watched for a few moments to discover it was a bat flying around in my front yard, snatching up the last few bugs of his nighttime buffet. I love bats but haven’t seen many this year because of the odd summer weather. They never seemed sure that it was really summer and safe to come out of hibernation. I understand their confusion. I was surprised to see the bat this morning because the heat wave has finally broken here and it was so cool this morning I put pants and socks on. Perhaps the bat realized that it’s now or never to fatten up on bugs before fall settles in.

My girls go back to school tomorrow and while they’re not exactly thrilled, it will be nice to get back into a predictable routine. This year’s routine won’t include me having to drive into an office job though and that’s a welcome rework! It will include waking my oldest at 6 a.m. so she can be awake, fed and functioning in time for the 6:51 bus to take her to Middle School. She’s nervous about starting 6th grade and I completely understand. Jordan is a very bright girl though and I know she’ll do well. She’s known some of the kids in her class since preschool and hopefully none of them change for the worst as they progress through middle school and high school.

This will be the first year my youngest will have to ride the morning bus alone every day. All the kids I’ve seen interact with Jaycie seem to love her though so I’m hoping there aren’t any problems. She tends to go off into “Jaycie world” when she’s on her own so I’m sure that will make the bus ride pass quickly for her. Should any problems arise for either of my girls though, I’ll be down at the school to straighten things out at a moment’s notice. I only live two miles away and don’t have an office job to deal with anymore so I’m quite available to discuss any issues that may arise. Depending on how the school year goes this year, the teachers and staff might come to know me well.

Once both girls are on their buses and off to school I plan on taking Jazzmin for our morning walk. Then workout, then jump into freelance writing. I’ll fit in our second walk before the girls get home and the pup should be suitably satisfied and exhausted for the evening. Will that keep her from staring at me longingly asking for a third walk? Not likely. There’s always the possibility of a third walk with the girls when the weather permits and then everyone should be properly tuckered out.

I’m looking forward to returning to all my stay-at-home mom school year routines. Having fresh cookies or bread waiting for my girls when they get home. Getting a home-cooked meal on the table by 5 p.m. and then helping them with their homework. I hope to get all my freelance work done before they get home but articles don’t always appear conveniently for that. I’ll make it work though. I always find a way to make it work. Faith, trust, pixie dust…and strong coffee!