Preludes And Nocturnes

So it is 6:14pm here and I just finished tidying up the kitchen with Jim when we turned to each other and discussed whether or not to go out to the park tonight.

Jim had a meeting this morning until after lunch, I took the car to get an tune-up and walked over to my gym while that was getting done this afternoon - but we were aware that Malcolm hasn’t gotten out today (aside from the two of us doing some gardening in the yard this morning for about two hours before lunch).

But I have this whole idea about “getting out” every day.  We have a smaller house, we have a tiny yard, and I try to ensure that Malcolm gets out every day.  If it isn’t a daycare day, we go to the park, the beach, a hike, a walk up from out house on the trail, drop-in gym, friends, or the fruit stand each day for 1-3 hours depending.  Since Jim is home now, we are averaging 4-5 picnic lunches or dinners a week at the park.  We keep it simple - just throw together a cheese sammich/ chicken salad/ egg salad/ fruit/ whatever … and go.  The park we go to has a peanut pool, swings, jungle gym, and lots of grass to run run run!

I just think that people like to get out.  And that Malcolm sleeps better.  But I also realized tonight that it had gotten a little out of hand.  In the winter we didn’t get out every day - but when it is sunny I feel like we’re *supposed to* get out there every single day. Since he turned 2 I feel like he has OTT energy, I think this has an impact on it all.

So tonight Jim suggested to me that probably most people did not go outside their home/yard every day.  And that Malcolm would probably be okay if he didn’t go to the park tonight (which would be great, I’m kinda wiped out from this past week).  So yes - this all boils down to a sudden awareness that I had made an unspoken rule that, deep down, I don’t know is useful or what I actually believe!

And so, my questions:

Do you and your family get out every day?

Does it differ with the season?

Does it differ with age of kid (if applicable)?

Okay, so you all know I work at the uni and it is really stressful with the contract by contract nature of it all.  I apply each term to see what they have for me, and this can range from 33% to 133% workload.  Last year they offered me 2+1 for Sept-April and that comes in at 50% (3 classes = full time).  By the time December rolled around they had two more classes for me at the last minute so Jan-April ended up full time. Yay!

This summer I got 2 classes (s’okay  - better than my friend who got ONE) and now I’m looking at the coming year.

I applied and was told in june I’d get 2+1 again this year.  No contract showed up (all sorts of reasons why it was held up) so I jumped on the chance to apply for a part-time at the college.  I interviewed and got a 50% posting for September with the college a few weeks ago.  That same day I found out about the college the uni offered me a 3rd class for Sept.

So now I’ve got 100% and 50% for Sept-Dec.  Jan-April is still just at 33%.

The college posting is temp part-time.  But hey, I’m in there!

Sept is going to suck, but Jim will be home Sept-Dec because I can’t handle him away any more.  I cannot survive another term with him gone Mon morning through Thurs night.  It is too much.  And they didn’t offer him anything very woohoo this term, so we decided as a family that with what it would cost for travel, his rental in the other city, and stress on us - this posting his uni offered was just not enough.  So he will be Mr. Mom for the term and help support me with the 1.5 job.

So the posting I got with the college is in Communications.

Last week I see that ENGL has a posting up for Sept-April of 2+1.

I’m thinking of applying for it.  <– crazy part.

Okay okay - are you still here?  See, I want to teach in the ENGL department.  All three classes are the same, AND all three are the class I’m teaching right now this summer.

If I got it, I’d be teaching seven classes this term.  And two in Jan.

er… plus a lab.

But that is all.

*sigh*