David and I sometimes refer to our current stage of life as “the grind.” We don’t mean that in a negative or bitter way, but the words just seem to reflect the demanding nature of life at the moment. Professionally, David works a job with a taxing, unpredictable schedule. On the home front, the girls are at ages that, though adorable and whimsical, are also prime for button-pushing with bouts of excessive whining (from the older one) and un-bribable toddler antics.
We call it the grind because though we are grateful (so very much so) for all we have (a good job, two healthy, awesome kids, etc), the days also wear us down with their demands and monotony. Day in day out… 5:15 alarm… grind… eat… sleep… repeat… high-five each other, say keep grinding… carry on.
Sometimes when it’s just been a day too many of the same, I need more than just a pep talk.
Yesterday started out the usual way: alarm, computer, girls up, breakfast, get dressed, put on your shoes (really, go find your shoes!), hit up boot camp, drive to Target… you get it. However, as we were walking into Target I got a call from David. It was short. Something about how his afternoon cleared up, the mountains and let’s just go. Say no more.
I jumped into action, tossing some fun snacks into the cart before rushing to get home.
Less than an hour later, I was showered, the girls were fed and we were loaded in the car.
Coffee in our hands and snack cups in the girls’, we hit the road without a destination in mind except to see the mountains. An hour into the trip, Hailey was engrossed in Rio and David and I in conversation. Kaitlyn, my recent nap skipper, even succumbed to the hum of the car on the highway.
And exhale.
While chatting about current frustrations, upcoming events and, like always, future plans, we hopped onto the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Yes.
I rolled down the window to let in some fresh mountain air. It was exactly what I needed.
Two and half hours into the trip, we reached our destination– a playground. Ha.
In our defense, it is a well-maintained, adorable little playground in the middle of Blowing Rock, a small town in the North Carolina mountains. The girls didn’t seem to notice that we drove over 2 hours for a playground similar to one down the street at home and were just thrilled to get out and stretch their legs.
Then we stretched ours, covering the short strip of downtown Blowing Rock in about 45 minutes.
The girls giggled at the dogs and tried on hats in the shops. I tried to keep them somewhat wrangled and snapped pictures of signs that spoke to me.
In the midst of the grind, I sometimes get too fixated on what lies ahead. While it’s good to focus on the carrot that keeps us motivated, sometimes I need a break in our routine in order to enjoy what we have right now: a vivacious four year old that likes to push her boundaries, an adventurous one year old who keeps up quite easily with her big sister, and our (almost 7 year) marriage, which is as strong as ever, as we take on this grind phase together.
Despite my refreshed perspective, pizza and beer was still necessary to take the edge off of keeping up with the kiddos. Please tell me your kids can’t sit still at a restaurant table either??
Mmm, thank you Mellow Mushroom.
And with that, we headed back home, with renewed focus and lungs full of fresh mountain air.
Ok Tuesday, let’s do this.
Tell me, do you ever feel like you are stuck in the grind?
How do you break up the monotony and re-energize yourself when you need it?
Jenny Pittsburgh says
kudos to you for taking the time for a break. And for the reminder that I need to do the same. It’s so easy to get sucked into the comfort of the “grind” (we call it that too and I thrive on a schedule). But it’s so healthy to say “Let’s shake this day up!” and throw all schedule aside. I need to do that more!
Kate says
What a gorgeous view!
I’m looking forward to many beautiful hikes in the Alps in the upcoming months. There is something about mountains that is so grounding and exhilarating at the same time.
Have a great Tuesday!
Allison says
I’m an avid reader but an almost-never commenter, but I felt compelled to say thanks so much for your positive attitude and way of putting a fresh perspective on the sometimes-monotonous nature of life. This was exactly what I needed to read today, and now I’m inspired to shake things up today and refresh. Keep on doing what you’re doing!
Brittany Dixon says
Thank you Allison! It means so much to me when people take the time to comment. I hope you were able to shake things up a bit in your day! <3
Maggie says
Blowing Rock is my happy place! I used to nanny at one of the resorts and you going to mellow mushroom…and posting a picture….just made my day!!!
Kathy says
What a super fun day!!! Unplanned fun is always a win!!!
Lisa Faltenhine says
Simply Thank you. Thank you for your positivity and keeping it real all at once. I needed this post and to read that sign after a particularly bad night with the 4m old and sassy morning with the 4yr old. …..AND…there’s the 4m old now waking up from a 20min nap. UGH 🙂
On goes the grind.
Brittany Dixon says
Hope the next nap lasted longer— those 20 minuters are such a tease! You’ve got this mama- grind on! 🙂
Lauren @ Oh Hey! I Like That! says
That last picture of you is EVERYTHINGGGGG! When I saw it on Instagram last night, it reminded me of how I felt when I first saw the Blue Ridge Mountains. To be in the presence of something so natural and majestic, it’s just so freeing!
Brittany Dixon says
Oh yes, I always feel the same way! The mountains are so humbling and beautiful. Being there puts so much in perspective for me!
Samantha says
Wow! As a fellow mommy who is in the grind with little ones, this brought tears to my eyes. What a refreshing perspective! My husband and I would totally drive two hours to take our girls to a different park, HA!
Cassie says
Yes! With a 7 month old, I stay at home a lot since I’m trying to get her on a schedule to help with her sleep training. Any quick trips out are exhausting but help break up the day!
Samantha says
Beautiful photos!! It’s always a good reminder to take a breather 🙂
Paulina says
This post really has me feeling inspired and thankful for where I’m at. I’ve been feeling itchy to shake things up, but we can’t go anywhere far due to busy work schedules right now. A drive through the country for an afternoon sounds like the perfect little escape.
Brittany Dixon says
That’s just what I told David– I said I see why people used to go on Sunday drives! It’s so nice just to see different scenery. Amazing what a difference it makes. I hope you enjoy your drive through the country!
Stephanie says
My daughter can’t sit still at the table either. She is a recently potty trained two year old who realized that telling us she needs to go to the bathroom in a restaurant means she gets to get up, dance through the restaurant on the way to the bathroom, play with the sink in the bathroom and dance her way back to the table. And it rarely means that she actually has to go, but we certainly aren’t going to take the chance that we are wrong!
Brittany Dixon says
Oh my gosh, yes! Haha, that is such a tough stage when you want to call their bluff but can’t risk it 😉
Gcroft says
Spot on, we refer to it as the non-stop treadmill. I remind myself that there isn’t a permanence to this current stage. A break is necessary to reflect and recharge. Those spontaneous ones are the best. You are doing a great job and please believe me when I say that you are such an inspiration.
And no, my 3 year old doesn’t sit still when we’re out for a meal either. 🙂
Brittany Dixon says
Thank you for not saying your three year sits and eats quietly— I might have cried- ha! 😉
And yes, I do the same in reminding myself that everything is just a phase. It helps me focus on the good parts of each new stage we enter and how fast it goes.
Alyssa @ renaissancerunnergirl says
I can definitely relate to feeling like a shakeup in the routine is what you need to keep loving life, even when the every day is pretty good. Experiencing nature with loved ones seems like a great way to do it!
B says
I went to college n Columbia, SC and my roommates bf went to Applachian – we LOVED visiting Blowing Rock a few times month! Those afternoons of carefree trips are much needed. We often just grab a take out dinner and picnic style in the grass as the girls play on their swing set since it isn’t often we aren’t running from here to there.
Jennifer says
Great post Brittany!! Something I need to work on! Wish my hubs was as spontaneous as yours!
Maria says
My husband planner would never do something like this, so I shall live vicariously through you 🙂 Woah, I love/miss those gorgeous mountains!
Boy can I resonate with the grind stage – we are in the thick of it ourselves. When it becomes a little draining, I have to remind myself what a great sense of accomplishment and worth the grind gives me and how it’s going to enable us to have more freedom in the future.
Ali says
Something about your post brought tears to my eyes. Literally. I really liked this. 🙂
Hilary says
I was just in Blowing Rock this past weekend for a little ski trip! This sounds fabulous! I think that just being spontaneous like that makes life so wonderful and exciting ! And that pizza yum!
Monika says
You are seriously my inspiration for when I have kids *someday* 😉
Brittany Dixon says
Oh wow, that is so kind of you to say- thank you!
Amanda L says
As always, it’s like you live in my brain. I have become, in my 10 or so years of adulthood, a planner to a fault – my google calendar has things like “do load of laundry” and “dust” and “shower and dry hair” on Saturday mornings (that’s embarrassing to even type out). I have my husband’s and my time and money planned to the smallest increment – but you just inspired me to step out of the box a little more. Although jobs and obligations prevent us from dropping everything immediately and driving to the nearest mountain (which is a long way from New Orleans), you’ve inspired me to live a little more freely in the near future. I know my husband would appreciate it! And I hope you know how lucky you are to live in such beautiful country!
Brittany Dixon says
I schedule in washing and drying my hair too so you aren’t alone! (My hair is ridiculously thick so that’s my justification ;)). It’s amazing how just a little switch can make such a big difference so I hope you find a quick way to mix things up soon and enjoy the thrill of it!
Oh, and YES, I definitely appreciate living so close to the mountains. North Carolina is a pretty wonderful place and I’m grateful to live here for now! Though New Orleans sounds pretty fun (and delicious!) too 🙂
Parita says
I love that you guys took a spontaneous trip! So fun. Wish I could do that more often 🙂
I struggle in finding the perfect balance between too much routine and a little bit of spontaneity. Sometimes I feel like my life is all about going through the motions, but then when things don’t fall into that rhythm, I feel like I’m all over the place. Oy vey!
Brittany Dixon says
I do the same– I’ll beg for a vacation then get just as excited to get back home to our routine, ha! 😉
Michaela says
Breaking up every day life with a fun little adventure once in a while is so important.
My boyfriend and I make it a point to just get out once a month, somewhere with restaurants so I don’t have to cook 😉
And can I just say that you come across as such a fun person to hang out with?
Brittany Dixon says
Haha, that’s the best compliment- thank you! 🙂
Edye says
I’m in my junior/senior year of high school and have a ton of work. I can get so caught up in “the grind” of getting work done. Although, I try and remember to take a step (or a ten) back and chill for a little bit. Whether that means turning off my phone and eating lunch outside, or baking a batch of cookies I’ve had on my Pinterest for years 🙂 Hope you have a great rest of your week <3
Blessings,
Edye
Kelli H (Made in Sonoma) says
What an awesome little day trip. I absolutely LOVE day trips, especially up to Mendocino County. We love bringing Ryder, enjoy the 1.5 hour drive, the beautiful scenery, and the delicious wine/food. 🙂 Your day looks perfect! I’m glad you were able to break up the “grind”.
Christine says
What a great way to spend a day! Just this week I had Monday and Tuesday off from work. Monday I took to myself (I really just ran errands, not very relaxing – should have got a pedicure!) and Tuesday I spent the day with my 17 month old, exploring a discovery museum and treating him to a happy meal 🙂 It just felt nice to not have to rush him to daycare and myself to work at 7am. (While my husband travels).
Brittany Dixon says
It’s incredible what a difference not having to rush makes. So glad you were able to have a day to just play with your sweet boy! <3
Joni says
Brittany, you just rock. Love this. You speak to me haha!
Lynda says
What a great post! I love that your husband suggested this and you all just jumped into action. What a great way to break the “grind”. I am at a much different place in life than you and your family but I feel that everyday grind and monotonous routine. This makes me want to break out a little!