May 16, 2024 • 29 mins
In this episode of "Don't Call Me Midlife," Alix and Nicole dive headfirst into the chaotic month of May, affectionately dubbed "Maycember." Juggling a ton of activities from school concerts to graduation parties, they share their strategies for staying sane amidst the madness. From managing teacher gifts to preparing for summer vacations, they discuss it all while emphasizing the importance of self-care. Alix shares her newfound habit of morning journaling, while Nicole prioritizes her daily walks, proving that finding just one thing to focus on can make all the difference. Join them as they navigate the whirlwind of May and share their unsolicited advice for surviving the busiest month of the year.
In this episode, we talk about the following:
1. The busyness of May aka "Maycember".
2. Kids' activities including concerts, sports, school parties, field trips, and graduations.
3. Maintaining self-care habits during busy times.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:03):
Welcome to the Don't Call Me Midlife podcast.
I'm Nicole and I'm Alex.
We're your coffee-addicted,wine-loving, amazon-obsessed mom
squad.
Think of us as your new besties, but with a podcast.
And, just like you, we'renavigating the Google-defined
chaos of midlife while wranglinga pack of boys.
But here's the twist we're morethan just moms and wives.
We're on a mission to reclaimour identities beyond motherhood
(00:24):
, and we're bringing you alongfor the wild ride.
Now, we don't pretend to haveall the answers to life's
mysteries, but we're so good atlearning and laughing our way
through them.
So, whether you're sipping fromyour trusty Stanley, indulging
in an oat milk latte fromStarbucks or raising a glass of
Whispering Angel, get ready tohang with us.
Together.
We'll keep it real, have somelaughs and remind you that this
(00:44):
crazy journey called life is oneadventure worth sharing.
Okay, if you're listening, Ijust want to say thank you,
because this is mid May and weknow how busy it is.
And so welcome to the shit showof May, which I think is the
busiest month of the entire year.
(01:05):
As a mom, as a mom, let me justput that out there.
Wait, didn't they have the termNicole?
Oh, my gosh, may-cember.
Yes, yes, yes, I'll takeDecember, though I'll take the
madness of December overMay-cember.
You will, I don't know.
I go back and forth, I don'tknow, I don't know, but it is
definitely it's Maycember.
(01:26):
It is literally everyone I talkto Nicole, from you, to friends
from here, from friends fromcollege like everyone is saying
they're busy.
Every single one of mygirlfriends is like I'm so busy
and it's all good busy.
Right, we are good busy, but itis like I'm not.
I don't think we're complainingat all, it's just all the
(01:46):
things that happened this monthhave got to happen.
Like, so it is.
It is crazy, yes, yes, and I,you know, there are things that
I've been putting in place, likewalking and eating healthy, and
I don't want it to get derailedfrom here on out because that's
easy for me, it's easy for meto fall off the track.
(02:07):
So with that that's what's inmy cup I have a brain boosting
protein smoothie.
You know, I got.
You know it's.
I don't even know what time isit.
It's 1230 here and I've alreadygotten 7,200 steps in, so I'm
really trying to maintain 72.
Hold on, I'm going to check myaura ring and I'm going to see
(02:29):
what I've done.
You've right.
Wait, it's 1230.
Wow, I am.
Well, it's 1230 in Colorado.
Yeah right, I only have I'mlooking at my aura ring I only
have.
Let's see, I only have 6,000.
6,000.
Not bad.
Well, I had to.
Um, I have to get my steps incause.
I'm doing this challenge withStacey buzz.
(02:50):
Oh, you are, I know, I know sheis so cute, you guys are so
cute.
I can't wait.
I don't want to lose my 40bucks.
Oh, oh, okay, there's money onthe line.
Maybe I should have done that.
Uh, you have like, uh, mine is.
You know what Excitementexcitement I am going to say
(03:10):
this month is.
I love December, like Decemberis great, but I do love this
month because it's almost like aprecursor to the summer, and I
really love the summer and Ihave some fun summer plans, and
so it's like I'm pre-gaming forthe summer.
This month I still have Bakergets out.
I'm pre-gaming Baker gets out,um, um, end of May, like your
(03:33):
boys do, but my other kids don'tget out till end of June.
So I still I have one that'sgoing to be here in a month, and
then I've got the two more thatare going to.
I've got eight weeks left ofschool.
So it's a little bit differentsituation.
It's so nice that you get to behome with Baker and just have
like that that time alone,because it's been hard like this
past year.
So, yeah, it has.
(03:55):
I just signed him up fordriver's ed, nicole, I didn't
even tell you this.
Like the permit situation, yeah, I don't even know what it is.
I was like texting with a guyfrom the driving school and I
have no idea what he's saying.
So I just signed up after askinny Marg on Saturday night,
him for driving school.
So it's going to work out.
It's going to be great.
It's going to be great.
(04:16):
I know you can take driver's edhere in Colorado at 14 years, 10
months and so, yeah, so thatwould make that, would make it
June for us for Tasso to takedriver's ed.
Yeah, I think that's too young.
It's young, but think of allthe experience that he would get
, like the pre-drive time.
(04:36):
But when do you get yourlicense there?
When do you get your license?
Probably 16.
Oh, I see, I think we get.
We get our permit here at 16.
You can, and then you get yourlicense at.
You can at 16 and a half, but Idon't think you can actually
drive like other kids arounduntil 17.
Yeah, I'm not sure, I don't knowall the details, but I'm trying
(04:57):
to figure out.
I'd have to talk to you.
Know, safety first, jerry.
He didn't even want themgetting bicycles when they were
little.
So like, yes, I mean whenyou're married to a trauma
surgeon like they, just that'strue.
He is very like safety first.
It's funny because Alex and Idid have this conversation,
nicole, about driving, becauseBaker goes to boarding school,
(05:18):
like why does he need hislicense?
Like should we?
And then someone was sort oflike chiming into this
conversation saying there's somany kids now not getting their
licenses and it's like they'relosing this sense of
responsibility.
Right, I mean I rememberturning 16 was like the best day
of my life and wanting to dothat, but because of Uber,
because of all these things,it's causing the kids to not get
(05:40):
their license.
But it also goes into, you know, having a real sense of
responsibility, right, causedriving is a responsibility
which is interesting.
Independence, I mean I justwanted independence.
I mean I was like Sia, I'mgoing to get an iced tea, like
by myself.
When Lipton was in glassbottles it was my thing.
But no, my oldest really wants,he just really wants it.
(06:03):
I mean, he's very independentand I don't know about the other
two, but I do hear a lot ofladies like mention that you
know my kid's 17 and they don'twant their license.
Why, why?
Yeah, I think I think we do it.
I think Baker can't have a carat school or anything, but I
think I think it is really goodbecause he does have that full
month where he's going to workon his, you know, torn ACL.
(06:25):
He's going to work on workingout and do driving school before
we go away, um, for a littlebit this summer.
So, but, we deter, we get downa tangent Um, and that's okay.
So, what do you have?
Tell me what you have going onthis month.
So, so what do you have?
Tell me what you have going onthis month.
Tell me, just like, what youhave, okay, so, um, I don't know
(06:50):
.
We have concerts at school, yes,at the end of the year, which I
don't like.
I hope no one's listening.
But those are like I, I just Ilove everything about being a
mom, but like, maybe becausewe're not musically inclined or
it's just so forced right, likeeven the singing, the concert,
I'm like, oh God, like nails ona chalkboard.
(07:11):
That's not good of me, but Ijust it's not my fave thing.
It's not my fave thing, but wedo it, we do it Right.
He plays a baritone, likehonestly, do you even know what
that is?
It's like that big thing that,like it looks like a tuba.
Oh, that's an instrument.
I thought you were saying likeit was a voice level.
No, I don't even know what thatis.
(07:32):
Baronet, baronet, I don't knowWhatever.
Obviously we're not really intoit.
But so concerts, concerts, wehave, um, what else do we have?
Sports like tennis stuff, Um, Idon't know.
And the school parties, yeah,and field trips like that, oh,
(07:54):
that's around, yeah, and mybirthday, yeah, birthdays this
month, yes, oh, we just hadMother's Day.
Yep, we just had Mother's Day,so that's always smack dab into
May-cember.
Yeah, I don't know, there'slots of birthdays, I feel like,
in May.
So what is that?
June, july, august?
Lots of people are busy inAugust, just in the summer, fun.
(08:17):
So, yeah, that's what we've gotgoing on.
And then my kids are out ofschool May 22nd.
So I have to get my summerstamina, like I'm, I'm, I'm
prepping, like, trying to getready for, like, just to go, go,
go, you know, the pool partiesand all that.
So you're still pre-gaming, youhave time.
You have time to pre-game,don't worry.
(08:38):
Prepare for the best summerever, Nicole.
Right, I feel like that's solike what I would try to do,
like those summer bucket listswhen my kids were little, right,
and now I'm like I think likethere's months there I mean not
months there's weeks where noone has signed up for camp and
my kids are actually okay withit, cause do you find your kids,
as they get older, theyactually want the downtime.
(08:59):
Right now I'm not going to letthem like be on screens, but at
the same time they can entertainthemselves.
But I don't have to have likelet's go into the museum of
science or let's go to a park,right, like there's just.
I feel like my boys are latelyinto just.
They're like mom, just keep itsimple.
Keep it simple, you know, andthat is not my philosophy.
My philosophy is more is more.
So that is hard to do, but Ithink the things kids teach us,
(09:24):
right, yes, they do teach me allthe time, especially mama boys,
but keeping it, you know, justsimple.
And they do want to chill,because our kids are go, go, go
all the time Right, and yeah, Imean school's intense sports are
intense, I think for sure.
Yeah, I think when they'relittle, all that like energy,
you just need to like get out ofthe house or the house turns
(09:45):
into like a tornado, like aTasmanian devil just went
through it, and I don't know.
It's fun to give them thoseexperiences as well.
But like, at this age, like Idon't know, I can see it in mine
when my youngest is 10 and hestill like wants to go to the
aquarium where my 14 year oldslike I just need, I just need a
day, like I just want to rest,and I'm just like, okay, well,
(10:06):
you can't be on your PlayStationall day, but he's like you know
he doesn't even want to be onit as much as he has in the past
.
But yeah, I mean I don't mindwhen they have their down days
too.
But sometimes I'm like, okay,well, this is boring, let's go
do something.
I know, I know the sleeping intoo, like Baker does tend to
(10:26):
sleep in Walker's like middlesleeping in, and John definitely
like wakes up at like 630 everymorning, I swear.
So it's like ready to make hisegg sandwich for the day so he
can make, maybe he can makebreakfast.
But I think finding thatbalance for each family of
between camps and family tripsand activities as these kids get
older is important and everysummer is going to be the best
(10:49):
summer for them.
I mean, give me a break.
Yeah, I know I want to be ourkids.
I know right, I had a goodsummer growing.
I had good summers growing upand they weren't like chock full
of like activities.
No, we went away.
I lived in New Jersey and wewent away to Cape Cod every
summer and I either had a job orwas a camp counselor at a day
(11:13):
camp.
Listen to this this camp thatthey sent us all to in Sagamore
beach, massachusetts.
It was a day camp, nicole.
The hour of the camp was 9 amto 1.
As a mom, that's like a halfday.
That's all the camp we got.
That is only half a day.
That is not okay.
(11:33):
I don't know how my momsurvived with three kids doing
that.
Wait a second, they wereraising us a little differently.
You probably walked to camp.
You're right, that was like anhour.
That's a whole different ballof wax.
(11:54):
Now we're like drop off carline, like nobody has to wait
for anything.
And, yeah, no different times.
No, it was awesome.
My best friend Jesse and I, wewould ride our bikes it probably
took a good 45 minutes tofriendlies friendlies like ice
cream and and ride the bikesback.
There was not a real like,there was not a lot of hovering
around, what we were doing, itwas, it was.
(12:16):
It was a good community to dothat.
But now do you have anygraduations this year?
Because graduations are big inMay and June, right?
Yeah, no, actually.
I mean, my oldest is going fromninth to 10th, so there's no,
like last year that we had theeighth grade graduation, which
was big, and then my middle one.
(12:37):
No, he's going from seventh toeighth and then fourth to fifth,
so we don't have any any schoolgraduations and my nieces and
nephews are all in college.
So, no, oh wait, I do have aniece.
I do have a niece, ava.
She's graduating um Michiganstate, so she's trying to get
into law school.
So that's awesome, butunfortunately we're not going to
(12:59):
be able to um, we're not goingto be there to help celebrate
her, but that's.
That would be the only thingthat we have.
How about you guys?
This is a big graduation year.
I mean not big, you know, I'vegot a fifth grade graduation
right, which, as my third child,nicole, he is missing.
They have a clap out.
They like do a clap out.
I think that happened duringCOVID.
(13:20):
Well, he's not going to bethere, Nicole, because he's
going to sleep away camp early,cause in Massachusetts our
school doesn't account for snowdays, so we have all these.
We had an electrical day, wehad snow day, so he actually the
last day of school is on aFriday.
I am dropping him off at camp onTuesday, so he will miss his
clap out, but I am doing alittle fun graduation party for
(13:43):
him and I do this for each of mykids and it's so cute Cause
they're all so different.
And I'm getting one of thosewater slides in my backyard.
And then, you know he's mostexcited about Nicole is the snow
cones.
He's like he's like tellingBaker, he's like you're going to
be home Cause we're going tohave snow cones.
I'm like I don't even know howthis machine's going to work,
but we're going to make it work.
And oh my God, that's so fun.
He is inviting just 10 boysover and I was like, do you want
(14:06):
to invite any girls?
And he's like no.
He's like so thrilled.
And then so I've got fifth gradeand then Walker is graduating
from eighth grade, which Bakergraduated from eighth grade.
That'll be, yeah right, you'llbe in the same boat.
So Baker graduated eighth gradeduring COVID, which was like on
a zoom, and we did a graduation.
So, um, when Walker graduatedfifth grade, we had like a fun
(14:31):
DJ party, which was a littleextreme, but that's sort of more
of his personality and theirgroup of friends and you know.
So this year we have a bunch offamilies doing, um, a fun,
similar party, cause, all youknow, a lot of the parents are
friends, the kids are friends,you know, I mean.
So it's just, it's a, it's oneof those.
You know, each class has itspersonality.
I think this is more of the theparty class, I guess.
(14:53):
Does that make sense?
Yes, I love all those ideas.
Usually I just leave, I leaveit up to like one of the moms,
like you, and we just show up.
Oh my God, what can I bring?
Yes, I love it, I love you,moms, we are we, we, we love you
too, cause we need, do need,people to show up.
Yeah, we are doing for thiseighth grade party, we are going
(15:14):
to include the parents, right,and have them come for a
cocktail or something.
So so I do have eighth gradegraduation, and then we're
leaving for a trip the next dayafter graduation.
So it's going to be that isgoing to be a crazy week in
mid-June, but I am preparing forall of that, so it's not crazy,
so that I can enjoy it, right.
And do I have birthdays?
(15:35):
Yeah, we have Baker's birthdaythis month, in May.
He's turning 16.
And then, yeah, I'm a Gemini.
Are you a Gemini, I?
And then, yeah, I'm a Gemini.
Are you a Gemini?
I'm a Taurus.
Oh, but you're like borderline,right?
No, I don't know, I think.
I mean I'm at the end of Taurus.
I'm definitely I'm not like onthe cusp.
I think that's like May 20th orsomething.
(15:57):
Okay, because I'm a Gemini,excuse me Right, because my
sister-in-law is may 22nd andshe's a gemini.
Okay, baker's a gemini, right,because I'm june 7th.
So we have, we have birthdaysto each other.
He's a gemini.
Yeah, yeah, oh, okay, yeah,okay.
So we both have birthdays,which is sort of fun.
Do you do anything fun for yourbirthday?
Do you like to celebrate, doyou not?
(16:19):
I mean, I try, yeah, no, I liketo celebrate my birthday, for
sure.
Okay, usually I'll like go on alittle trip with friends.
I'm not sure what this yearlooks like.
We have some things that may behappening and we just we're
just kind of like it's like aholding.
We're in a holding zone rightnow, so, yeah, but I'll do
(16:41):
something like with mygirlfriends here, like out to
dinner or something, and thenJerry always does something
really sweet, like gets the kidsinvolved, and then I don't know
, it's usually like I'll dosomething, but it's low key.
I'm just low key, Right, likeI'll do something, but it's low
key.
I'm just low key, right.
No, I like that, but I likeacknowledging it.
Alex, alex mentions in theirhouse growing up that they
(17:02):
acknowledge birthdays, but itwasn't like that big of a deal,
which is funny.
Like my house was the same.
I don't know where I got thislike thing where I want to
celebrate birthdays, right.
Um, that I just like.
I love it, but um, but yeah,maybe you should take a girl's
trip to Boston.
I would love to take a girl'strip to Boston.
Everyone's dying to meet you.
(17:22):
Come for my birthday.
I'm doing something fun, so youshould come for it.
I'm going to send you theinvite.
Yes, that would be like aperfect opportunity to like get
away, be like Jerry.
It would, it would.
But between you know, recitals,graduations we just had
mother's day Um, what else is inthis month?
(17:43):
Uh, teacher gifts.
Are you doing that?
Oh my gosh.
Yes, okay, okay, yes, thank youfor reminding me I I have some
ideas for you.
Oh my gosh, give the ideas,because I'm sure our listeners
want to know exactly what yourideas are.
I know you have really cute,like Pinterest-y ideas and I
(18:04):
absolutely love it.
I love it.
So when our kids get older Ithink we talked about this in
one episode as they get older,you don't give as many gifts,
right?
Because you just you can't giveeverybody a gift like that or
the class gift.
I always give something elsebesides the class gift, but I
recently shared on my InstagramI did something with a gift card
(18:25):
for Duncan.
I think if you just look up onEtsy, etsy is my like gold
standard for everything and theyhave so many things that you
can just download and you couldpersonalize it like love the
blank family and just give agift card to show your
appreciation, write a note cardin the back for like $2.
You can do a download and youedit it and it's like in Canva
or one of those things.
Okay, now you're going to laughwhen I ask you this and I'm
(18:46):
literally embarrassed to ask youthis because I feel like this
is, you know, kindergarten levelknowledge that I should have.
But okay, so you, you have thetemplate from Etsy and it's like
, you know, it's like the Duncanone, but let's just say that,
like, the top is curved, likehow do you print it?
Do you go to look at your face?
I didn't know what you weregoing to ask Nicole.
(19:07):
I was like, what is it?
I hope she doesn't ask how toedit it.
Um, no, I can edit it.
But when it comes to printing,like, do you buy a certain card
stock, do you cut it?
Do you take it to um, I don'tknow FedEx and have them do it?
Like what?
Yes, that is, that's a goodquestion, cause, I know, cause a
lot of those tags can be supercute, but my cutting skills are
(19:28):
not that great and then it'llbother me if I did it.
So it depends what it is, um,but usually I will bring it to
we have a UPS here or a FedExKinko's.
I will send it to them and haveit printed, because, like my
Duncan, it's on a cardstock andso I just had them cut it.
And then you just use a gluewhat is it?
(19:48):
A glue dot and you put the giftcard on.
So those are super easy.
So I think, going throughanother party and doing it
unless you, you know what'sreally fun when my kids were
little I would have them cutthose out, but now that my kid,
they barely.
They don't even know what I'mgiving the teacher, so it
doesn't matter.
So what do you do for middleschool?
Do you do anything for middleschool or is this just for
(20:09):
John's class?
Well, the Duncan cards wereactually for Baker's school,
cause I'm not going to be therefor teacher appreciation.
So I went and gave one to everyconference for John's school.
What I'm doing is my go-tolately is marking Graham.
I love, love, love everythingat marking Graham.
So I got these there I'msitting on I already ordered
them.
Sitting on my dining room tableis where it's like my gift
(20:30):
closet.
Um, they have these bags thatare waterproof, that are really
cute, and I just put their firstand last initial on it and then
I'm going to fill it with likelittle things, probably like a
Duncan card probably, like scoopsuper goops on screen, you know
sort of my favorite summarythings.
Um, and that's what I'm going todo.
That's what I'm going to do forthose teachers, I think.
(20:52):
I think that's.
I like to give gifts where thatthey're going to use it.
I actually got the principal ofour middle school a
personalized Amber mug.
Amber mug Is it the Amber orthe Amber?
You know those ones that arelike heated up, oh, amber, yeah,
oh, that's, that's very nice.
Well, I also, since I'm doing alot of volunteering, I know him
very well.
That's not a usual teacher giftthat I would do, but I think
(21:15):
that's that's.
I work with him as the PTOchair and so I really have
worked with him closely for thepast two years.
So I'm excited about that.
Um, but I love Mark and Grahamfor all their.
They have so many good um dealslately like, um, good sales,
that I like them.
(21:36):
What do you do?
Yeah, are you getting ideas,nicole?
I'm getting ideas.
No, I mean usually.
Okay, I was way better.
I was a lot more like you.
I was the class mom or whateverbefore we moved to Colorado.
And when we moved to Colorado,the pandemic hit and I just kind
of fell out of it.
And then we've switched schoolsso many times and I just kind
of I fell out of it and thenwe've we've switched schools so
many times that I just I don'tknow, um, haven't done it nearly
(22:01):
as much as I used to, but Ilike to give a gift to the
teacher, um, just like you, likesomething personalized and then
, and fill it with some goodies.
But I would also get littlegifts for the teachers um, not
the teachers, like the ladies atthe front desk just like a
little something, like just alittle $5, like something to
(22:22):
acknowledge them or whatever.
I think that's sweet, just tolike they're being noticed.
I did, you know, um, my sisterhas that toffee company and her
husband anchor toffee, which isreally great.
One year I did a little packageof that, cause it looks like an
ice cream container, like apint container.
I did coffee and toffee andthen I did a little like
Starbucks or um Duncan card,which is fun, Right, yeah, that
(22:46):
is cute, okay, well, talkingabout, you know, gifts for other
people and sort of that thing.
My question you mentioned thebeginning, nicole, about taking
care of yourself.
You're on this like good pathof you know good habits, so do
you have any advice, I mean forour listeners or maybe me how,
what are, what are you going todo to sort of stay on track?
(23:08):
Because I feel like in thecraziness of this Maycember, or
when we are crazy, the firstthing that always goes is taking
care of us, right, when itshould be the first thing at the
forefront, like, honestly,forget the teacher gift, take
care of yourself.
This is, this is like mymidlife philosophy.
So what are you going to do?
What are a couple of thingsyou're going to do to stay on
track?
You joined Stacy's walk-a-thonor what's.
(23:30):
I don't know what it's called.
Oh, my gosh, what does she callit?
I can't remember what shecalled it, but, yes, so I'm
doing that.
I'm just making sure I'mgetting my steps in, just just
for now, until my scheduleclears up.
But that that's my main focus,because I want to win the pot.
I want to win the pot, right,right and and just and.
(23:52):
Just keep that going and then,um, instead of, like, maybe one
hour walks, I'll just, you know,scale it back and do some
workouts, but I think, um, justkeeping up with my clean eating,
just making sure I mean, I'mnot um so good at like tracking
macros right now, but right nowI'm just trying to make the
(24:12):
healthiest choices yeah, thehealthiest choices and eating
foods that make me feel good,like that don't like give me
inflammation.
But I think my number one thingis just walking.
Right now, I mean 10,000 steps.
That's my goal and it's like Ihave to be intentional, like
there's goal and it's like Ihave to be intentional, like
there's our word right.
(24:33):
No, you have to be To get10,000 steps.
You cannot.
You have to actually plan out awalk or you have to be like
doing crazy errands.
Girl, like I don't know, yeah,but maybe it's thinking about
but I do.
I try to get that in first andthen go about my day and then,
like, at the end of the day, ifI have some time, I'll do my
little, like a walk after dinner.
But just the mornings are mine.
(24:56):
Like I'll do all the crazy youknow shit show stuff later, but
like in the morning, that is mytime to get my things done and
have it just.
It just like gives me claritytoo.
Well, it's how you, how youstart your day, really really
matters, and I think we learnedthat as we get older, it's not
just checking off your to-dolist.
(25:16):
Yes, there are certain thingswe have to make our bed, we have
to cook, we have to makebreakfast for the kids or
whatever, unless you're JohnMackey, but um, but then.
But really doing something foryou, um, I I think you're going
(25:37):
to be shocked when I tell youwhat is one of my new habits
that I've been doing.
That, I realized, is I needed alittle downtime in the morning,
so I started journaling for fiveminutes.
Get out.
I know, I know You'rejournaling without me.
Why didn't you tell me I do, Ido and, um, I journal while John
makes his egg sandwich.
I do it, I do it before becauseI want to be present with him.
But I was realizing startingyour day out with your emails or
all this stuff, like everyonesays, it would sort of start you
(25:57):
out on already like an anxiousnote.
So, like you're saying, likeyour walk, I don't have that
motivation in the morning to getdressed, to be totally honest
yet, but I will sit there andjust drink coffee and just
journal about whatever for fiveminutes and it has really just
helped me start my day on abetter note, just like your walk
.
So find something, ladies, andjust maybe just focus on that
(26:19):
one thing, right, it doesn'thave to be all the things like
we say.
So I love that.
I wish I was next door to walkwith you.
I know I need a walking partner.
That's what maybe will get memotivated in the morning.
I will not get dressed at 6 am.
No, I have to.
So I have to take my kids toschool yeah, you do.
(26:39):
It's a half hour drive.
I have to be dressed in case Igot to get out and use the
ladies room on the way home.
So like not driving in mypajamas.
So I just get home and I go.
That's good in my pajamas.
So I just get home and I go.
I don't let anything else stopme.
I like that.
So, nicole, what time is it?
It's my favorite time.
It is unsolicited advice time.
(27:05):
So for Maycember, what is yourunsolicited advice?
Find that one thing and stickto it.
Like mine is walking, yours isjournaling.
For now, whether it's like Iknow my friend Stacy is like
walking, getting her 15 minutesin in the morning before coffee.
I don't know if that's everyday or just on the weekends, but
(27:25):
that's her thing.
So my thing is getting homefrom drop-off and like grabbing
the dog leash and going.
So that is just do it.
Set that for yourself.
Who cares about the teachergifts?
Who cares about the teachergifts?
Call me, call me, I'll help you.
Go to it's Tradish to get allthings.
(27:49):
Alex advice, I mean I love it.
I mean she'll give you all theideas, yep, all the fun and
festive ideas.
I am there for it.
I'm super excited about it.
I think that my advice wouldprobably be this is Maycember
and it is crazy, but take amoment to sort of see the end
game, right, and this is I talka lot about like the reason for
(28:12):
your season, right, like what'sthe reason for your season?
You wanna be present.
I mean, I know that's at leastfor me, so a lot of times we can
get caught up in this dailyminutiae and thinking about at
the end of May it's not that faraway how do you wanna feel,
right?
Do you wanna say that you arepresent with your kids and maybe
some of those things like we'rejoking about the teacher gifts.
But that's just one example oflike can something be put off
(28:34):
your plate, right?
And really focusing on beingthere for yourself, being there
for your friends and being therefor your family.
So I think that's important.
So that's a little advice formyself too.
That's what I'm trying to do.
Yeah, I know, I mean, sometimesit's unsolicited advice is out
there for you, but it's also forus too, like we got it's like a
reminder, like if you say it,then it's out in the world.
(28:56):
Out in the world.
Yeah, Good juju.
Yes, yes, all right, now go doall your stuff.
All right, talk to you soon.
Bye, and that's a wrap fortoday's episode of Don't Call Me
Midlife.
We hope you had as much fun aswe did.
Absolutely, your support meansthe world to us.
(29:17):
If you're just waiting in thecarpool line, don't forget to
follow the show, and if you'refeeling extra spicy today, leave
us a rating and review Beforewe part ways.
We've got a special invitationfor you Join our newsletter to
stay in the loop with all thingsmidlife, magic, bonus content
and more.
Head on over to the show notesfor how to sign up.
We can't wait to keep theconversation going.
(29:38):
And, of course, remember, inthe whirlwind of life and
motherhood, don't forget to fillup your own cup first.
You're extraordinary and yourjourney is worth every moment.
Until next time, cheers.
Welcome to the Don't Call Me Midlife podcast.
I'm Nicole and I'm Alex.
We're your coffee-addicted,wine-loving, amazon-obsessed mom
squad.
Think of us as your new besties, but with a podcast.
And, just like you, we'renavigating the Google-defined
chaos of midlife while wranglinga pack of boys.
But here's the twist we're morethan just moms and wives.
We're on a mission to reclaimour identities beyond motherhood
(00:24):
, and we're bringing you alongfor the wild ride.
Now, we don't pretend to haveall the answers to life's
mysteries, but we're so good atlearning and laughing our way
through them.
So, whether you're sipping fromyour trusty Stanley, indulging
in an oat milk latte fromStarbucks or raising a glass of
Whispering Angel, get ready tohang with us.
Together.
We'll keep it real, have somelaughs and remind you that this
(00:44):
crazy journey called life is oneadventure worth sharing.
Okay, if you're listening, Ijust want to say thank you,
because this is mid May and weknow how busy it is.
And so welcome to the shit showof May, which I think is the
busiest month of the entire year.
(01:05):
As a mom, as a mom, let me justput that out there.
Wait, didn't they have the termNicole?
Oh, my gosh, may-cember.
Yes, yes, yes, I'll takeDecember, though I'll take the
madness of December overMay-cember.
You will, I don't know.
I go back and forth, I don'tknow, I don't know, but it is
definitely it's Maycember.
(01:26):
It is literally everyone I talkto Nicole, from you, to friends
from here, from friends fromcollege like everyone is saying
they're busy.
Every single one of mygirlfriends is like I'm so busy
and it's all good busy.
Right, we are good busy, but itis like I'm not.
I don't think we're complainingat all, it's just all the
(01:46):
things that happened this monthhave got to happen.
Like, so it is.
It is crazy, yes, yes, and I,you know, there are things that
I've been putting in place, likewalking and eating healthy, and
I don't want it to get derailedfrom here on out because that's
easy for me, it's easy for meto fall off the track.
(02:07):
So with that that's what's inmy cup I have a brain boosting
protein smoothie.
You know, I got.
You know it's.
I don't even know what time isit.
It's 1230 here and I've alreadygotten 7,200 steps in, so I'm
really trying to maintain 72.
Hold on, I'm going to check myaura ring and I'm going to see
(02:29):
what I've done.
You've right.
Wait, it's 1230.
Wow, I am.
Well, it's 1230 in Colorado.
Yeah right, I only have I'mlooking at my aura ring I only
have.
Let's see, I only have 6,000.
6,000.
Not bad.
Well, I had to.
Um, I have to get my steps incause.
I'm doing this challenge withStacey buzz.
(02:50):
Oh, you are, I know, I know sheis so cute, you guys are so
cute.
I can't wait.
I don't want to lose my 40bucks.
Oh, oh, okay, there's money onthe line.
Maybe I should have done that.
Uh, you have like, uh, mine is.
You know what Excitementexcitement I am going to say
(03:10):
this month is.
I love December, like Decemberis great, but I do love this
month because it's almost like aprecursor to the summer, and I
really love the summer and Ihave some fun summer plans, and
so it's like I'm pre-gaming forthe summer.
This month I still have Bakergets out.
I'm pre-gaming Baker gets out,um, um, end of May, like your
(03:33):
boys do, but my other kids don'tget out till end of June.
So I still I have one that'sgoing to be here in a month, and
then I've got the two more thatare going to.
I've got eight weeks left ofschool.
So it's a little bit differentsituation.
It's so nice that you get to behome with Baker and just have
like that that time alone,because it's been hard like this
past year.
So, yeah, it has.
(03:55):
I just signed him up fordriver's ed, nicole, I didn't
even tell you this.
Like the permit situation, yeah, I don't even know what it is.
I was like texting with a guyfrom the driving school and I
have no idea what he's saying.
So I just signed up after askinny Marg on Saturday night,
him for driving school.
So it's going to work out.
It's going to be great.
It's going to be great.
(04:16):
I know you can take driver's edhere in Colorado at 14 years, 10
months and so, yeah, so thatwould make that, would make it
June for us for Tasso to takedriver's ed.
Yeah, I think that's too young.
It's young, but think of allthe experience that he would get
, like the pre-drive time.
(04:36):
But when do you get yourlicense there?
When do you get your license?
Probably 16.
Oh, I see, I think we get.
We get our permit here at 16.
You can, and then you get yourlicense at.
You can at 16 and a half, but Idon't think you can actually
drive like other kids arounduntil 17.
Yeah, I'm not sure, I don't knowall the details, but I'm trying
(04:57):
to figure out.
I'd have to talk to you.
Know, safety first, jerry.
He didn't even want themgetting bicycles when they were
little.
So like, yes, I mean whenyou're married to a trauma
surgeon like they, just that'strue.
He is very like safety first.
It's funny because Alex and Idid have this conversation,
nicole, about driving, becauseBaker goes to boarding school,
(05:18):
like why does he need hislicense?
Like should we?
And then someone was sort oflike chiming into this
conversation saying there's somany kids now not getting their
licenses and it's like they'relosing this sense of
responsibility.
Right, I mean I rememberturning 16 was like the best day
of my life and wanting to dothat, but because of Uber,
because of all these things,it's causing the kids to not get
(05:40):
their license.
But it also goes into, you know, having a real sense of
responsibility, right, causedriving is a responsibility
which is interesting.
Independence, I mean I justwanted independence.
I mean I was like Sia, I'mgoing to get an iced tea, like
by myself.
When Lipton was in glassbottles it was my thing.
But no, my oldest really wants,he just really wants it.
(06:03):
I mean, he's very independentand I don't know about the other
two, but I do hear a lot ofladies like mention that you
know my kid's 17 and they don'twant their license.
Why, why?
Yeah, I think I think we do it.
I think Baker can't have a carat school or anything, but I
think I think it is really goodbecause he does have that full
month where he's going to workon his, you know, torn ACL.
(06:25):
He's going to work on workingout and do driving school before
we go away, um, for a littlebit this summer.
So, but, we deter, we get downa tangent Um, and that's okay.
So, what do you have?
Tell me what you have going onthis month.
So, so what do you have?
Tell me what you have going onthis month.
Tell me, just like, what youhave, okay, so, um, I don't know
(06:50):
.
We have concerts at school, yes,at the end of the year, which I
don't like.
I hope no one's listening.
But those are like I, I just Ilove everything about being a
mom, but like, maybe becausewe're not musically inclined or
it's just so forced right, likeeven the singing, the concert,
I'm like, oh God, like nails ona chalkboard.
(07:11):
That's not good of me, but Ijust it's not my fave thing.
It's not my fave thing, but wedo it, we do it Right.
He plays a baritone, likehonestly, do you even know what
that is?
It's like that big thing that,like it looks like a tuba.
Oh, that's an instrument.
I thought you were saying likeit was a voice level.
No, I don't even know what thatis.
(07:32):
Baronet, baronet, I don't knowWhatever.
Obviously we're not really intoit.
But so concerts, concerts, wehave, um, what else do we have?
Sports like tennis stuff, Um, Idon't know.
And the school parties, yeah,and field trips like that, oh,
(07:54):
that's around, yeah, and mybirthday, yeah, birthdays this
month, yes, oh, we just hadMother's Day.
Yep, we just had Mother's Day,so that's always smack dab into
May-cember.
Yeah, I don't know, there'slots of birthdays, I feel like,
in May.
So what is that?
June, july, august?
Lots of people are busy inAugust, just in the summer, fun.
(08:17):
So, yeah, that's what we've gotgoing on.
And then my kids are out ofschool May 22nd.
So I have to get my summerstamina, like I'm, I'm, I'm
prepping, like, trying to getready for, like, just to go, go,
go, you know, the pool partiesand all that.
So you're still pre-gaming, youhave time.
You have time to pre-game,don't worry.
(08:38):
Prepare for the best summerever, Nicole.
Right, I feel like that's solike what I would try to do,
like those summer bucket listswhen my kids were little, right,
and now I'm like I think likethere's months there I mean not
months there's weeks where noone has signed up for camp and
my kids are actually okay withit, cause do you find your kids,
as they get older, theyactually want the downtime.
(08:59):
Right now I'm not going to letthem like be on screens, but at
the same time they can entertainthemselves.
But I don't have to have likelet's go into the museum of
science or let's go to a park,right, like there's just.
I feel like my boys are latelyinto just.
They're like mom, just keep itsimple.
Keep it simple, you know, andthat is not my philosophy.
My philosophy is more is more.
So that is hard to do, but Ithink the things kids teach us,
(09:24):
right, yes, they do teach me allthe time, especially mama boys,
but keeping it, you know, justsimple.
And they do want to chill,because our kids are go, go, go
all the time Right, and yeah, Imean school's intense sports are
intense, I think for sure.
Yeah, I think when they'relittle, all that like energy,
you just need to like get out ofthe house or the house turns
(09:45):
into like a tornado, like aTasmanian devil just went
through it, and I don't know.
It's fun to give them thoseexperiences as well.
But like, at this age, like Idon't know, I can see it in mine
when my youngest is 10 and hestill like wants to go to the
aquarium where my 14 year oldslike I just need, I just need a
day, like I just want to rest,and I'm just like, okay, well,
(10:06):
you can't be on your PlayStationall day, but he's like you know
he doesn't even want to be onit as much as he has in the past
.
But yeah, I mean I don't mindwhen they have their down days
too.
But sometimes I'm like, okay,well, this is boring, let's go
do something.
I know, I know the sleeping intoo, like Baker does tend to
(10:26):
sleep in Walker's like middlesleeping in, and John definitely
like wakes up at like 630 everymorning, I swear.
So it's like ready to make hisegg sandwich for the day so he
can make, maybe he can makebreakfast.
But I think finding thatbalance for each family of
between camps and family tripsand activities as these kids get
older is important and everysummer is going to be the best
(10:49):
summer for them.
I mean, give me a break.
Yeah, I know I want to be ourkids.
I know right, I had a goodsummer growing.
I had good summers growing upand they weren't like chock full
of like activities.
No, we went away.
I lived in New Jersey and wewent away to Cape Cod every
summer and I either had a job orwas a camp counselor at a day
(11:13):
camp.
Listen to this this camp thatthey sent us all to in Sagamore
beach, massachusetts.
It was a day camp, nicole.
The hour of the camp was 9 amto 1.
As a mom, that's like a halfday.
That's all the camp we got.
That is only half a day.
That is not okay.
(11:33):
I don't know how my momsurvived with three kids doing
that.
Wait a second, they wereraising us a little differently.
You probably walked to camp.
You're right, that was like anhour.
That's a whole different ballof wax.
(11:54):
Now we're like drop off carline, like nobody has to wait
for anything.
And, yeah, no different times.
No, it was awesome.
My best friend Jesse and I, wewould ride our bikes it probably
took a good 45 minutes tofriendlies friendlies like ice
cream and and ride the bikesback.
There was not a real like,there was not a lot of hovering
around, what we were doing, itwas, it was.
(12:16):
It was a good community to dothat.
But now do you have anygraduations this year?
Because graduations are big inMay and June, right?
Yeah, no, actually.
I mean, my oldest is going fromninth to 10th, so there's no,
like last year that we had theeighth grade graduation, which
was big, and then my middle one.
(12:37):
No, he's going from seventh toeighth and then fourth to fifth,
so we don't have any any schoolgraduations and my nieces and
nephews are all in college.
So, no, oh wait, I do have aniece.
I do have a niece, ava.
She's graduating um Michiganstate, so she's trying to get
into law school.
So that's awesome, butunfortunately we're not going to
(12:59):
be able to um, we're not goingto be there to help celebrate
her, but that's.
That would be the only thingthat we have.
How about you guys?
This is a big graduation year.
I mean not big, you know, I'vegot a fifth grade graduation
right, which, as my third child,nicole, he is missing.
They have a clap out.
They like do a clap out.
I think that happened duringCOVID.
(13:20):
Well, he's not going to bethere, Nicole, because he's
going to sleep away camp early,cause in Massachusetts our
school doesn't account for snowdays, so we have all these.
We had an electrical day, wehad snow day, so he actually the
last day of school is on aFriday.
I am dropping him off at camp onTuesday, so he will miss his
clap out, but I am doing alittle fun graduation party for
(13:43):
him and I do this for each of mykids and it's so cute Cause
they're all so different.
And I'm getting one of thosewater slides in my backyard.
And then, you know he's mostexcited about Nicole is the snow
cones.
He's like he's like tellingBaker, he's like you're going to
be home Cause we're going tohave snow cones.
I'm like I don't even know howthis machine's going to work,
but we're going to make it work.
And oh my God, that's so fun.
He is inviting just 10 boysover and I was like, do you want
(14:06):
to invite any girls?
And he's like no.
He's like so thrilled.
And then so I've got fifth gradeand then Walker is graduating
from eighth grade, which Bakergraduated from eighth grade.
That'll be, yeah right, you'llbe in the same boat.
So Baker graduated eighth gradeduring COVID, which was like on
a zoom, and we did a graduation.
So, um, when Walker graduatedfifth grade, we had like a fun
(14:31):
DJ party, which was a littleextreme, but that's sort of more
of his personality and theirgroup of friends and you know.
So this year we have a bunch offamilies doing, um, a fun,
similar party, cause, all youknow, a lot of the parents are
friends, the kids are friends,you know, I mean.
So it's just, it's a, it's oneof those.
You know, each class has itspersonality.
I think this is more of the theparty class, I guess.
(14:53):
Does that make sense?
Yes, I love all those ideas.
Usually I just leave, I leaveit up to like one of the moms,
like you, and we just show up.
Oh my God, what can I bring?
Yes, I love it, I love you,moms, we are we, we, we love you
too, cause we need, do need,people to show up.
Yeah, we are doing for thiseighth grade party, we are going
(15:14):
to include the parents, right,and have them come for a
cocktail or something.
So so I do have eighth gradegraduation, and then we're
leaving for a trip the next dayafter graduation.
So it's going to be that isgoing to be a crazy week in
mid-June, but I am preparing forall of that, so it's not crazy,
so that I can enjoy it, right.
And do I have birthdays?
(15:35):
Yeah, we have Baker's birthdaythis month, in May.
He's turning 16.
And then, yeah, I'm a Gemini.
Are you a Gemini, I?
And then, yeah, I'm a Gemini.
Are you a Gemini?
I'm a Taurus.
Oh, but you're like borderline,right?
No, I don't know, I think.
I mean I'm at the end of Taurus.
I'm definitely I'm not like onthe cusp.
I think that's like May 20th orsomething.
(15:57):
Okay, because I'm a Gemini,excuse me Right, because my
sister-in-law is may 22nd andshe's a gemini.
Okay, baker's a gemini, right,because I'm june 7th.
So we have, we have birthdaysto each other.
He's a gemini.
Yeah, yeah, oh, okay, yeah,okay.
So we both have birthdays,which is sort of fun.
Do you do anything fun for yourbirthday?
Do you like to celebrate, doyou not?
(16:19):
I mean, I try, yeah, no, I liketo celebrate my birthday, for
sure.
Okay, usually I'll like go on alittle trip with friends.
I'm not sure what this yearlooks like.
We have some things that may behappening and we just we're
just kind of like it's like aholding.
We're in a holding zone rightnow, so, yeah, but I'll do
(16:41):
something like with mygirlfriends here, like out to
dinner or something, and thenJerry always does something
really sweet, like gets the kidsinvolved, and then I don't know
, it's usually like I'll dosomething, but it's low key.
I'm just low key, Right, likeI'll do something, but it's low
key.
I'm just low key, right.
No, I like that, but I likeacknowledging it.
Alex, alex mentions in theirhouse growing up that they
(17:02):
acknowledge birthdays, but itwasn't like that big of a deal,
which is funny.
Like my house was the same.
I don't know where I got thislike thing where I want to
celebrate birthdays, right.
Um, that I just like.
I love it, but um, but yeah,maybe you should take a girl's
trip to Boston.
I would love to take a girl'strip to Boston.
Everyone's dying to meet you.
(17:22):
Come for my birthday.
I'm doing something fun, so youshould come for it.
I'm going to send you theinvite.
Yes, that would be like aperfect opportunity to like get
away, be like Jerry.
It would, it would.
But between you know, recitals,graduations we just had
mother's day Um, what else is inthis month?
(17:43):
Uh, teacher gifts.
Are you doing that?
Oh my gosh.
Yes, okay, okay, yes, thank youfor reminding me I I have some
ideas for you.
Oh my gosh, give the ideas,because I'm sure our listeners
want to know exactly what yourideas are.
I know you have really cute,like Pinterest-y ideas and I
(18:04):
absolutely love it.
I love it.
So when our kids get older Ithink we talked about this in
one episode as they get older,you don't give as many gifts,
right?
Because you just you can't giveeverybody a gift like that or
the class gift.
I always give something elsebesides the class gift, but I
recently shared on my InstagramI did something with a gift card
(18:25):
for Duncan.
I think if you just look up onEtsy, etsy is my like gold
standard for everything and theyhave so many things that you
can just download and you couldpersonalize it like love the
blank family and just give agift card to show your
appreciation, write a note cardin the back for like $2.
You can do a download and youedit it and it's like in Canva
or one of those things.
Okay, now you're going to laughwhen I ask you this and I'm
(18:46):
literally embarrassed to ask youthis because I feel like this
is, you know, kindergarten levelknowledge that I should have.
But okay, so you, you have thetemplate from Etsy and it's like
, you know, it's like the Duncanone, but let's just say that,
like, the top is curved, likehow do you print it?
Do you go to look at your face?
I didn't know what you weregoing to ask Nicole.
(19:07):
I was like, what is it?
I hope she doesn't ask how toedit it.
Um, no, I can edit it.
But when it comes to printing,like, do you buy a certain card
stock, do you cut it?
Do you take it to um, I don'tknow FedEx and have them do it?
Like what?
Yes, that is, that's a goodquestion, cause, I know, cause a
lot of those tags can be supercute, but my cutting skills are
(19:28):
not that great and then it'llbother me if I did it.
So it depends what it is, um,but usually I will bring it to
we have a UPS here or a FedExKinko's.
I will send it to them and haveit printed, because, like my
Duncan, it's on a cardstock andso I just had them cut it.
And then you just use a gluewhat is it?
(19:48):
A glue dot and you put the giftcard on.
So those are super easy.
So I think, going throughanother party and doing it
unless you, you know what'sreally fun when my kids were
little I would have them cutthose out, but now that my kid,
they barely.
They don't even know what I'mgiving the teacher, so it
doesn't matter.
So what do you do for middleschool?
Do you do anything for middleschool or is this just for
(20:09):
John's class?
Well, the Duncan cards wereactually for Baker's school,
cause I'm not going to be therefor teacher appreciation.
So I went and gave one to everyconference for John's school.
What I'm doing is my go-tolately is marking Graham.
I love, love, love everythingat marking Graham.
So I got these there I'msitting on I already ordered
them.
Sitting on my dining room tableis where it's like my gift
(20:30):
closet.
Um, they have these bags thatare waterproof, that are really
cute, and I just put their firstand last initial on it and then
I'm going to fill it with likelittle things, probably like a
Duncan card probably, like scoopsuper goops on screen, you know
sort of my favorite summarythings.
Um, and that's what I'm going todo.
That's what I'm going to do forthose teachers, I think.
(20:52):
I think that's.
I like to give gifts where thatthey're going to use it.
I actually got the principal ofour middle school a
personalized Amber mug.
Amber mug Is it the Amber orthe Amber?
You know those ones that arelike heated up, oh, amber, yeah,
oh, that's, that's very nice.
Well, I also, since I'm doing alot of volunteering, I know him
very well.
That's not a usual teacher giftthat I would do, but I think
(21:15):
that's that's.
I work with him as the PTOchair and so I really have
worked with him closely for thepast two years.
So I'm excited about that.
Um, but I love Mark and Grahamfor all their.
They have so many good um dealslately like, um, good sales,
that I like them.
(21:36):
What do you do?
Yeah, are you getting ideas,nicole?
I'm getting ideas.
No, I mean usually.
Okay, I was way better.
I was a lot more like you.
I was the class mom or whateverbefore we moved to Colorado.
And when we moved to Colorado,the pandemic hit and I just kind
of fell out of it.
And then we've switched schoolsso many times and I just kind
of I fell out of it and thenwe've we've switched schools so
many times that I just I don'tknow, um, haven't done it nearly
(22:01):
as much as I used to, but Ilike to give a gift to the
teacher, um, just like you, likesomething personalized and then
, and fill it with some goodies.
But I would also get littlegifts for the teachers um, not
the teachers, like the ladies atthe front desk just like a
little something, like just alittle $5, like something to
(22:22):
acknowledge them or whatever.
I think that's sweet, just tolike they're being noticed.
I did, you know, um, my sisterhas that toffee company and her
husband anchor toffee, which isreally great.
One year I did a little packageof that, cause it looks like an
ice cream container, like apint container.
I did coffee and toffee andthen I did a little like
Starbucks or um Duncan card,which is fun, Right, yeah, that
(22:46):
is cute, okay, well, talkingabout, you know, gifts for other
people and sort of that thing.
My question you mentioned thebeginning, nicole, about taking
care of yourself.
You're on this like good pathof you know good habits, so do
you have any advice, I mean forour listeners or maybe me how,
what are, what are you going todo to sort of stay on track?
(23:08):
Because I feel like in thecraziness of this Maycember, or
when we are crazy, the firstthing that always goes is taking
care of us, right, when itshould be the first thing at the
forefront, like, honestly,forget the teacher gift, take
care of yourself.
This is, this is like mymidlife philosophy.
So what are you going to do?
What are a couple of thingsyou're going to do to stay on
track?
You joined Stacy's walk-a-thonor what's.
(23:30):
I don't know what it's called.
Oh, my gosh, what does she callit?
I can't remember what shecalled it, but, yes, so I'm
doing that.
I'm just making sure I'mgetting my steps in, just just
for now, until my scheduleclears up.
But that that's my main focus,because I want to win the pot.
I want to win the pot, right,right and and just and.
(23:52):
Just keep that going and then,um, instead of, like, maybe one
hour walks, I'll just, you know,scale it back and do some
workouts, but I think, um, justkeeping up with my clean eating,
just making sure I mean, I'mnot um so good at like tracking
macros right now, but right nowI'm just trying to make the
(24:12):
healthiest choices yeah, thehealthiest choices and eating
foods that make me feel good,like that don't like give me
inflammation.
But I think my number one thingis just walking.
Right now, I mean 10,000 steps.
That's my goal and it's like Ihave to be intentional, like
there's goal and it's like Ihave to be intentional, like
there's our word right.
(24:33):
No, you have to be To get10,000 steps.
You cannot.
You have to actually plan out awalk or you have to be like
doing crazy errands.
Girl, like I don't know, yeah,but maybe it's thinking about
but I do.
I try to get that in first andthen go about my day and then,
like, at the end of the day, ifI have some time, I'll do my
little, like a walk after dinner.
But just the mornings are mine.
(24:56):
Like I'll do all the crazy youknow shit show stuff later, but
like in the morning, that is mytime to get my things done and
have it just.
It just like gives me claritytoo.
Well, it's how you, how youstart your day, really really
matters, and I think we learnedthat as we get older, it's not
just checking off your to-dolist.
(25:16):
Yes, there are certain thingswe have to make our bed, we have
to cook, we have to makebreakfast for the kids or
whatever, unless you're JohnMackey, but um, but then.
But really doing something foryou, um, I I think you're going
(25:37):
to be shocked when I tell youwhat is one of my new habits
that I've been doing.
That, I realized, is I needed alittle downtime in the morning,
so I started journaling for fiveminutes.
Get out.
I know, I know You'rejournaling without me.
Why didn't you tell me I do, Ido and, um, I journal while John
makes his egg sandwich.
I do it, I do it before becauseI want to be present with him.
But I was realizing startingyour day out with your emails or
all this stuff, like everyonesays, it would sort of start you
(25:57):
out on already like an anxiousnote.
So, like you're saying, likeyour walk, I don't have that
motivation in the morning to getdressed, to be totally honest
yet, but I will sit there andjust drink coffee and just
journal about whatever for fiveminutes and it has really just
helped me start my day on abetter note, just like your walk
.
So find something, ladies, andjust maybe just focus on that
(26:19):
one thing, right, it doesn'thave to be all the things like
we say.
So I love that.
I wish I was next door to walkwith you.
I know I need a walking partner.
That's what maybe will get memotivated in the morning.
I will not get dressed at 6 am.
No, I have to.
So I have to take my kids toschool yeah, you do.
(26:39):
It's a half hour drive.
I have to be dressed in case Igot to get out and use the
ladies room on the way home.
So like not driving in mypajamas.
So I just get home and I go.
That's good in my pajamas.
So I just get home and I go.
I don't let anything else stopme.
I like that.
So, nicole, what time is it?
It's my favorite time.
It is unsolicited advice time.
(27:05):
So for Maycember, what is yourunsolicited advice?
Find that one thing and stickto it.
Like mine is walking, yours isjournaling.
For now, whether it's like Iknow my friend Stacy is like
walking, getting her 15 minutesin in the morning before coffee.
I don't know if that's everyday or just on the weekends, but
(27:25):
that's her thing.
So my thing is getting homefrom drop-off and like grabbing
the dog leash and going.
So that is just do it.
Set that for yourself.
Who cares about the teachergifts?
Who cares about the teachergifts?
Call me, call me, I'll help you.
Go to it's Tradish to get allthings.
(27:49):
Alex advice, I mean I love it.
I mean she'll give you all theideas, yep, all the fun and
festive ideas.
I am there for it.
I'm super excited about it.
I think that my advice wouldprobably be this is Maycember
and it is crazy, but take amoment to sort of see the end
game, right, and this is I talka lot about like the reason for
(28:12):
your season, right, like what'sthe reason for your season?
You wanna be present.
I mean, I know that's at leastfor me, so a lot of times we can
get caught up in this dailyminutiae and thinking about at
the end of May it's not that faraway how do you wanna feel,
right?
Do you wanna say that you arepresent with your kids and maybe
some of those things like we'rejoking about the teacher gifts.
But that's just one example oflike can something be put off
(28:34):
your plate, right?
And really focusing on beingthere for yourself, being there
for your friends and being therefor your family.
So I think that's important.
So that's a little advice formyself too.
That's what I'm trying to do.
Yeah, I know, I mean, sometimesit's unsolicited advice is out
there for you, but it's also forus too, like we got it's like a
reminder, like if you say it,then it's out in the world.
(28:56):
Out in the world.
Yeah, Good juju.
Yes, yes, all right, now go doall your stuff.
All right, talk to you soon.
Bye, and that's a wrap fortoday's episode of Don't Call Me
Midlife.
We hope you had as much fun aswe did.
Absolutely, your support meansthe world to us.
(29:17):
If you're just waiting in thecarpool line, don't forget to
follow the show, and if you'refeeling extra spicy today, leave
us a rating and review Beforewe part ways.
We've got a special invitationfor you Join our newsletter to
stay in the loop with all thingsmidlife, magic, bonus content
and more.
Head on over to the show notesfor how to sign up.
We can't wait to keep theconversation going.
(29:38):
And, of course, remember, inthe whirlwind of life and
motherhood, don't forget to fillup your own cup first.
You're extraordinary and yourjourney is worth every moment.
Until next time, cheers.
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