It’s been over seven months since my last post.

I have allowed the business of life to get in the way of what I love to do the most, write.  Okay, that’s not completely true, I love being a mother the most, however, a woman can lose herself in doing everything for everyone around her, therefore losing the best part of what makes her a mother in the first place.

I spent the two and a half months after Easter ensuring that my (at the time) fifth grader would be at his best when taking the grade 5 part of Jamaica’s new PEP examinations at the end of June, which will ultimately ensure he gets into a good traditional high school, while also being there for my (at the time) first grader as he navigated his school exams.  Summer came and our house was gloriously inundated with houseguests and visitors for two months.  My sons and I calculated that we did 21 day trips to beaches and waterfalls, amidst also doing Marine Camp, piano lessons, Taekwondo training & exams, swimming at the yacht club, having friends over for dinners, board games, lots of novel reading, some Netflix watching and Minecraft/Roblux playing!  We made new friends and solidified longtime friendships, we spent quality family time together and even managed to get lots of rest throughout all the madness!  Then the new school year began and I had to figure out how the schedules of a six grader and a second grader could work best, without compromising their needs and wishes, sleep and nutrition.  The sixth grader is in full throttle, preparing for the seven remaining PEP examinations, taking place between the upcoming February and April, staying at school until 6pm three nights per week, while still continuing with his after school piano lessons and Taekwondo training.  We are never home before dark during the week, much to the detriment of the second grader, who is exhausted, as he has to accommodate this craziness.  That said, I am as proud of him as I am of his older brother.  He too has sports and music to fit into his own schedule.

So, here we are, almost in December, with my health diminishing and weight dropping off me when there isn’t much to fall off me in the first place.  My patience levels are down, causing bursts of anger which aren’t good for my boys, my husband, nor myself.  I am trying my best to cope with tired children, who still manage to get to sleep by 7:30pm by the way.  I am trying my best to cope with the crying and arguments between these two small people, due to their exhaustion at the end of the day.  I am trying my best to spend some time with my husband, though I am also often asleep by 7:30pm.  I am trying my best not to see red every time the day doesn’t go exactly as I’d like.