Just Keep Moving…

“Life is like riding a bicycle – in order to keep your balance, you must keep moving.”                                                                                                        – Albert Einstein

Third grade is in its final week countdown to summer; they have been in this countdown for the last 21 days.  I know this because the third grade tradition is “alphabet days” until school lets out.  “A” was for animal and our daughter took a favorite stuffed animal to school, “B” was for baby picture, “C” for crazy hair day, etc.  Last week was one of her favorites, Silly Sock Day where she wore one Christmas sock and one Dallas Cowboy sock!  Today as we were preparing to leave, she turned and said she needed a G rated movie because today was “V” for video day.

After several months of my getting the routine down and becoming efficient, they go and change it up for me with these last few weeks.  For the most part, I have to say that my daughter does most of the figuring out what she is going to do, like which Tongue Twister she would learn for “T” day.  But, because this is sooo important mom; there are those last minute details she forgot about that normally I would have prep time to complete.

While it is a little uncomfortable for me to be spontaneous, (I’m a planner) I strive to accommodate her every need during these lasts weeks of school.  I open my schedule to make sure I will be there for her recognition assembly and will volunteer with the many other parents doing the same thing; helping their kids have a great memory and making them number one at a time that is important in their lives.

I think about the articles that have been written that tell me I have to have balance in my life and frankly I think that is a bunch of hooey.  My life is never really ever in balance because it seems that something always has a priority for that given day, week or sometimes months.  As a result, other things in my life take a second place and may not get little if any time at all (my husband will attest to this).  There are times when my life is filled with much more work than play, and vacations that nicely are more play than work.  In the long run, perhaps it balances out, so I’ll just keep pedaling.

Nursing Notes:

Because nurses have the additional stress and responsibility for lives beyond those of their own family, feelings of fatigue and burnout are increased.  Learning some coping strategies to combat this occurrence will assist you in and out of the workplace setting.

Make sure you are eating right, getting enough sleep, and taking some time for yourself is important.  Every so often during the day, practice some deep breathing where you only concentrate on your breath.  It calms your mind and increases your oxygen count.  Then give the insides of your body a hug with a big laugh!