I used to think I was a busy person. But now I have a toddler! And with a toddler, one must anticipate less personal time (if you ever thought such a thing was possible!) and more time spent exploring nature. Jax has kept me busy with that this spring—to the detriment of this space. As much as I love being outside constantly, I miss having a daily conversation with my readers, both here and on various social media sites. I miss reading your blogs and giving my two cents (or not). Blogging is something I feel I cannot afford to give up (mentally speaking). But here I am, feeling the crunch of time and all the demands weighing on me. Something’s gotta give.

And as much as I don’t want that to be my blog, I don’t want it to be time spent outside with Jax, either. I’ve already given up trying to watch television. As it is now, I watch two shows per week (on a good week)—Mad Men and Girls. Well, really what I do is DVR both of those shows and then complain for a few weeks that I haven’t been able to catch up, take a half day off from work, and then multitask from my couch while I catch up.

And books? I’ve been reading the same book since December. Enough said, right?

I don’t know where in my life I can possibly cut anything else out. Yet I’m unwilling to give up my blog, so surely there must be some chunk of time I’m not accounting for!

Aha, there is indeed! Bedtime.

I have a confession to make–I’ve been falling asleep in bed with Jax every night for, oh I don’t know, about 2 months now. What can I say? I’m tired, and his bed is comfier than mine. And my dog isn’t allowed in it.

I know this needs to stop, and soon. Not only for his sake but also because I simply need a chunk of time during which I can blog, watch tv, or read a book, and it’s unlikely I’m going to find that chunk of time during the day or early evening.

So I guess if I have to assign myself homework for the summer, it would be this: Get out of my kid’s bed and spend an hour or two per night on whatever will make me feel happy and balanced again.

Instead of “homework,” though, maybe I should call it something else, something less dreadful. Any suggestions?