We went to our cabin this weekend, just for one night. It was the first time since October that the whole family was up together. The kids spent some quality time making a hole through the ice on the lake and tending the fire and playing Wii Sports Resort. I spent some quality time reading my book by the fire. When we got back I had to launder all the outerwear which reeked of woodsmoke.

I remember when I first became a parent I spent a lot of time lamenting and reflecting on the changes in my life: how much easier Saturday mornings used to be before kids, how much less laundry there was when I was in my 20s. But it’s been so long now I don’t really remember what it was all like before kids. I’m pretty sure there has always been this much laundry and the kitchen has always been this sticky?

This reminds me of something we used to tell Liam Cat when we had to put drops in his ears or clip his nails or force him to snuggle: resignation is like happiness. Don’t worry, new parents, just give it ten years or so and you will also be resigned to your new life and it will feel like you’re happy! Also in ten years you’ll be well through the constant supervision phase which is one of the most soul-destroying parts of parenting in my opinion. The elementary years have been great for us, actually enjoyable, and back when I was a SAHM of a baby and a toddler I would not have believed that this could be possible.

Due to the holiday on Monday and having a sick kid home from school multiple days in a row, I’m accidentally trying something new this week I am calling “grocery shopping like a European.” It means I go to the grocery store every damn day. It’s kind of terrible but also a relief to only have to plan one day at a time. And yet I cannot live like this.

I’m finally watching Ted Lasso, but it’s my “only while exercising” show so it’s going to be slow progress. How is this show so damn funny but also so touching? Every episode has at least one optimistic quote that I want to cross-stitch onto something and I don’t even like optimism.