Now, in a flash, those numbers have been juxtaposed and I am 41. I have a warm-up period known as late fall to settle into the idea, and then the bulk of the year I will be "41 in (20)14".
Holy cow!
2014 is the year my son will start formal schooling.
It is the year I slated for a trip to Walt Disney and a Disney cruise. (probably not in the works)
I also planned for it to be an ideal time to move to a house with a yard.
I did not foresee:
*paying for two preschool tuitions (a dent even with the brilliant tuition bartering system I worked out by teaching 8 hours of yoga per month at the school)
*working part time
*loving our neighborhood and neighbors (and the accompanying community feel) so much that we are not even close to wanting to move (and come on- we are not home maintenance fans so having our own yard=paying gardeners=not high on the list)
What I know about this season of life:
I need to pay attention and take it slow. My children are adorable and fun and my parents are in good health and living five minutes away. I enjoy the work I do- especially when I focus on the children under my guidance. I appreciate my views of the world and the ways I am learning to interact with it.
Someday soon my children will be bigger than me and have their own agendas.
I wasn't quite ready on the approach to 40. It felt too big, too fast, and too even. I've always been drawn to odd numbers. (esp. 3 and 7) The backside of 40 was just fine- it felt like a runway year; I was gaining speed for my takeoff into middle life. A decade ago I had the requisite "Things to accomplish before I'm 30" list. I accomplished every. single. one. And then I spent a while in limbo. No fresh goals, other than marriage and children.
*30- started dating D. *32 engaged *married *36-O born *38-L born **sidenote: There are WAY too
many even numbers in there.
So, between 38 and 40, I cocooned. I snuggled with my babies, slept (a lot) and worked through some very real anxiety, depression, and (as it turns out) iron-deficiency anemia. During those years I also ate a lot of chocolate chips melted on toast. I was actually proud of eating chocolate for breakfast EVERY DAY! Mid-40, I bit the bullet and joined the local YMCA, buying a family membership and access to a heated pool, classes, cardio and strength training, kids classes and care, and actually a friendly community of like-minded people. Last month, I started formally teaching kids yoga classes again, after 7 years of only incorporating them into my Kindergarten. So here I am at the tail end of 40, in a little bit better shape and FINALLY (hallelujah), with a fresh list of goals to accomplish as I focus on raising my littles. Granted, this list is meant only for THIS YEAR, and will need to be refined and edited as the year unfolds. So, without further ado, 41 in 14!
to be completed between 10-17-13 and 12/31/2014
1.participate in a mud run (Sept. 2014-SEB Castaic)
2.participate in a color run
3.finish a 1/2 marathon (Nov. 2014)
4.start Masters (online poss. human development, brain-based learning, or USD 21st century)
5.publish writing
6.develop kids yoga biz to the next level (YMCA, library)
7.visit CA hot springs
8. increase retirement acct. 5-10 K
9. host a dinner or cocktail party (adults)
10. host bi-monthly family game nights
11.visit SKY HIGH trampoline place (DONE 10/17/2013)
12. teach O to knit, crochet, and/or latch hook
13. treat husband like the treasure he is
14. kayak/moonlight kayak
15.paddleboard/yoga on paddleboard
16.50K Fitlinxx points (4040 in 11/13)
17.set mini financial goals with rewards
18.throw laney 3rd bday princess party (1/11/14)
19.red cowboy boots (DONE 10/17/2013)
20.plant backyard cactus garden
21.vertical garden
22.plant strawberries
23.change bedtime to 10
24.get carpets cleaned
25.get screens replaced
26.select nightstands,lamps, art for master
27. family photo session/family portraits
28. shift to 50% or less hours
29. throw dad 70th birthday party
30. visit Legoland
31.visit flower fields in carlsbad
32.visit poppies in Antelope Valley
33. pick peaches
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41.
