2018

2018

twenty-eighteen

what a year.

the things that first come to mind for me are two low lights.

1) breaking my foot

2) having lice

and to make matters worse, i had both of those at the same time (while brendan was out of town).

i also re-dreaded my hair, and dealt with the backlash of one very confrontational person in my life who tried to publicly shame me because she disapproved of my hair-style. i would be lying if i said that didn't hurt me a great deal. but i think that's ultimately what she was aiming for, so i think it's fair to say that was a success.

i did a puzzle this week. the last time i did a puzzle was christmas 2015. when eamon was the age that otis is now. so i'm really enjoying moving into a new stage of parenting and with it new levels of freedom. we got rid of our crib and toddler bed, and set up our kids on a bunk bed. eamon learned to ride a two-wheeler (pretty much on his own), and we enjoyed cycling to school together during september (i look forward to riding again once may arrives). and otis is almost completely stroller free (with the exception of long-walks). i enjoyed the baby stage with my kids, but like a wonderful guest who stayed just a little too long, we were ready for the baby stage to be done.

this year presented several surprises and new opportunities. i suppose this should be old hat by now. life always comes with twists and turns. i had to finish my after-school-care 2 months early because of my broken foot, but almost immediately transitioned into a new casual (one day a week) comms job with nightlight canada. i was also offered a monthly freelance gig doing a magazine for the sally ann (starting in jan 2019). i'm excited about this, and find it interesting that i will have 3 jobs simultaneously, yet haven't had a resume since 2003. my job at next doesn't even feel like a job, because i enjoy doing it and would do it for free if i didn't need to work (but unfortunately i do, so thankfully they pay me what they can).

we took a family trip to NYC during the hottest week of the summer. it was fun, AND exhausting. it was an adventure, as well as an eye opener (about family dynamics, our marriage dynamic, and how we can travel better next time). we've booked a trip to south carolina for march break. other than the long drive, it will be a nice change of pace from our NYC trip. we booked a cottage on a creek by a beach.

my dad had a kidney transplant, and now has (count them... 1, 2, 3) THREE kidneys. he is unbelievably resilient, and i'm proud of him for taking care of his health (especially as a single man in his 70s). this type of life event brings certain family issues to the surface (particularly unfinished business that is usually easy to ignore). i'm grateful that joy and i were able to be a team and support my dad and each other during that procedure and his recovery. i feel it's taken along time, but she and i have gotten to a good and positive place with our relationship. sadly, it revealed less positive things about my relationship and family history with my mom. but i am trying to stay optimistic that this too can be redeemed.

the lives of my friends around me are changing too. some are in the teen-years stage of parenting, others have new partners (who come with kids of their own), some are single again for the first time in over a decade (and it's a privilege to walk with them during this reboot of their lives, to encourage them and support their dreams). we have shannon living downstairs for the next 5-6 months. it's been a joy to have her here. our kids adore her. we get to hangout more and know more about what's going on in her life. she's such a fun person, and we are so proud of her.

we're getting to know more neighbours, and ben+meg moved to the hood. i'm getting involved with the kingscourt association. and the fellas and i got a paper route on our street (eamon hasn't taken to it as well as i would've liked, but to be fair, the papers are too thick for his hands and most of the mailboxes are too high for him – but i feel his current level of participation is age appropriate).

in 2019...

• we're going to south carolina (as previously mentioned)

• i'm hoping to get the deck at our main street house replaced

• i want to do some minor to medium upgrades to our bathroom

• we're hoping to do more camping (perhaps a few weekend trips, as well as a longer stint)

• rach and i plan to trek the grand canyon to celebrate my 40th birthday

• i want to write a letter to the limestone board about excessive screen time in kindergarten classrooms (particularly during lunch time)

• and i want to put together a petition to end the seasonal time-change (spring forward, fall backward)

• my mom is moving house (into town from amherstview)

• and brendan's job might expand, evolve or change, which is exciting

• i'm hoping to be more body-positive, and appreciate my body for its individuality

so there are lots of good things to look forward to, and i'm excited.