Finding Time for Joy
It sure seems like it's been too long since I last posted here on Carrying On. Thank you all for your loving words of support and thoughtfulness. We are still not to the bottom of my health issues, but I've now had serious heart conditions crossed off our list of potential worries. Hip-hip-hurray for that!
So on to other things...
(feathers from the collection we keep adding to together)
My daughter has been home full-time on her Summer vacation for several weeks now and it feels like we are finally starting to get into the swing of things. Those first few days were brutal...let me tell you. The shift seemed to come after I realized that I need to allow a little spontaneous joy to creep into our day. It is easy for me to get so involved in trying to maintain a balanced schedule that I lose track of other things...important things like being goofy with my kid or not letting a messy kitchen (courtesy of my daughter - she is a child after all) ruin my day.
So we've started adding some random bits of fun into our week and it's been great. Just this past Monday we made these surprisingly simple and tasty Peppermint Patties. I even smiled and we had a blast when my daughter suggested that we use her clay sculpting tools to add creative details to the mints (the little voice inside my head was saying "this isn't what the recipe says to do" but thankfully I didn't listen).
So I'm not supermom by any stretch of the imagination (I know...I had you fooled right - wink). Motherhood is challenging for me on most days (I know I can't be the only one that feels that way, right). But I'm discovering that with practice there can be time in our day for all the things that need to be accomplished...including joy!
Have a delightful weekend everyone. ox Ez
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| by Ez Friday, June 18, 2010 
Reader Comments (12)
it's awesome that you are having fun with her (:
enjoy the summer~
It can be difficult remembering to have some joy in simple things in life. I'm glad that you and your daughter are finding a balance being with each other over the summer break and that you're doing joyful (and yummy) things together.
I've been on a super-tight budget for a while now (laid off and searching for a new job), so I look to do free or almost free things with my time. One of my favorites now that the weather is pleasant is to read outside. I keep a beach chair in my car's trunk so I can stop anywhere the impulse takes me. I live on Long Island in NY, so there are many nice spots by the water, or lovely parks. It makes me happy and is a great way to spend some of the many days I've got to fill.
I'm so glad you were able to cross off serious heart conditions. I do hope that you are able to find out what the problem is soon. Ez, thank you for the beautiful reminder to ENJOY my children. I sometimes need to be told that. I get caught up in just being "mom" that I don't stop and try to have fun or be silly. I really needed this. ♥
Glad that they're weeding out issues and hope that everything turns out well and no major medical issues arise. Your daughter is beautiful, enjoy spending the time with her over the summer, time does go by so quickly, doesn't it?
PS: Those peppermint patties look pretty yummy, I might have to make some myself.
I hope they figure out soon. I know how that feels. I think I wrote last time about my nearly three-year mystery disease. They simply treat the symptoms and keep tinkering away at different organs, or yknow, taking about a gallon of blood over time since it first started up. I know how frustrating and scary it can be. First you think, wait, what, doctors don't know everything?? Then you think, wait, they're letting me go home? They don't let me stay here until they figure it out like an episode of House or Scrubs or anything??
I hope you have empathetic, hard-working doctors on your side. I have seen 12 doctors and specialists and some were more interested in figuring it out than others. I'm just glad that one of the side effects of whatver it is, total hair loss, has subsided temporarily!! I am so trying to grow it out and whatever this disease is took it twice already! So frustrating.
Oh my! I'm going to try making these tomorrow! What a great Father's Day treat!
Simple things are where it's at...just like creature comforts, too. :) I was so excited to make those peppermint patties last weekend, but I bought coconut milk thinking I could whip into coconut butter. Was not to be. I had fresh pineapple, so I made milkshakes with the coconut milk instead. REALLY good!!
I understand this so much... baking with my honeys is never the 'fun' experience that it is advertised to be. Still need to learn the relax and let it happen thing.
Happy that you found it!
( I commented on your space before and then lost your link so happy to have found it back again :))
Keep healthy
its so wonderful when they such a flow of unresticted creativity!!! they turned out beautifully!!! lovely thoughts
We are still in those early brutal days of adjusting to life without school. I have no summer camps scheduled for my 7 y.o. little guy so it's just me on duty all day. We went straight from school to vacation and now home for almost a week. I hope we find our rhythm soon! I'm heartened that you did. Hang in there.
I love this post. What a lovely sentiment to put forward- that things may not always be picture perfect but its important to stop and let some spontaneous joy into your life. You have reminded me to do this also. Keep up the great work with your blog, and I hope you manage to get to the bottom of your health issues.
Oh, do these ever look yummy! A nice cool treat during this crazy summer heat (and humidity! It's here in Ohio too) I'm glad you + your daughter had a fun diversion making these : ) Sometimes we need to remind ourselves to just have some fun. I know it's that way for me too.