Why is asking for what we want/need so hard? Is it just me? I’m a caretaker by nature and enjoy doing for others but in order to do so in the manner I strive for (with joy, not resentment), I’m realizing there are a few things I need.

One: Early mornings to myself (hello, it’s 3:15 AM right now which is a bit out of character, but after my three year old decided she needed me to come cover her up at 2:45 AM, I couldn’t fall back asleep).
Two:  Exercise. I’m not even an endorphin junkie but 3-4 days a week make a big difference in my demeanor. I’m looking forward to actually being semi-awake at Burn Bootcamp’s 5:00 AM class for once.
Three (and most recent): Two hours on a Sunday.

We had a lovely weekend. Apple picking on Friday, a birthday party Saturday, watching Georgia come away with a win in South Bend that evening, Kaitlyn’s first soccer practice on Sunday, and a fun Panther’s kick-off party at a friend’s house yesterday afternoon too.

Lots of good stuff, but I woke up Sunday morning with a weight on my shoulders, thinking about all the puzzle pieces of the upcoming week and how best to fit them all together. David knows me enough by now to see that crazy gleam in my eye and gingerly feel out the situation. We chatted over coffee and came up with a solution, two hours on a Sunday.

Is it just me or when you’re a mom, does two hours to get things done solo sound like a vacation or what?! I wasted no time in putting my two hours to work.

I wanted to break the two hours down, having one hour for food prep for the week and the other hour to lesson plan. Since I already meal planned and shopped, I got right to the food prep.

Simultaneously I started putting together several dishes. First, chicken enchiladas. I love this recipe because it makes two pans. I added a can of black beans and checked dinner for Monday night and a pan for the freezer off the list.

I peeled and cored about 20 of the Golden Delicious and Gala apples we picked on Friday, and threw the slices in the crockpot with 3/4 cup of water, a teaspoon of cinnamon, a squeeze of lemon, and a sprinkle of coconut sugar. I came back after 3 hours on high with an immersion blender and now have some amazing applesauce ready for the week.

I chopped veggies for a paleo sausage bake dinner and made a batch of summer vegetable barley salad for the Panther’s party (squeeze basil FTW!).

As I neared the one hour mark, I took the leftover barley and tossed it into a lettuce-less Greek salad to eat for lunches for the week:

then tagged out. I felt amazing knowing I had two dinners and lunches for the week completely done, plus an extra freezer pan of enchiladas in the freezer for next week.

I quickly wiped down the counters (anyone else unable to leave the kitchen without having it all clean? Is my type-A showing?) and focused my attention on lesson planning. Honestly I feel like I’m over-planning for our kindergarten days right now. In fact, I know I am. Most homeschool veterans advise me that kindergarten and first grade should take an hour or less each day of sit-down work (here is one family’s example and the comments are helpful too). I have read about this in detail, it was one of the things I was MOST excited about, but I’m finding that in practice I worry about proving myself and keeping up (with who? I don’t know) and so for now I know I am over-planning, but don’t really know how to stop it.

I know in time I will find my groove and trust the process, but until then I guess I will be following this detailed layout for our mornings. I’m grateful for all the confidence and tips you guys have sent me way. I consider it a huge blessing to feel so supported. It’s more helpful than you know!

Having food prepped and lessons planned has me entering this week with a fighting chance and I’m excited to keep up this two hours on a Sunday routine. Bring on the week! It’s a full one and culminates with Hailey turning SIX on Friday.

Before I hit the ground running, I also wanted to say that I’m thinking about all of you out there hunkering down because of this crazy hurricane. And though most of us Americans have our eyes on the weather, I know we are all also remembering 9/11. May today’s anniversary remind us all of the power we create when we choose to come together. Rainbows and butterflies and all that jazz. Stay safe, friends!