Today was my first official day of no work in my new home. No work outside of the home, I should add.
I did take care of Baby Gracie, clean, make a scrumptious chicken dish in my crockpot, hoop, and walk Honey Dawg with my daughter, Baby Gracie and her cousin.
At first I felt a little restless. I felt like something was missing. Something was missing. Many bus commutes! I have so many bus schedules and routes in my head, it's a wonder I can keep track of them all and even make it to work on time!
Taking care of the baby and housework is a different kind of work. Watching Baby Gracie, takes mental concentration. I have to be full present, lest she catapult herself from my lap or put some foreign object in her mouth. Plus, I am diligent about being attentive to her needs. Diaper change, feeding, distraction when she misses her mom, activities when she gets bored. We have agreed on letting her watch only one episode of "Baby Einstein" a day.
It is Mommy's gold mine. She sits, enthralled, watching each show for the duration. She could probably sit for hours, but we won't allow it.
We are quite aware of how many screen zombies there are in our world. We agree that staring at a television for hours a day cannot be healthy for a child.
I am trying to walk my talk. And not spend too much time staring at my computer screen, or playing Words with Friends on my phone.
Now that my schedule is consolidated, I do my work in Portland only 4 days awake. For years I only had one day off a week, if that. Now, even though I have Baby Gracie duty 3 days a week, I have more time on my hands due to less travel.
In the fall, I plan on shifting to only teaching at the music center. No more home visits. I have thoroughly enjoyed teaching students privately in their homes for the past 15 years of so. Most of them feel more like family than students. But I am ready for a quieter life. More home time. More time with my own family.
I am eager to spend time doing the crafts I have never had time for in the past: Knitting, loom knitting, crocheting, and water color. In addition to continuing my piano practice, I am finally learning to play my ukelele an my didgiridoo!
Although Baby Gracie was thoroughly NOT impressed with my digiridoo playing. I blew on it my first night hear and she let out a blood curdling scream. My daughter fondly refers to it as Zma's "DidgiriDONOT!"
But I need to practice it regular for my sleep apnea. My doctor recommended it at my sleep and asthma consult.
Maybe when Gracie is out with her mom and dad I will do my didgiridoo!
Now that I am spending more time at home, I hope finally find some balance with my eating. Less time on the road = less temptation to eat junk food and fast food. My daughter and I both love cooking healthy. We cook mostly vegetables, lean protein and brown rice. Fruit for snacks. No gluten, no sugar, no processed food.
And with a park right across the street, I have no excuse not to exercise! I am hooping every morning and walking. My goal is to continue the dream of running again.
I feel good about this new era of my life. Let's see where it leads me!
Talk to you tomorrow!
Love,
Zita
P.S. Baby Gracie loves playing with boxes. Here is the boxcar I made for her today. It provided at least 30 minutes of squealing amusement!
And here is today's hooping video. Day 360!!
I did take care of Baby Gracie, clean, make a scrumptious chicken dish in my crockpot, hoop, and walk Honey Dawg with my daughter, Baby Gracie and her cousin.
At first I felt a little restless. I felt like something was missing. Something was missing. Many bus commutes! I have so many bus schedules and routes in my head, it's a wonder I can keep track of them all and even make it to work on time!
Taking care of the baby and housework is a different kind of work. Watching Baby Gracie, takes mental concentration. I have to be full present, lest she catapult herself from my lap or put some foreign object in her mouth. Plus, I am diligent about being attentive to her needs. Diaper change, feeding, distraction when she misses her mom, activities when she gets bored. We have agreed on letting her watch only one episode of "Baby Einstein" a day.
It is Mommy's gold mine. She sits, enthralled, watching each show for the duration. She could probably sit for hours, but we won't allow it.
We are quite aware of how many screen zombies there are in our world. We agree that staring at a television for hours a day cannot be healthy for a child.
I am trying to walk my talk. And not spend too much time staring at my computer screen, or playing Words with Friends on my phone.
Now that my schedule is consolidated, I do my work in Portland only 4 days awake. For years I only had one day off a week, if that. Now, even though I have Baby Gracie duty 3 days a week, I have more time on my hands due to less travel.
In the fall, I plan on shifting to only teaching at the music center. No more home visits. I have thoroughly enjoyed teaching students privately in their homes for the past 15 years of so. Most of them feel more like family than students. But I am ready for a quieter life. More home time. More time with my own family.
I am eager to spend time doing the crafts I have never had time for in the past: Knitting, loom knitting, crocheting, and water color. In addition to continuing my piano practice, I am finally learning to play my ukelele an my didgiridoo!
Although Baby Gracie was thoroughly NOT impressed with my digiridoo playing. I blew on it my first night hear and she let out a blood curdling scream. My daughter fondly refers to it as Zma's "DidgiriDONOT!"
But I need to practice it regular for my sleep apnea. My doctor recommended it at my sleep and asthma consult.
Maybe when Gracie is out with her mom and dad I will do my didgiridoo!
Now that I am spending more time at home, I hope finally find some balance with my eating. Less time on the road = less temptation to eat junk food and fast food. My daughter and I both love cooking healthy. We cook mostly vegetables, lean protein and brown rice. Fruit for snacks. No gluten, no sugar, no processed food.
And with a park right across the street, I have no excuse not to exercise! I am hooping every morning and walking. My goal is to continue the dream of running again.
I feel good about this new era of my life. Let's see where it leads me!
Talk to you tomorrow!
Love,
Zita
P.S. Baby Gracie loves playing with boxes. Here is the boxcar I made for her today. It provided at least 30 minutes of squealing amusement!
And here is today's hooping video. Day 360!!
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