Six Weeks

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A month or so ago, I asked you all how long you thought it took to form a habit… The answers were so varied – I guess it really depends on the person plus the habit!  But recently, I’ve been hearing a lot about the “magical six week mark,” at least when it comes to kiddos.  “Children don’t adjust to going to preschool for up to six weeks,” warned Henry’s director.  “Remember, you need six weeks to really establish breastfeeding with the newborn,” a friend reminded me. 

 

Six weeks.

 

Six weeks sounds like a long time – but then again, it’s really not.  Just a month and a half.  Only 42 days.  Just six weeks to adjust, make a change, form a new habit – for kiddos and adults alike.  Six weeks to adjust to school, to a new baby, to a new workout plan, to a new way of eating, to a new healthy habit.  I think we often expect ourselves to adjust to major shifts too quickly, and then we feel disappointed or ashamed when it doesn’t all immediately click into place.  It’s so much better to go into something knowing it may take you that long to figure it out… or to at least start to figure it out. 

 

Sheets

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On a less serious note, the Husband and I had this huge, very funny discussion on whether or not you can actually FEEL clean sheets.  I swear that I can tell when sheets have been washed – they feel different.  He thinks this is just physiological and that I wouldn’t be able to pick a washed bed from an unwashed bed based purely on feel.  I think it’s NUTS that he can’t tell the difference – it’s SO OBVIOUS.  What do you think??

 

Swim

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I’m making good on my promise to swim more – in more ways than one.  I went swimming yesterday (second time this week!) and did around 750 yards.  The pool is on my schedule for tomorrow, too.  I hope to start extending my workouts to 1000 yards next week. 

 

Plus, I’ve taken Henry to the pool a grand total of THREE TIMES this week.  He seems to have an extra dose of energy recently and swimming is the only thing that truly wears him out.  He has figured out how to kick and float on his back (with his little life jacket on – I’d love to remove it but it’s so hard to keep him close by with the baby bump in the way). 

 

NutureShock

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In my quest to get off the phone (which is going well; I owe you an update), I’ve been reading more.  It’s pretty awesome what you can learn when you put down your phone.  Hah.  I am LOVING this book:  NutureShock: New Thinking About Children.  Everyone who has a kid, may have a kid, or works with kids should read it.  It’s really, really eye-opening and interesting.  Each chapter is devoted to a different topic (like the inverse power of praise, why white parents don’t talk about race, why kids lie, and why some toddlers talk when others don’t) so it’s a really fast and interesting read.  I have been reading a chapter each night.  I can’t say enough awesome things about this book.

 

Tangerines

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Earlier this summer, the Husband taught me this awesome trick.  To peel a tangerine without making it a battle, roughly roll it between your palms for about ten seconds.  The action breaks the skin away from the orange.  It comes apart afterwards!  It’s awesome.

 

So – that’s what I’ve been thinking about lately… issues big and small.  Hah.  What have you been thinking about?

{ 28 comments }

 

  • Jamie September 4, 2014, 2:30 pm

    I can completely feel clean sheets! Its one off the best feelings in my opinion. I think I sleep so much better when they have recently been washed.

  • Jill September 4, 2014, 2:32 pm

    You are dedicated! When I read for pleasure these days it’s mostly Nora Roberts. I’m only mildly embarrassed to admit that 😉

    So cute that Henry is in “school”!! Our little guy (20 months) adjusted to daycare within the week, and by the second week, he wasn’t even looking back when I dropped him off at his classroom. Our older kiddo (6) was loving kindergarten by the second DAY. Hopefully Henry will settle in much sooner than 6 weeks, but you’re right, it’s different for everybody.

    And lastly, I’m about to start swim workouts again after taking the summer off from our local indoor pool/gym. I used races as workouts instead, and now it’s time to settle into a routine. The pool is only 18 metres, so I get to practice my flip turns a lot! Good for you for getting yourself and Henry into the pool a bunch. I’m sure it’s great for all three (you two plus baby!) of you 🙂

  • Sarah C September 4, 2014, 2:38 pm

    I can tell when the sheets are clean!! I’m a total sucker for them. After they are on the bed I like to lay on the bed and just smell them.

  • Beks September 4, 2014, 2:43 pm

    I think clean sheets feel crisper, somehow, I totally believe you can tell if they’re clean or not (which is a reason I won’t stay in certain hotels. *ahem*). The best feeling in the world is getting out of a shower, into clean pajamas, and slipping between a nice set of clean sheets. It’s glorious!

  • kristin @ W [H] A T C H September 4, 2014, 2:45 pm

    what a great citrus peeling trick!

  • Reenie September 4, 2014, 2:49 pm

    I can feel the clean sheets 🙂

    That pic with Henry with his backpack on ~ too cute!!

  • Brooke September 4, 2014, 3:51 pm

    I love your son’s backpack. It’s so cute!!

  • Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine September 4, 2014, 4:18 pm

    You can totally feel clean sheets!
    And thanks for the reminder of 6 weeks! I need that right now with my first year of college! Just ending week two!

  • Betsy September 4, 2014, 5:22 pm

    I have been looking for a good book to read after finishing my stash, thank you for the suggestion!

  • Angela @ Eat Spin Run Repeat September 4, 2014, 6:02 pm

    Oh yes, you can SO feel clean sheets! And I find that they feel especially amazing on your first night home after being away on vacation. It’s the little things, right? 😉 Regarding forming habits, I agree with you that it depends on the person and habit. For me, it also depends on how much of the motivation behind sticking to that habit is intrinsic (and something I feel I want to do) vs something I feel I should do or am told I need to do.

  • Cate September 4, 2014, 6:14 pm

    I totally can feel the difference with clean sheets. Kind of embarrassing but I like them best when they’ve had a few sleeps but I still wash them weekly.

  • Jen September 4, 2014, 7:25 pm

    Hmm, I would say my world has been revolving around two things and two things only: baby sleep and working on my business/website. With regards to the baby sleep, I can’t believe how thinking, worrying, and reading about it has completely taken over my life in the last four months…I look forward to the day when I can read a book in my free time!

  • Julia September 4, 2014, 7:43 pm

    Fresh sheets FTW. My boyfriend cannot tell a difference. Perhaps it’s a sixth sense?

  • Jenna September 4, 2014, 8:25 pm

    “Freshly made bed day” is the best day of the week!

  • mindy @ just a one girl revolution. September 4, 2014, 8:46 pm

    I can definitely tell when the sheets are clean! I fully believe one of the most luxurious feelings in the world is to take a shower, shave my legs, put on some lotion, and get into a bed with fresh, clean sheets. Heaven.

  • Hollie September 4, 2014, 9:21 pm

    I can TOTALLY feel clean sheets. How much longer until baby #2? I have one more week– or anytime now. I just added that book to my amazon wish list… like I am going to have time with a 2 year old and a newborn.

  • Rebecca September 5, 2014, 3:37 am

    My husband, also British, says the same thing about sheets! I insist on washing then every week (normal I think?!) and he complains it’s not necessary.

    He also taught me the tangerine trick. Life changing.

    • Caitlin September 5, 2014, 9:48 am

      Hahah maybe this is a British man thing.

  • Carol September 5, 2014, 5:43 am

    Clean sheets are the best . They smell fresh and for some reason always feel cooler against my skin the first night they are on the bed ….. crazy ? maybe but still, in my book you can definitely tell the difference !

  • Maryea {happy healthy mama} September 5, 2014, 7:26 am

    I read Nurture Shock as well and agree that it’s a great read. Very interesting!

  • lynne September 5, 2014, 10:32 am

    Henry looks so cute with his elephant backpack! Love it! How did he like his first day of preschool? Was he excited to go and did it go well for him?

    The best is freshly washed sheets that have dried on a clothesline outside. 🙂

    • Caitlin September 5, 2014, 11:25 am

      He did well 🙂 He likes it, I think it provides him the extra simulation he was searching for 🙂

  • Lissy September 5, 2014, 10:55 am

    ooh, sounds like an interesting read. I wish I had taken child psychology in college, so interesting. Making up for it now 🙂

  • Dawna September 5, 2014, 12:36 pm

    I’ve been wanting to do more swimming (I’m about 24 weeks pregnant). What kind of swimsuit do you wear (for the belly)? I have a stylish maternity tankini that I wear for beach days and pool resistance…but I don’t think it would do so well swimming laps.

    • Caitlin September 5, 2014, 12:39 pm

      Just buy a regular swim suit in a bigger size 🙂 I have suits in three sizes to accomodate myself through all stages of pregnancy and PP. The fabric is stretchy enough so you can squeeze the bump in, even right up until your DD!

  • nancy September 5, 2014, 1:26 pm

    Totally with you on the clean sheet thing. I can absolutely tell the difference between clean sheets and not so clean sheets. My oldest child has always been picky about that too. She’s in college now but always texts me when she’s washing her sheets 🙂

  • Jennifer September 5, 2014, 5:39 pm

    So the tangerine trick, I read the same thing about hard boiled eggs. You roll them on the countertop until they are cracked all over….that separates the shell and membrane/skin from the egg. Then you start peeling from the flatter end, the end with the air pocket in the bottom and the shell comes right off. It’s life changing. 🙂

  • Linda @ Fit Fed and Happy September 5, 2014, 7:54 pm

    I totally need to get off the phone and computer as well! I’m addicted and I have a hunched back… Not a good combo.

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