Starting My Graduate School Detox

Once I started my last semester of grad school, I sat down with my husband and talked about what’s next.

First up was our family. I’d been working incredibly hard trying to manage my grad school workload and get this business off the ground and in the process, I’d been a less than attentive mom. Of course, I always tried my best, but there were times when they had  to simply understand that I was working and that was that.

Now that school is over and I’m just waiting for graduation, it’s time to start my graduate school detox. I promised myself and my family that I would help us get “back to normal.” Now, I know that with kids, is anything ever really normal? Not really, but I’m going to get back to being “fun, happy Mommy,” and not “stressed out, oh-my-God-please-leave-me-alone-so-I-can-work Mommy.”

What does a grad school detox look like?

1. Paying attention to my body. If I wasn’t sure I would die of embarrassment, I would post a picture of what my toes look like right now. I painted my toes sometime in January and um, that polish is chipped and my feet are ashy and…I need to get that situation under control. But so much of my life was go, go, go that I paid little attention to the little things. Hoping I can get back to feeling good from head to toe. I’ve gained about 10 pounds since starting school (grr) due to stress eating. I’ve started drinking smoothies for breakfast and already I see a difference in my energy level. Feels good. 
2. Paying attention to the level of clutter around the house. We have accumulated too much stuff since moving to this house four years ago. There’s crap in every closet, every drawer, every cabinet, every corner. It’s disorienting. I’m grateful we’ve had the means to buy so much stuff, but it’s got to GO. I’m making my way through every room in the house and I’m going to donate the stuff we don’t use/don’t need.
3. Get my love life back on track. My marriage didn’t take as much of a beating as I thought it might have. But now I’ve got more time to devote to the love of my life and I’m going to do just that. He’s showed me so much patience over these past few years and it’s time to say thank you. Too many nights I’ve fallen asleep cradling my laptop instead of him so it’s time to put love on top.
4. Get more quality time with my kids. Spending a Saturday afternoon with my kids is one of my favorite things to do. I’m content when I’m just watching them play or sharing something new with them. This is a fun age (6 and 4) because they get stuff. I take them to a museum and they understand when I’m explaining things. They get excited. They’re rarely bored. I enjoy their company and I’m glad my schedule is a little freer now so I can take advantage of it.

If you’re in school right now and are counting the days til graduation, please don’t despair. I know it’s hard because you JUST WANT TO BE DONE. You’re tired of tests, you’re tired of going to class, you’re tired of writing papers, of scrambling to find babysitters when your babysitter falls through. I know and I’ve BEEN THERE. Lord knows it is not easy, but you are doing it. For you and your family. This is an amazing time for you. You’re putting in the work and you’re getting closer, each day, to your goal. Keep going. Don’t stop til you cross the finish line.