Creating Time

In April and May, I longed for the summer because I was getting tired of the morning ritual that involved a trip to school to drop Yvie off followed by (Tuesday through Thursday anyway) a trip about an hour later to take Kenna to her preschool some 10 miles away. I figured that, Tuesdays through Thursdays, I was spending about two hours in the car every day. And that was just taking the girls to and from school.

I wanted some peace and quiet. I wanted to have time to gather my thoughts in the morning, to plan runs around my schedule instead of trying to squeeze in runs whenever possible.

Well, the summer came and went and hardly any of that happened. I took three international trips, the girls had swim lessons that ate up a good portion of four consecutive weeks and we took a few family outings that also ate into the time. While enjoyable for the most part, it left me with a bit of a desire to get back into a bit of a set schedule.

Yvie is back in school, and so far it's been great for everyone.

She loves school and was dying to go back, so she has transitioned into first grade seamlessly. Kennedy has always done well playing by herself and keeping herself entertained when she's alone, and she has continued with that. She isn't quite as sad when we drop Yvie off this year as she was last year and when we get home she has done well to entertain herself.

I've been able to find time to catch up on work and also plan out some runs. Last week, Yvie's first back at school, I was knocked out by the illness but this week I'm already planning on getting in three runs. And it isn't a hopefully-it-will-happen plan; it's a after-dropping-Yvie-off-I'm-going-to-the-gym plan. It worked well on Monday, will work well today and will work well on Friday.

Kennedy likes going to the gym because she gets to play with other kids and I think she enjoys doing things there that maybe she can't do when Yvie's around, simply because they distract each other.

Of course, this means more runs on the treadmill but that's better than not running at all because I'm too bogged down with running around town.

Now this will soon change. Kennedy's preschool starts in October, and I'll have to repeat my 10-mile drive and all that good stuff. But that's only twice a week as opposed to three times, and I won't have to get Yvie before picking Kennedy up. I'll be able to do whatever I want/need to for three hours and then get Kenna. Last year, I'd leave my houst at about 11:10, get Yvie, drive to preschool which let out at 12 and go home, usually arriving here at about 12:30-12:40. It was a pain in the arse.

Yvie's days seem long. Going from a half day to a full day certainly makes it seem long. But it's good because she hasn't gotten home too tired, is still enthused about school as she was a year ago and is ready for more similar days. Of course, this is just a few days into the school year but I don't think it will change.

For me, I actually have time. Last year, I didn't feel like I had time to do anything. It seemed like it was always 11 before I knew it but this year I can relax and plan some things during the day.

Today, for instance I've got the gym, will head over to say Hi to Kennedy's preschool teacher, storytime at the library and then might go visit my mom before getting Yvie.

Now that sounds like a plan.