You guys,
My life is so different now. There was life before George and now there’s life after George.
I used to be a planner. An OCD planner. To the minute. My girlfriend would show up at my apartment unannounced in the middle of the day because she wanted to hang out and I was like, “No. This was not part of my day’s plan. I love you. But go home.”
I still try to plan. We have George’s feeding schedule down. What we don’t have down is all the time in between. He SHOULD have waketime for an hour and then he SHOULD nap until his next feed. But sometimes he doesn’t want to sleep. And sometimes he wants to be held. And sometimes he wants to cry. And so it’s really hard to plan my day.
This past Sunday I hadn’t started my newsletter or my essay. It sucked. I want to write a draft. Then I want to take a couple days away from it and write a second draft. Then I want to send it to my peers so they can rip it apart and I can write a third draft. Then I want to send it to Sam for final edits. That’s at least a 2-week process. And that doesn’t exist for me right now.
My goal since George was born was to stay consistent and publish weekly. I’m doing it. It’s not pretty but I’m doing it.
Why am I doing it?
I’m writing an essay each week because I want to become a better writer and I want to build the habit of publishing. I’m sending a newsletter each week because I want to be someone you can all rely on. I appreciate and value each one of my 124 subscribers. I want this newsletter to be something you look forward to opening each week. I think about all of you every time I sit down to write. You encourage, support, and motivate me just by letting me in your inbox. Thank you.
Blog of the Week
My in-laws came to visit for a week and meet George. It was a great trip. I looked forward to getting back to our regular life but I struggled when they left. I was so sad I wanted to cry.
The feeling was so overwhelming that I decided to write about it. I wonder if this is because I have struggled with depression or if this is something a lot of people feel when a trip like this ends. You tell me.
I KNOW HIM!!!
Sam and I didn’t decorate for Halloween. Not even a pumpkin on our front step.
BUT I LOVE CHRISTMAS. Green is my favorite color. Red is my second favorite color. Our house will smell like equal parts Christmas tree and chocolate chip cookies because I will be baking all month. It’s the most wonderful time of the year. I love all of it.
My favorite thing about Christmas is tradition. Growing up, my family would eat sushi and watch The Polar Express on Christmas Eve. Sam’s family would host about 30 people on Christmas Day. It’s time for Sam and I to come up with our own traditions.
What holiday traditions do you enjoy with your families?
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Until next week,
Charlie