It’s October Again
Monday mornings start with coffee and a jog in the park with friends.
I started writing this in October and just finished it.
I have been very busy the past couple of months and I have not been posting here which I really miss. I know I made a commitment to post once a week and I plan on starting again. I guess maybe I needed a break, it has been a lot to deal with and maybe, it’s always a lot but it’s not always easy balancing everything. I’ve learned that its ok, its ok to be overwhelmed sometimes but, you need to try to realize it early and come up with a plan to make things less overwhelming. (easier said than done I know.)
In May I was recovering from surgery, it took much longer than I anticipated. In June, I was beginning to regain my energy, did some small projects in the house before my mother in law came home from vacation, attended my brother’s engagement in another city, came back for Eid Al Adha. Mid-June and Mid-July were the days of the never-ending sleepover, it was exhausting, but so much fun! I’m grateful I was able to give them the opportunity to make so make memories. The other half of July we went on a family vacation, minus my oldest. This was the first time we traveled as a family without him. He was taking two summer courses at a university, a great opportunity for him which we are grateful we were able to give him. August started with Jetlag, a mountain of laundry, that I barley finished in time for my eldest’s mountain of laundry and back to school preparations. In addition to helping plan my younger brother’s wedding (which was held in another city) and working on a project I’m not ready to talk about yet.
It’s October again, my favorite month. My brother’s wedding was a successful, beautiful event. I wish them a lifetime of happiness. We’re almost done with the project I’ve mentioned. We seem to have gotten into the school routine and hopefully things will slow down a bit. Well, as slow as possible with five kids.
When school started, I got my quiet mornings again. The beginning of the school year always gets me thinking; what am I doing with my life? Am I where I want to be? What do I want to do with my mornings? I try not to be hard on myself. It feels like I haven’t gotten anywhere. I know my life is full and I am already doing a lot. I decided this year that I wanted to really focus with my kids. I was so busy with the renovations and some health issues and now I have the time and mind space to be more present. My youngest is in the first grade and needs extra attention with school work since his Arabic isn’t as fluent as his English. My oldest is a senior in high school and although he is very independent and studies on his own, he needs me to be there to ask about his studies and remind him to keep his eye on the finish line, he is almost there! My daughter just started high school, she was a little overwhelmed at the beginning of the year but is adjusting well. She has more school work and projects and needs me now and then to help with things. My two middle sons are doing well, I’m trying to step back more and let them depend on themselves more, it’s not so easy. We want to be there all the time and help them every step of the way.
I still have some minor organizing projects in the house and two rooms I would like to make over. (I know I said I was done but I’m almost there)
I’m back at the gym twice a week with a new personal trainer and it feels so good to be back to my intense workouts! I’m finally joining the wonderful RWG community on the Monday mall walks so now I get some much needed adult time, walking & talking.
All of a sudden, its November and I haven’t completed this post or posted it. I still seem to be a bit stuck with my writing. My husband has been constantly out of town which is exhausting for both us. My kids are in two different types of school so we have three with two terms and two with three terms. They have managed to sync their vacations so that’s not an issue but it seems like a year of never-ending exams. It’s not so bad and we’re managing. We have a week-long vacation coming up and their brother by milk is coming to spend it with us. Since the weather is finally cooling down we are looking forward to walks in the neighborhood and picnics in the park.
I’ve finished the project I was working on, the RWG have started training for the Riyadh Marathon 2025 which has been a great way to start my Mondays. I’m doing the 10k at the Tuwaiq trail race inshallah and even though I don’t feel as fit as I was last year I’m confident I can do this.
I’m trying to be more present on social media, mostly Instagram. I know one of the reasons I don’t post much is because I overthink things, I want things to be real, but I’m a perfectionist so I want it perfect. I still have this immense feeling of guilt that has shadowed the past year, I never imagined the events of October 7th of last year would lead to a year of fear, hunger and so much devastation with no end in sight. As we live our lives every day, our hearts and minds are always with them.
So here I am again, after five months of absence. Ready to come back to my little corner of the internet, sharing you my thoughts and experiences as a mother.