Left and leaving

[Done in VA]

I don't know if I am the only crazy person that this might work for, but I decided to make a list of everything that brings joy to my life currently. I'm not perfect, btw, I certainly have my days that I do not subscribe to this theory & throw pity parties!

Then I decide to do things from the list. I decide that the end result should not be the only thing to bring joy, but I will be joyful WHILE I do the task. For instance, having a clean & orderly house makes me happy. As I am folding clothes, I think about how happy I will be once I get this housework taken care of. I hum songs & watch uplifting shows.

The kids are hard too, but I have decided to use this time as an opportunity for all of us. I make dinner every night. I plan ahead & go to the store once a week to have everything readily available. I also make a cake or brownies once a week so we can have dessert together - to extend family time. I go to the library every other week & pick out LOTS of books to read with my kids every night. I have been teaching them The Lord's Prayer. I pick one night per week per kid to spend "laying" with my kids after the story. I have realized that life is fleeting. I want to ENJOY my kids. I want to ENJOY them NOW. We lay in bed & talk. I ask them things about themselves bc I want to KNOW my kids. I ask them about their fears, I ask them what was their favorite vacation, what's their favorite food, who are they friends w/at school & why. I never did this before, I was too busy trying to get them to go to sleep so I could have my own time.

And no, I am not a SAHM - I work my own hours so I can do this stuff.

How did phone call w/said friend go?