The issues with the gym I posted about last week dissolved into nothingness -- once I gave in.
The kid has been diligent about finishing her homework in the hour she's got from the time we arrive there to the time her workout begins. She is even getting a little MORE sleep, despite the fact that she doesn't get home until 10:00... with her homework finished, she can sleep in until 6:30 or even 7:00.
I should know by now that there is little point in getting worked up about things I can't control. I am getting better. Really. You should have seen me when the little one was in preschool.
So now, my only complaint is that when it's my turn to drive, I'm stuck there until 9:00 p.m. -- 35 miles from home.
I saved myself from spending five hours at the local Starbucks on Wednesday, by taking my friend Karoli out for drinks and a bite. Unfortunately, I don't think I can talk her into that on a regular basis. So I'm going to have to come up with other ways to bide my time.
I also need to figure out how to STAY AWAKE on the drive home. I was surprised at how much more tired I was at 9:00, even after drinking coffee. That extra hour makes a huge difference.
But the upside of my daughter's crazy schedule is that her parents are now spending more time alone together than we have since she came into our lives. We're learning how to be just US again. We've started catching up on grown-up movies on the DVD player. And we've taken to going out to dinner once a week - just the two of us.
On Thursday night, we hit a restaurant at our local mall (we actually don't have a lot of choice up here... almost ALL the restaurants are at the mall.) The hostess who seated us was really chatty: "So have you finished all your holiday shopping?" she asked.
HOLIDAY SHOPPING?!
I haven't even started.
I'm not in the mood. The economy sucks, and... hell, do I need to spell it out? No wonder they called the economic events of the 1930's a "depression," because that's how I feel after digesting the day's news - EVERY DAY.
I've informed my daughter that this year's holiday celebrations will be SIMPLE. She's stuck listening to the same NPR news on the radio on our way to school, so I think she gets it. I hope so. So far, the only item I've bought her is an LED book light that Costco is selling for just $5. (It will either be a stocking stuffer or one of her Chanukah gifts). As for anything else -- I haven't a clue. I just know that this year, she will not be receiving anything from Abercrombie. Or Ugg.
My husband and I are not exchanging gifts. I'd rather continue to dine out occasionally. That way, my husband gives me the gift of not cleaning the kitchen... and I give him the gift of not having to eat my cooking.
However, everyone in the family still NEEDS stuff -- which is why we ended up at another mall on Saturday.
We knew that things were bad, but we weren't prepared for HOW BAD.
The mall was EMPTY -- two weekends before Christmas. There were plenty of parking spaces, quiet stores and lots of available tables in the food court.
We walked around. We window shopped at Apple and Sony. The husband got an entire wardrobe of new jeans at Target (for less than he would have paid for just one pair a year ago). The daughter got a much-needed haircut -- and I resisted the urge to buy "product."
And I got depressed.
I'm not good at this thrift thing. And I'm worried that I'm not going to make it.
Yesterday, my husband kept accusing me of acting angry. I don't think I'm angry - just afraid.
I don't deal with feelings of depression very well. I self-medicate by eating (can't do that any more)... or spending (and I can't do that any more, either).
I also like to escape through movies and television. I gravitate to comedies with themes of love and hope.
So last night, I popped "Love, Actually" into the DVD player - a movie that usually gets me into the holiday spirit.
And it worked. I went to bed last night feeling better.
Do not be surprised if I end up watching it every day for the next two weeks - instead of the nightly news.
(I have a new post up at 50-Something Moms. Check it out here.)
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