I’ve concluded the yet another week of practicing gratitude every day this month for National Gratitude Month.

Here’s what I was thankful for:

Day 15: In light of all that we’ve been through this year, I’m grateful that I’m still able to find joy where I can. For example, normally I’m one of those people who believes we absolutely should wait until one holiday passes before we celebrate the next. Thanksgiving first and then Christmas. But this year, we’ve thrown it all to the wind and it’s so much fun to do what we want! I decorated for Halloween at the end of August and we put up our Christmas tree on Sunday. While we haven’t fully decorated our tree yet, it does have lights and those lights make me extremely happy, filling me with cheer and hope even as the days get shorter and the nights get colder and the coronavirus cases spike again. We may just leave this tree up for all of 2021.

Day 16:  I’m thankful that sometimes things aren’t always as bad as they may initially seem. When you suffer from anxiety, there’s a tendency to always overthink and misread. Luckily, things often work out just fine despite our worst fears, and I’m very grateful for that. Last month I made a very tough–and honestly, stupid–decision to leave my current job at the end of the month to pursue something I’m more passionate about. I’ve been miserable at work for a while now (what else is new?) and it has been affecting my physical and mental health. I don’t have anything concrete lined up yet but a few things are in the works so I have hope and am thankful that I’m able to take this huge leap right now at a time when everything is so uncertain.

Day 17: I’m grateful for tummy tickles and blissful laughter at bedtime. Parenting is hard. Being a 3.5 year old with big feelings and little control over them is hard. So when we get a chance to just play and laugh, we take it even if delays bedtime. Tonight, after reading our bedtime stories, I laid in Sebastian’s bed with him and tickled him while he laughed and just enjoyed the time I get to spend with him. He’s growing up so fast so I’m incredibly thankful for these little moments.

Day 18: I’m so very thankful for my good health, even if it has been an emotional rollercoaster! This summer I started seeing a new cardiologist and, upon reviewing my records, she sent me to have an MRI because she wanted to be sure that what I experienced in 2017 was a heart attack and not something else. Today we learned that it was, in fact, a heart attack but that my heart function has returned to normal and I’m good to go. I may have taken my health for granted before, but I sure don’t anymore and for that I am grateful.

Day 19: I’m thankful for all of the teachers in my life. Not only those who teach as a profession, but also those who may or may not realize that they’re imparting useful knowledge to others. Please allow me to say thank you to the daycare and preschool teachers, professional teachers and instructors, mentors, parents, friends, etc. You are so valuable and I hope you always feel appreciated; I know I am so grateful for you.

Day 20: I’m thankful for my little brother. It was great to grow up with someone who I could boss around (and insist he bring me all the snacks) but also to fiercely protect from the bullies who didn’t even stand a chance against our family! We may not be as close as we once were, but I’m so grateful to have a brother who is incredibly smart and always makes me think about the difficult stuff, but also makes me laugh until my belly hurts.

Day 21: I’m thankful for the opportunity to get away and relax, to clear my head and recharge. I have to figure out what the next chapter of my career holds and taking a weekend trip to the beach was a good place to start thinking about it.

That’s it for week 3. What are you thankful for?

Read week 2 here.
Read week 1 here.

I’ve concluded the second week of practicing gratitude every day this month for National Gratitude Month.

Here’s what I was thankful for:

Day 8: I’m thankful for my dogs. Y’all know how much I love these puppers, and even though we’ve had a rough time training Milo (and we still have a ways to go), they still bring me so much joy. I love how they keep me company in my office while I work during the days and cuddle on the couch in evenings while we’re watching TV. They help make my heart feel full.

Day 9: I’m thankful for the cheesy Christmas movies that are always playing this time of year. They’re always so positive and predictable, but that’s what I love about them; sometimes it’s exactly what my anxious mind needs. I’m grateful that on days like today, when things start to feel like they’re just a little too much, I can get lost in a fictional winter wonderland. Btw, Hallmark has the best ones but without cable I’m making due with those on Amazon and Netflix!

Day 10: I’m thankful for the opportunity to always learn new things, even if it’s stuff I have very little interest in or feel like I’ll never use in “real life.” There’s a world full of knowledge out there and getting to access even a fraction of it over a lifetime is pretty cool.

Day 11: I’m grateful for Nick. I know I probably sound like a broken record but he’s my rock and keeps me grounded. I’ve needed him more than ever lately and he always answers the call. And for that I am so thankful.

Day 12: I’m thankful for my parents! Today was their wedding anniversary so it’s fitting that I mention them today. They’ve always been so supportive of who I am and everything I’ve ever wanted to do. From both of them I’ve learned how to be smart, strong, and resilient. Kind, caring, and generous. How to stand up for myself and others, and most importantly how to stand back on my feet every time I get knocked down.

Day 13: I’m grateful for my support system. My husband, my family, and my friends who are all there for me and make it possible to take chances that make me feel like I can breathe again.

Day 14: I’m thankful for sleepy Saturday mornings when we’re all snuggled up and have nowhere to be and nothing to do so we can just relax. It’s the best feeling.

That’s it for week 2. What are you thankful for?

Read week 1 here.

I talked earlier about how gratitude is so good for every single one of us. I haven’t done a great job this year of staying positive and want to use National Gratitude Month to get into the habit of practicing gratitude on a daily basis. So here are the things I was grateful for this week:

Day 1: I’m grateful for the rain. Sometimes the rain feels right, even though it can be very dreary and it often keeps you stuck indoors. Without the rainy days, however, there would be no plants, no muddy puddles to splash in, and little appreciation for the sun. The next time you find yourself stuck in a downpour simply lift your head to sky, feel the drops landing on your nose, and try to appreciate the nature of life.

Day 2: I’m thankful for nachos for dinner. After a long day of work, laundry, and other errands, I decided to make cheesy chicken nachos for dinner. They were quick, easy, and delicious! They may not have been super healthy but it’s all about balance and letting yourself have a little fun. It’s also really simple: just buy all the ingredients you need from the store (I used  tortilla chips, already-cooked grilled chicken strips chopped into bite-sized pieces, black beans, black olives, shredded cheddar and pepper jack cheeses, jarred jalapeños, guacamole, and salsa), layer them up and bake them in the oven for a bit until the cheese is nice and melty. Yum!

Day 3: I’m grateful for Sebastian’s imagination and endless curiosity. I love watching him play and incorporate all of the things he’s learning in a way that makes sense to his three-year-old brain. I love laughing at his silly personality and watching him strike a pose in his favorite jammies and sunglasses or run around wearing clean underwear on his head like a hat. I love answering all of his questions and realizing that things we know “automatically” now are things we once had to learn, too. Childhood truly is magical and I’m so thankful that I get to experience it with him.

Day 4: I’m thankful for my friends. I get to talk to some of my friends almost daily, some I only see once a month, and some I only see once a year but I love them all the same. I’m incredibly lucky to have such amazing people in my life! I’m thankful for all of them, including the ones who are always there to talk, those who always support me, and those who send small gifts when I’m feeling down. They really are the best!

Day 5: I’m grateful for Soccer Shots. Sebastian loves running around on the field, chasing the ball, and I love that he’s learning new skills. Playing sports has a range of physical, emotional, and interpersonal benefits so I’m glad he’s into it from such an early age.

Day 6: I’m thankful for our cul de sac. It’s full of kids for Sebastian to play with and cool enough parents for Nick and I to play with–and right now by ‘play with’ I mean taking turns chasing our kids around and making sure they don’t bite it on the pavement on their scooters. It’s the village I’ve been wanting.

Day 7: I’m grateful for everyone who has worked so hard to end the reign of 45. In the very wise words of my friend Katie, “the election results give me hope, but I do not want to see this lead to complacency. I’m disappointed and confused by how close this election was. And I don’t expect to give Biden and Harris a free pass. They’ve been given a chance and, unlike the last four years, we need to keep our leaders accountable.” I couldn’t have said it better. But at least we’re starting to head in the right direction and the lives of so many people are significantly safer. For that, I am grateful.

That’s it for week 1. What are you thankful for?

photo source

In last week’s Giving Thanks post, I talked about how grateful I am for all of the caregivers I have in my ‘village’ who help care for Sebastian. This week I was going to expound that view to talk about the reasons I’m thankful for my community as a whole. But to be completely honest, time got the better of me so I’ve decided to save that topic for another time. Today, I’m taking a break to focus on family and food, for which I am extremely grateful.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! I hope you’re all enjoying good food and quality time with family.

You’ve no doubt heard the saying, “it takes a village to raise a child.” I heard it often and believed it, but I never fully appreciated it until I had my own kid. Sure, I was part of others’ villages as I babysat for friends and encouraged my young nephew to say ‘excuse me’ after he burped, but I didn’t realize how helpful your village is when caring for your kid, yourself, and your family. When my son was born, I was lucky to have my mother stay with us for a few weeks to help take care of us. She’s pretty amazing, and the fierce love she has for her family can’t be beat. Then I had to go back to work, which meant I had to rely on someone else to take care of my sweet baby boy. I think this is one of the feelings that is hardest to resolve as a working mother. I often felt like I was abandoning Sebastian, and watching him grow up in photos, and leaving him for someone else to raise. I still haven’t quite reconciled these feelings completely but I’m working on it, especially as I let go and know that I really don’t have to do it alone.

Fun at daycare.

With all of that said, the point of this post is that I’m so thankful for the caregivers in Sebastian’s life. From his father to his grandparents and aunts and uncles, our friends, and his daycare teachers, I’ve learned that it truly does take a village.

So many toys to play with, so little time!

In the beginning we were lucky to have found a great daycare for Sebastian. His teachers were considerate, attentive, and seemed to really care about his well being. When we switched to the new daycare, I expected more of the same and was a little disappointed when the teachers didn’t go “above and beyond.” In the grand scheme of things, however, they’re doing a great job. Sebastian is never hungry, he hasn’t had any injuries, and he always has a smile on his face when I pick him up in the evenings.  Oh, and one morning when I walked in the door to drop him off, the 3- to 4-year-old kids saw us and starting yelling, “Good morning, Sebastian!” It was adorably sweet and made me feel better about leaving him there because I knew he was surrounded by folks who cared about him.

Finger painting at daycare

So, I’m really grateful that there will always be someone there if I need them to take care of Sebastian. And not just take care OF him but really care FOR him. It speaks volumes to the people I have chosen to be in my community. But more on that next week 😉