Don’t answer people who are desperately calling out your name as though it is an emergency (it is not) while you are in the bathroom
Don’t answer people when they tell you to “look at this” when you are halfway up the stairs
Enact the “no eating in the minivan” rule, for real this time
Protect at all costs the 50 minutes of solo time in the car during twice-weekly Taekwondo sessions
More tea
More deep breathing
When a fight between children begins, resist the urge to pivot the experience into an educational one; instead, take the dog for a walk
“………..”; instead do #5 and #6
“………..”; instead, lock yourself in the bedroom, watch an episode of “Ted Lasso”
When a fight between children begins, resist the urge to pivot the experience into an educational one 50 percent of the time; the other 50 percent it’s probably ok and beneficial actually to remind them how lucky they are to have one another/hone their skills in compromise and persuasion and sit everyone down for a lecture (they love that)
Do not engage in discussions with husband about his resistance to COVID (“I just can’t get it! It’s genetic!”); reply only, “That’s really awesome for you,” then move on
Own the fact that you find QVC relaxing
No more attempts at baking (you don’t like baking!)
Write every day, ten minutes at least
Get the pandemic running group back together!
Spend time reading in the early evening to put a cap on the day and usher in the night
Fully accept that Aidy will come in to your room, well past her bedtime, 3 or 4 or 10 times with a book she’s just created on “FASHION!” or a newly formulated life plan about how she’s going to go to college in Los Angeles, then live in New York City
Opt-in to talks, walks, drinks, spas, trips and coffee dates with friends
More hikes; you do like hikes
Official proclamation that the following items are no longer up for discussion: that someone thinks what we are having for dinner that night “is not a good idea”; that the pants you wore yesterday and to bed and are trying to wear to school again now are “fine”; getting a pet bunny that will “live in my room so the dog will never see or get it”; “Let’s make crazy juices!”; detailed analysis regarding the various reasons why the quality level might have changed at any given moment on the air purifier in our room
Seek out hot tubs and saunas; seek out warm blankets and get a sectional that fits our entire family; sit together, talk about the world and all the places we would like to go
Meditate; do yoga; attend a sound bath
If the energy expended on debating whether or not you should say “no” or “maybe” or remain undecided regarding any given experience is excessive, fretful and draining - say YES