The last two weeks have been difficult.
I’ve been pretty overwhelmed by my volume of work due to grant season (lots of early morning, evening and weekend work sessions), and then our office sustained significant water damage and is temporarily closed since last Wednesday, with a lot of flow on effects (excuse the pun!) to the research projects we do. (I did post all about the water damage incident last week but I actually decided to remove the post because there’s a lot of insurance assessments going on).
On the home front, we are still juggling things with one car while my husband’s van waits at the mechanic for a part to arrive (they say from interstate, but I wonder if it’s actually Uzbekistan by the time it is taking to arrive). Al also has a lot of work stress going on right now, and then both myself (UTI) and E (fever/cough) got sick this week. By this point, on about Thursday, I had nothing left in the tank. No energy to power through my constantly growing work to do list, no motivation to make my planned meals or fold the mammoth pile of laundry. So I did…nothing.
Silver linings .
On Thursday afternoon, I was able to cancel my planned virtual meetings (everyone was understanding), lay down, and have a nap. I then walked to pick up E, we headed home, and she sat next to me in bed while I read a bit on my kindle (The Anxious Generation), drank tea and water, and rested, while she read, did art, and played on her tablet. It was comforting, nice to have E by my side, and just what my infected, tired person needed. I have a lot of responsibility in my job, but I also have a lot of flexibility, and I am hugely grateful for this.
Then when E got her fever overnight, and couldn’t go to school on Friday, the silver linings were: a) she wasn’t that sick (other than the fever and a cough she was her usual cheery self), I didn’t have to do school drop off or pick up, which is always a bit disruptive on a Friday, and she amused herself happily with reading, art, and Screentime. I did manage to work most of the day, with a little rest in bed at lunch. I had some lovely virtual meetings with my team and boss who are all great people, which helped my mood. I cooked eggs on toast for dinner (Al was working), which E and I (O just had the toast- oh well!). The kids were well behaved, happy, and went to bed easily.
Other good things:
The weather is beautiful, cool and sunny.
Al is home this morning and currently amusing the kids while I write this post in peace.
E seems totally better today so it looks like it was a 24 hour bug. So all going well we will be able to go out and see friends tomorrow.
I was reminded I can only do what I can do. Prompted by Elisabeth, I reread a bit of 4000 weeks by a Oliver Burkeman, and was comforted that we will always have more to do than we can reasonably do, it’s just more acute for me right now, so I’ll just do what I can and not stress about the rest. It’s not like my job is life or death, after all.
Ill finish with a couple of cute family pics, just for fun. Happy weekend everyone!
On our family walk in the sun last weekend.
These two are so cute together. E is always smiling, O is often serious. Also he needs a haircut haha!
Header photo by Wix.
That is a lot of different stressors coming at you at once, Sophie. Oof. I'm glad you were able to carve out some rest and being able to spot silver linings really does help us soldier on when the going gets tough. Hoping the week ahead is much smoother sailing and that rest feels more accessible <3
Oof that is a rough week with disruptions at work and illnesses to contend with! It is good to have those silver linings to cheer you up and give you perspective. The picture of the kids at the end is so cute. Looks like E is a great big sister!!