Why small success? Because that’s the only kind I know! Even the big ones come in small steps. Here’s my paltry offering for the week:
- The end of summer stuff – The final days of summer vacation included the usual consultation of lists and running from store to store. School supplies, uniforms, shoes, and a backpack were purchased. It doesn’t seem like a lot when it’s condensed into a nine-word sentence, but with four kids, summer uniforms and gym uniforms, it becomes a project. We also turned in our summer reading packets to the library. I failed at listing books and counting minutes for the little kids, so only the older kids and I were able to collect our free books and prizes.
- The tote bag – I like to decorate the canvas tote bags my kids use in preschool. The day before school, I picked up a plain bag for my son. In the past, I’d adhered flowers, butterflies, and gems to my daughters’ bags. As is the case in most things, they were fewer options of items that would typically appeal to boys. With no appliqués in sight, I found buttons. Things with wheels and Disney’s Cars buttons to be exact. Only the lumpy loop for affixing the buttons prevented me from adhering them properly with various glues. So, my son went to his first day of preschool with 16 buttons on his bag. He came home with less than half. Luckily most were inside his bag. One was found in our living room. One his older sister found in the school hallway. It took a little time, but I sewed them all on with invisible thread, which I should’ve done in the first place. I’m not crafty. Can you tell?
Mater is firmly affixed. - The back-to-school papers – At least now I know to expect the giant pile of forms I must complete. Emergency contacts, permission slips, school policies, and more come home that first day. I was pretty satisfied with myself when I turned everything in the next morning along with all the appropriate payments. This is the one and only year my kids will be under one school roof. Next year, when my oldest begins high school, I expect there will be even more papers. Yay.
The pile. - The tomatoes – Between our CSA share and a bag we received from an acquaintance, we were suddenly overrun with ripe tomatoes. After letting them clutter my counter top for a couple of days, I finally peeled, cored, puréed, and froze them. I hope to make both spaghetti sauce and barbecue sauce.
And, more tomatoes arrived the next day. - College savings accounts – We’ve been saving small amounts to our son’s college savings plan for many years. And completely ignoring the other three children’s existence when it came to post-secondary education needs. I finally got their individual accounts set up and am ready to transfer some of their money. It’ll probably pay for one credit hour, but I guess that’s better than nothing.
That’s all I’ve got. Celebrate more small successes over at CatholicMom.com.
Have you had any small successes this week?
