3/1/26
A new month has begun. I spent the two mornings of this weekend doing yard work. There was an old, dead bush I pulled out from the front of the townhouse. I swept the little turf section in the backyard to get all the dust, dirt, and rocks off of it. It actually made it look a bit nicer. The last thing I did was pull all of the weeds from the dirt section, and then raked up all the old, dead grass. It took about seven or eight buckets to lug it all to the dumpster, but it was quite satisfying. It might just be a dirt yard now, but at least it’s not a dirt yard covered in weeds and dead grass. There is potential there.
We rent so I’m not going out of my way to put a lawn in or anything, but I think throwing some native plant seeds out back and seeing what nature wants to do might brighten the space up. That, or it remains dirt. Thus is life.
I don’t take naps often, but I slept on the couch for about an hour before the sun came out and warmed the day up. From there the kids fell took naps and I got to do some laundry.
It was breakfast for dinner, and then a routine night. It is boring to write about, but there is a joy in the normal; a pleasure in the rote. This is likely because I have lived a few years with my in-laws where there was little to no consistency. The consistent inconsistency did little to help my anxiety, and I truly think it messed with the kids. Sure, they’re still adjusting to our new place, but they are getting used to it bit-by-bit. I see it in their attitude—in the eagerness to try the new dinners we are making. I see it in the consistent sleep schedules. I even see if in their ability to fight and kick and scream. As aggravating or annoying as it can be I realize there is a freedom in being able to act out and push back.
I realize now that youthful rebellion is normal. As much as Amelia likes to mouth off and talk back, I know she is just testing boundaries—boundaries we are able to reinforce and talk through.
Normal is nice. Normal is good. I am excited to know we have little-to-nothing planned. It lets us do what we want.
I love my family dearly,
- E.B.
Ed Boy 