Erika's Blog

How funny that the day after I declare my citizenship in Summer Break Land, the weather should respond so appropriately. It is in the low 80s and steamy and I'm wearing bare legs and a skirt (my version of shorts because I hate shorts) and it's Summer! Well, okay, not technically...but it's summer-ish, shall we say.

I'm resisting the urge to go to modcloth.com and order a gazillion cute sundresses. I really wanna.

Both boys got haircuts this past weekend, and we went ahead and did the "summer buzz cut" - they both look older and adorable and like they're about to ship off to boot camp. It seems very...conservative...for us and our parenting style, but dude, it is SO MUCH EASIER. Both the cut itself (Isaac tolerates the clippers better than scissors, and Kai wants to be like Isaac and Daddy, so...) and the maintenance and the longer time frame between cuts. Win-win-winners are we.

I feel kind of left out with my long hair. (Although, have you noticed that fun side braids are very in now? Did you know I know know how to do all those fun braids? And my hair holds them really well? FINALLY I have "in" hair! It only happens once every couple of decades, so I'm enjoying it.)

I've become very smitten with this idea of being on Break. Honestly, what it really means isn't all that different than what I already do except for 3 things. 1. I'm starting each day with the sunrise and morning prayer, which is really calming and wonderful and results in less stress even though I'm losing a smidge of sleep. 2. While Kai's napping, I'm declaring it Erika-time. If I wanna work, great. If I wanna watch bad tv, great. If I wanna eat a grapefruit and do an amalgamation of all three (which is today's plan), then great. Summer Break!
And lastly, 3. It's my attitude. There is something very freeing about saying "I'm on Break!" I feel good.

And in closing (this is a long-ass postcard!) I auspiciously stumbled upon this article today, and it connects to what my doctor and I talked about yesterday: Relax And Burn Calories.

XOXO,
Erika

I had my yearly physical this morning. I really like my GP. She is more on the science side than the loosy-goosey holistic side, but she consistently takes a step back and looks at the big picture, and then really talks to me. Rather than saying "okay, you're really tired and getting sick a lot" she started with "okay, you had a baby in 2011, followed by MRSA, and then a really stressful time with getting strep 4 times and having your son in the hospital..." I appreciate that. I appreciate her getting to know me, and to have a conversation with me, and not to poo-poo my concerns because I don't currently have an urgent illness.

So she took some blood-work to see if I'm deficient in anything (remember my tingly toes? That could mean vitamin deficiencies...) and checked my reflexes and blood pressure and such.

But her main prescription to me was that she wanted me to have a really good relaxing summer. Get out in the sun, drink lots of water, eat lots of delicious nutrient-rich foods, have fun with friends, laugh a lot, have a real summer vacation.
I started to protest - our life isn't exactly a lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer kind of life - but she pointed out that 1. if I don't really allow my immune system to get back on track, I'm just going to have another crappy winter next year and 2. one of the blessings of letting go of my more intense work obligations is that I make my own schedule. "Teach your classes, take care of your kids needs...but you should put your feet up and read a ton of books this summer. Make a drink with an umbrella straw. This is your summer to relax."

"Do you still send people to sanitariums?" I joked, "that might be easier."

But you know what? Okay! I haven't really thought "Summer Break" in a long time...in college, summer break was when I worked 3-4 part time jobs to try to simultaneously get theatrical experience and make a little money for the next school year. Once I started working, it was year round. Once I stopped working, when Isaac was off school he got harder to manage, so I usually dread summer break.

But I do remember. I remember walking home from the library with 15 or so new books in my backpack and climbing the tree in our front yard and sitting up there and reading all afternoon. I remember completely rearranging my room and organizing my stuff...for fun! I remember fireflies and cookouts. I remember pretty sundresses and new cheap flip-flops. I remember the days stretching out before me with nothing but my own enthusiasms propelling me through them. I remember waking up in my bedroom with windows all around and seeing green, green, green leaves everywhere.

Friends, I'm going to do my best to Summer Break this year. After all, doctor's orders.

If you feel compelled to help me and our family...having an extra adult on hand when Isaac is off school makes an enormous difference in the stress level of our household. With the extra adult, it's very manageable. Without, it's very hard.

If you were contemplating a trip to New England this summer, or to see us Hagans - you are welcome anytime, but you will be as welcome as the flowers in May if you came sometime between August 5th and August 30th. My new, healthy, immune system will thank you as well. Come and join me in Summer Break Land!

I have a follow up appointment in September with my doctor to talk through a plan for better immune health going into flu season if necessary...but I'm hoping it won't be necessary.

Oh, here's a fun thing. With the higher stress I've been not sleeping as well and gaining a little weight. I mentioned perhaps dieting a bit this summer as well...and my doc said NO! Or at least, NOT YET! Apparently when you don't sleep well and you're stressed, your body tends to slow down the ol' metabolism. Also, when you reduce calories, your body perceives that *as* stress.
So, this summer, my weight loss plan is: sleep more and better, eat nutrition-rich food, and stress less. Since I already exercise quite a bit, that may be enough on it's own to nudge my weight back down (we're talking like 4 lbs, really) and if not, I can try calorie restriction in the fall.
Oh, DARN, right? I mean, I'm not going to go eat a case of canolis...but not tracking and not being hungry sounds a-ok to me!

So I have as series of boards and blogs I like to check nearly-daily...some of friends, some I've found through friends, whatever.

But today they have failed me.

"The most delicious kale slaw salad!" one exclaims. (Um...no. If you take thing-A Erika doesn't like and combine it with thing-B Erika doesn't like, the results are not Delicious).

"25 tips for making camping more fun" the other shares. (Only need one tip: stay inside and sleep in your own bed. Done!)

"Homemade teacher gifts for the end of the year" effuses a college friend. (Oh. Oh no. I am not going to burden the teachers of my children with anything I tried to arts and crafts at home. Also, if you don't have a craft room already, expensive!).

But I *did* find a pin for a really cool looking Fourth of July "ombre" cake (starts dark blue on the bottom, and ends up red on top, layers with white frosting in between) which I probably won't, but right now I think I'm totally going to do this July!