Well it’s a bit late for a recap but we aren’t even through the first week of 2023 so figured I would still get one up here!
This year – so so hard to describe. I thought it would be so bad but honestly it was still a good year. Hard, YES. But bad? No. Despite the the last half of the year being a time of solo parenting (that still continues……LOL) we still made great memories and the kids and I had so much fun. I honestly don’t even remember the beginning of the year. We went to Cinnamon Shore again, went to Fredericksburg, I went on a girls trip – but all that seems like it was in another lifetime.
I feel like my brain is mush when I try to describe this year. It’s probably just the exhaustion of 174 days in a row of solo parenting (but who is counting?! LOL). We just got back from being in Minnesota for 3 weeks for Christmas and New Years, which was amazing. It was so great to spend time with family after such a tiring year. It’s funny – this year was so different for me but it’s really hard to communicate how things changed. Like imagine your spouse disappears, you don’t live near family, and life has to continue as normal.
Sometimes I feel like I’m being mean when I don’t have sympathy with people who complain about doing one solo bedtime. Like……..come chat with me after 6 months. Then you’ll understand. I would LOVE to be able to call a parent and have them come by when I’m feeling sick, but that’s not possible without a flight (thank you to my dad who flew down with less than 12 hours notice when I was deathly ill back in August!).
And it’s not even the bedtimes that wear you down. It’s EVERYTHING. School prep, cleaning, sicknesses, cooking, shopping, bills, car issues, AC repairs, garage doors breaking, sickness, yard work, sickness, loneliness, baths, doctor appointments, finding time to exercise and sleep…honestly I’m proud of myself for making it through 2023 without losing my mind. I tapped into my boss mode that has been hidden for a few years when I didn’t need it. But the girl who went away for college, to a top 10 school, got a Bachelors and Masters degree in 4 years was back! This year propelled me to another level of independence and self reliance. I can do any activity with my kids, and we did so much. We didn’t sit at home and I’m happy about that.
Oh and I even made new friends and worked on friendships – because I realized that you CANNOT be alone all the time. I am so happy I was able to make more mom friends and work on my friendships this year.
I’m sorry if this post is all over the place. I’m still getting back into reality from travel and then unpacking and loads and loads of laundry. But I wanted to write this quick before the time got away from me. It was such a wild year and I’m happy it’s over and ready to close this chapter and move onto another new and better year. At least I’m hoping 2024 is a better year 🙂
Again, 2023 wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t my favorite. I learned and experienced a lot but I would love to learn and experience less this year. A chill year would be great, hope that’s not too much to ask!
