Dealing with stress

This is an entry I've been mulling over for at least a week, trying to figure out what to write. It was easier when the kids were little, they didn't care what Mommy wrote about them online.

"Son, do you mind if I post online that you're wearing a tutu, your sister's bathing suit, a cape, a tiara, and cowboy boots?"

"No. Can I have a cookie please?"

However, now they're teenagers and they don't want their lives online. I post a lot but most of it's fluff. I baked muffins. I read a book on our balcony. We went out for a walk in the sunshine. I'm off to work. Nothing serious.

I'm sure it gives people the impression that life here is a bunch of sunshine and happiness. There is a lot of stress going on but it's stress that directly relates to the kids (and not in a "my teenage daughter back talks" or "my teenage son doesn't listen and his room smells like dirty feet and stale farts" kind of way). And, since it's directly related to the kids, it's stress I simply do not talk about. I can count on one hand, with fingers left over, the number of people who know pretty much everything that's going on. A few more know bits and pieces. And it's not because I don't trust anyone. It's not out of some bizarre wish to be "secretive". It's simply that these secrets are not mine to share without permission and I don't have that permission.

That being said, the stress is still there impacting on my life. The last week and a half have been bad. Those who don't know are saying "how bad?" while those who do know are saying "well that's an understatement". Yesterday and today have been more positive so I'm hopeful (crossing fingers).

I need to sort out a coping schedule for the bad days (weeks) so I've got healthy and sometimes portable food for the days I literally don't have time to cook. I need to remember to fit in 15 minutes with the My Fitness Coach a day, even if I don't end up with time to get to the Y for classes. Right now I've got food cooked and in the fridge (plus a huge pot of chili cooling on the stove). I need to stick food in the freezer as well.

On to the positive side of things. Last week my son and I went for a long walk. Ironically the trail starts right beside the bus stop we get off at to go to the Y and ends at a lakeside park we've been to a few times (a park I used to go to when I was a child). The trail is easy, paved, and has some lovely views (like this section of creek). It will be great this summer as we can pack a picnic lunch, walk down to the lake for a picnic, then take the bus back home.

This weekend we're going to be in Toronto and I'm looking forward to getting out and doing some fun activities with my kids and members of our church (including an after dark ghost walk). I didn't sign my son and I up for dinner on Saturday night so we're going to the Old Spaghetti Factory. Yummy, cheap food and great ambiance (hopefully we can sit in the streetcar). The Canadian site doesn't have nutritional information but the American site does. I'm thinking I'll have the minestrone soup with spaghetti and marinara sauce.

And I signed up for the 28 Day Vegetarian Boot Camp at Vegetarian Times. I've been a vegetarian for a couple of decades now but advice and some good recipes are always handy. Today's recipe is for a greek salad that looks like it'll be great this summer!

Tonight I'll be back at the Y on the elliptical :o)