One thing I’ve learned with homeschooling for 8 years now, and honestly just with parenting for 13.5 years now, is that if a day is feeling sour, I (as mom) have the ability to keep it going in that direction or put forth a little energy and good attitude to change it around for all of us.

I’ll be honest, I don’t always choose option number two because there are times I’m in a mood too, darn it, and why is it up to me to fix it for everyone else’s sour moods?! But sometimes I’m in the right headspace to be the light that I pray to try and be. Yesterday was one such instance.

Remember how I giddily proclaimed how my kids thought IOWA testing was so much fun? How they asked to do more and I just knew it was because I was doing all the parenting things right? (I’m kidding about that second part, but still, I got quite the kick out of their enthusiasm for standardized testing).

Well… day two of testing was different. Maybe it’s because they had a pet sitting job they had to wake up early for. Or maybe the math section was wordier than they desired. Or maybe the “extreme” (according to the internet) tree pollen induced sneezes were making them grumpy (valid). Whatever the reason, I found myself in the middle of some seriously sour attitudes. 

We had testing to check off though, so we persevered. In the little breaks between sessions I got outside to roll my eyes in peace and keep my own spirits in check. I harvested a big bunch of cilantro from the garden for dinner and that certainly helped! I used to it make cilantro lime rice in the rice cooker.

As we finished up our testing midday and the girls took off for their next pet sitting appointment, I decided I was going to turn our day around. There are a few things I’ve found that can help reverse the moody course for my big kids/tweens/young teens:

• food
• a fun drink
• a good read aloud
• a sweet treat
• a game
• a movie
• a surprise outing (especially if it’s Hobby Lobby or Target)

I knew getting blood sugars up and making an allergy sniffle soother would at least help get us on the right track. So I made my go-to sore throat soother of hot water, fresh lemon, a generous squeeze of honey, and throat coat tea. I made grilled ham and cheese sandwiches, too, and had both waiting on them when they got back. While eating and sipping, I read another chapter of The Hobbit and I could immediately see the bad attitudes fading. Maybe it was just the math and science sections being done for the day, but I like to think it was the food and mom’s wonderful company 😉

As I cleaned things up, they played some games, a round of chess and a few rounds of Genius Square (which I think is the perfect game because it’s fun, it’s challenging enough, and it’s quick). We leave chess on our coffee table at all times and in the new house have all our games easily accessible which definitely lends themselves to being played more often.

Both girls have recently read abridges versions of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn so I thought it would be fun to pull out a movie from my childhood – The Adventures of Tom and Huck starring JTT (IYKYK). It’s not cinematic gold by any means but at ages 13 and 11 they both really enjoyed the adventure. We watched it snuggled on the SACtional, Finley, too. And it felt really good just to chill.

And afterwards, low and behold, everyone was in good spirits- the midday reset had done the trick! We also still had a good chunk of the day left to enjoy. Now that David and I are working out in the mornings (going strong on week two of this new habit), I definitely feel I have more hours in my day.

My fiddle leaf fig arrived and it’s exactly what I was hoping it would be size-wise and look-wise. I got it from Fast Growing Trees and have been pleased with all the trees we’ve gotten from them thus far (apple, plum). I repotted it and gave it a good hose down, then let it drain and dry before bringing it inside.

The girls and I hit up our local Tuesday farm stand, grabbed some gorgeous beets and golden beets, as well as bought a loaf of delicious smelling sourdough from a friend. Food is so pretty.

I started making dinner back at home- cod fish taco bowls. As I made a beer batter and roasted beets, Hailey sat at the table chatting with me and doodling. Her artistic skills amaze me and I’m totally keeping and framing her latest doodle. I mean, just look! 

Isn’t it darling? I love it.

David wasn’t quite back home from his workday yet, but I set up dinner and the rest of us ate so K and I could make it to softball practice. The season ended, but then we found out she had made the all-star team so we are back in it for a few more weeks. She’s really excited for the opportunity to play with some girls whose experience exceeds her own. I felt like she learned so much at last night’s practice and came out glowing.

I’m just rambling now, aren’t I? Well, let’s hope that today’s last day of testing goes more smoothly than yesterday’s. Either way, it will be nice to check this off, send it off, and start to focus on packing for the beach! I don’t know what we’re all more excited about: family time, beach time, or just being away from the “extreme” pollen levels we are currently experiencing. 

Oh! And though you wouldn’t expect roasted beets to really work well with fish tacos, let me assure you, they do! I roasted them simply with olive oil, salt, and garlic power at 400 degrees for about 40 minutes and they were sweet and delicious. I washed and dried and cut up the beet greens and stuck them in the freezer. Any tips on what to do with them? Sauté them? Is that a thing? Anyway, happy Wednesday; thanks for stopping by!