Re-entry

Oh hi….so about that daily blog idea….

One week later and I return!

Re-entry from vacation is always tough. You leave behind sun, relaxation and your checked-out brain and return. To everything you needed to do before you left and a whole new set of stuff. 

This week was a doozy of a re-entry. Let me count the ways…

1. Childcare challenges….I spent a lot of the summer interviewing potential new nannies, talking to nanny agencies, and generally trying not to stress out about who will be in charge of my precious kids while I work. I’ve had nannies since I returned to work after my first maternity leave 15 years ago. I’m a relative pro. But it remains one of the most critical decisions I make. My two big kids don’t need a nanny anymore – although they need transportation. And my littlest has unique needs so the decision is even more crucial. In recent memory, we had an amazing nanny with us for more than six years. Amazing. When she decided to do something new in December, I immediately saw a friend’s post on Facebook regarding a great nanny that would be available immediately when she graduated from Gonzaga in the same timeframe. We hired her on the spot, even though we knew she was applying for occupational therapy school and would leave us if she was accepted. We love, love, loved her and were mostly thrilled when she was accepted to a school – in Nebraska. She will be an incredible OT. And she will be special to us always. But then I needed to find another nanny. After lots of searching, the answer ended up being obvious and one of our beloved babysitters will be our nanny. Unfortunately she can’t start fully until September, although next week she’ll work most days. So this week – I returned from a week away with no childcare. And my husband out of town for most of the week. So I was solely on point. Juggle, juggle with other fill-in babysitters and a lot of working from home. Which meant my brain was fried at night.
2. Remodel drama….oh the big remodel. Can it be done already??? We were supposed to move in on August 20th, and you guessed it! The house won’t be done in time. When my daughter walks through it, she can’t understand why. On HGTV, they’d be done in like three days. Sadly we do not live on HGTV. We had a few hiccups that seem minor (yes, we did want crown molding in the upstairs! which pushed our painting schedule back a week..) but created some delays. It’s a big house, with lots to paint, so hopefully we get back on track this week. I had a few emergencies to fix post-vacation. Some of the bathroom faucets were installed in 80’s brass vs. aged brass (there is a big difference!!) and my beloved powder room vanity, which I designed the entire room around, is on infinite back-order. So I finally pulled the plug and found another option I love (which can be delivered in a week – thank you Restoration Hardware!! – in time for the marble slab to be fabricated and installed). You really need running water in your powder room. So, nothing major. But lots of little things. And I’m so ready to move in. 
3. Heat. Oh my god. Seattle is not cut out for 95 degrees. My first few days home we had a heat wave and I could set up a sauna as a side business in our rental house. It is so hot. Sweltering hot. Crazy hot. I want to walk around naked hot. But I don’t. The temperature in our house was 87 degrees – at night. It was so hot my beloved Zoe didn’t even sleep with me when my husband was gone (usually she can’t wait to get in our bed). Instead, she laid on the colder hardwood floor, seeking relief. Ugh. This may sound like a first world problem. It totally is. But, wow. So hot. It drains your energy. Makes me cranky. And really makes me excited for our new house, which has air conditioning.
4. Back pain. Well this was a curveball I wasn’t expecting. Just as I was feeling pretty proud of my 14 mile long run last week-end, I lifted something funny and killed my lower back. Like…ow, ow, ow! I don’t know if there is a pain that makes you feel 30 years older more than back pain. I couldn’t run. I couldn’t sit comfortably. I did not want to be touched. But it’s better now. Thankfully. Thankfully. Just three really uncomfortable days. But those days killed my mileage for the week. Sigh.

So those were the re-entry challenges. Of course, I had work to clean up and projects that needed to focus. I was able to write a few things I’m proud of, get a few important projects back on track, and manage a few critical plans. All good. I had gotten ambitious and scheduled a bunch of back-to-school appointments (pediatricians, orthodontist, eye doctor, etc) for the three different kids and a bit too ambitious trying to balance on my own, with the full time job and no childcare. Such is August.

But the week ended with a reunion with my best friend from college who was on a vacation in Seattle with her extended family. Drinks, long conversations, and a beautiful sunset can recharge the re-entry. I needed two fun nights out and despite feeling a bit foggy today, I’m ready to go for the week.

Re-entry survived.

I’ve found for the re-entry, you just put your head down and plow through. Get done what needs to get done. Know you will eventually dig out. And look for the beauty in the everyday.