A deep breath and a long walk.

I made some changes last week to try and alleviate some of the anxiety I was feeling, which hit out of nowhere. 

1. Lesson plans were taking way too long to prepare.  I would work on lesson plans on Friday and Saturday.  With interruptions, it would take hours and if I happened to be occupied on Friday, which happens lot, I would be behind for days.  And in a very foul mood about it.  Solution: I came up with a brilliant new lesson planning system and finished plans for the year.  (I intend to write more about this because I'm so happy about it).
2. History was a giant burden.  Solution: I threw money at this problem and despite the fact that I owned the Story of the World book, I downloaded the mp3 from Peace Hill Press.  Now I pop it in the CD player during commutes and check history off the list.  
3. IEW was not being done as it should be because I couldn't supervise.  And I wanted to focus on the papacy right now.  Solution: Drop the formal IEW program and use the principles in the Student Resource Guide to do write a biography of Pope Benedict and a paper on the process of choosing a new pope.  We have many resources stashed around the house and everyone should check out this website; Electing the Pope.  We're probably all a little ignorant because it just doesn't happen that often.  
4. Internet shopping for everything.  I abandoned all attempts at shopping in a store. If I happen to pick something up while we're out, fine.  But anything that matters has to be done online.  It also needs to be done quickly.  I can't tell you how much time I waste filling up a shopping cart then letting it sit in a window for days while I try to justify the expense of whatever.  Then I find myself in a pinch paying too much for that same whatever.  I have been forcing myself to be more decisive.
5. Nursing the baby to sleep for every nap and all night long.  Sigh.  I don't know.  On the one hand, I love it.  On the other, I have two other children, a husband, and a house to care for.  Solution: We (dramatic pause)... we bought a crib.  Whether I'll actually be able to put the baby in it is another question.
6. Walk, walk, walk.  I've been taking long walks to calm myself.  The baby falls asleep and I can pray and think.
7. The commute.  To everything.  Solution: We need to move.  I'm not particularly attached to our home but I'm not quite feeling up to the task of selling and purchasing a house.  But it feels like we are coming to the end of the road here.  Some things that I desperately wanted fell into place last year; that blessed third child, a parish we love... is a home that feels like home possible?  I honestly haven't dared to hope just yet.

OK, so those are some things bouncing around in my head this morning.  It felt good to sort them out. I'm trying to wrap up the final pieces of the new lesson planning system today and start to look ahead to the new week.  I hope you all have a restful and wonderful weekend!