After a January full of weekend travel, it was a welcome change of pace to hang out in Charlotte this weekend and to have no plans. Even though I loved all of my January trips, I also love to be at home.
Backing up to last week, I was sick with a respiratory infection all week! It would not leave my body. I ended up missing the whole week of teaching because I either had no voice or was very hoarse. I thought I was finally on the mend midweek and then Wednesday evening I came down with a low fever and body aches. I finally went to urgent care on Thursday morning to make sure I didn’t have a sinus infection since my face was also swollen. Luckily, I did not and I also didn’t have the flu which they swabbed me for. (I could have told them that I didn’t have the flu…I’ve only had it once in my life my senior year of college and I legit thought I wasn’t going to make it. This was NOT that bad…at all!)
Thursday was a good day for laying low and not doing much. We had the wildest, scariest weather in Charlotte. There were six confirmed tornadoes that touched down in our area and we had a ton of rain and flooding. One of the tornadoes hit just a few miles down the road from us so I felt very fortunate that we were safe.
The combo of me not feeling my best and Finn being stuck inside due to the weather made for more TV than I like for us to watch. In general, I’m not super strict about the TV with Finn. I am okay with him watching it in moderation (like an educational show here and there…30 mins a day or so) but lately he’s been asking for it allllll the time and getting super frustrated and upset if I don’t turn it on. That gives me pause. I decided we needed a screen-free weekend to detox a bit. 🙂
Note, I know that TV preferences and opinions are ALL over the place and I do not judge any parent for doing what works for your child and your family.
I received a text Friday morning that Finn’s preschool was on a delay and then it ultimately ended up getting canceled due to the after effects of the weather (the school had no power). Thank goodness I woke up finally feeling significantly better so we headed to the library for story time and stayed to play after. One of Finn’s preschool classmates was there too so it was fun to hang out with them. Finn spent so much time playing in this kitchen after story time. It was super cute.
Related: Finn never got this respiratory thing from me because I’m 99% sure that I got it from him to start with! His just seemed to not be as intense. I probably picked up a secondary infection somewhere…who even knows this time of year.
Back at home, we laid low the rest of the day.
We baked oatmeal raisin chocolate chip cookies and delivered them to neighbors, went for a walk and played around the house.
I made banana oatmeal pancakes on Saturday morning. I loved how fluffy they were but they a tad dry. Despite that, they still tasted good. I’m not going to complain about a pancake breakfast!
After breakfast we set off for a family run. It was my first workout in over nine days and it felt so amazing to move! The greenway and trails were quite muddy due to the storms but there were tons of people out enjoying the fresh air. We did a little over four miles.
Finn slept for over two hours after our run. I have found that if I time a walk or run late morning after he’s had time to run around and play, and before his nap, that it seems to really relax him. He always sleeps so well after.
The rest of Saturday was hanging out, playing and a long overdue trip to Target. I was out of everything from toilet paper to toothpaste.
Sunday morning included assembling a very interesting jogging stroller. I can’t wait to share more about KidRunner with you guys soon! (Yes, you wear that around your waist and pull. No, I haven’t tried it yet…stay tuned!)
We spent a ton of our afternoon outside. A long walk first.
And then playing in the backyard. I always let Finn run around in the backyard after our afternoon/evening walks (if we don’t walk to the park). I feel like if I get to walk and get my exercise, Finn should get to run around too! We stayed outside until it started to get dark.
Finn’s screen-free weekend went really well! He definitely asked for the “mote” and “TV” and “Pets” or “Bum” quite a few times but as the weekend went on, it really seemed to taper off. No major meltdowns. He did a lot of playing with all sorts of things around the house and was generally really happy.
I’m not sure what the answer is around setting boundaries with TV. I’ll keep paying attention to how it seems to effect him and go with my gut. I don’t want to be completely anti-TV but I want a good balance and not for him to beg for it and meltdown about it. Tricky stuff!
I was not on a screen hiatus this weekend. My mom got me started on Anne with an E last time I was in Florida and I’m in love with it. It’s a Netflix original series and I’ve been watching one episode in bed at night before I read. I love that it’s relatively wholesome and not as dramatic as so much of the stuff that’s on right now. It’s relaxing for my mind before bed.
I’m reading Giver of Stars, and loving it.
And that is all! I am off to teach my first yoga class in over a week. I’m excited.
QUESTIONS
I ask this knowing it’s so different for everyone, but what are your TV rules/boundaries/guidelines with toddlers?
Recommendations for shows that are “tame” like Anne with an E? Like, I love You, Succession and The Handmaid’s Tale but sometimes you just need something that isn’t so freaking crazy!
Favorite pancake recipes?
