1 00:00:02,720 --> 00:00:05,880 Speaker 1: Hi. This is Laura Vandercamp. I'm a mother of five, 2 00:00:06,160 --> 00:00:10,240 Speaker 1: an author, journalist, and speaker. And this is Sarah Hartunger. 3 00:00:10,480 --> 00:00:13,480 Speaker 1: I'm a mother of three, a practicing physician and blogger. 4 00:00:13,480 --> 00:00:15,800 Speaker 1: On the side, we are two working parents who love 5 00:00:15,840 --> 00:00:19,280 Speaker 1: our careers and our families. Welcome to best of both worlds. 6 00:00:19,600 --> 00:00:22,400 Speaker 1: Here we talk about how real women manage work, family, 7 00:00:22,560 --> 00:00:25,800 Speaker 1: and time for fun, from figuring out childcare to mapping 8 00:00:25,800 --> 00:00:28,360 Speaker 1: out long term career goals. We want you to get 9 00:00:28,400 --> 00:00:34,080 Speaker 1: the most out of life. Welcome to best of both worlds. 10 00:00:34,200 --> 00:00:37,280 Speaker 1: This is Laura. This is episode two hundred and thirty. 11 00:00:37,560 --> 00:00:40,000 Speaker 1: This is the second part of our Year in Review 12 00:00:40,040 --> 00:00:42,600 Speaker 1: and it is first airing in late December of twenty 13 00:00:42,640 --> 00:00:45,120 Speaker 1: twenty one. In this episode, we are going to be 14 00:00:45,120 --> 00:00:48,960 Speaker 1: talking more about things that happened in our personal lives, 15 00:00:48,960 --> 00:00:51,440 Speaker 1: either things that went right or wrong I guess, or 16 00:00:51,520 --> 00:00:54,600 Speaker 1: highlights of the year and just sort of looking back 17 00:00:54,640 --> 00:00:58,840 Speaker 1: the retrospective and what we wish to share from that. So, Sarah, 18 00:00:59,000 --> 00:01:01,520 Speaker 1: you when you were thinking about doing this episode, you 19 00:01:01,640 --> 00:01:04,559 Speaker 1: wanted to match this app with the goals you did 20 00:01:04,600 --> 00:01:07,480 Speaker 1: set for twenty twenty one, and where do you keep 21 00:01:07,560 --> 00:01:11,319 Speaker 1: that list of goals. I had a few different goals 22 00:01:11,319 --> 00:01:14,080 Speaker 1: list floating around. Part of me actually thought about going 23 00:01:14,120 --> 00:01:17,280 Speaker 1: back and listening to our prior episode. That would have 24 00:01:17,280 --> 00:01:20,280 Speaker 1: been an easy way to create a list, but I 25 00:01:20,319 --> 00:01:23,039 Speaker 1: had saved in my Apple Notes document kind of a 26 00:01:23,080 --> 00:01:25,319 Speaker 1: master list. I have a folder in there called lists 27 00:01:25,319 --> 00:01:28,320 Speaker 1: and Horizons, and I had a twenty twenty one list 28 00:01:28,319 --> 00:01:30,440 Speaker 1: in there, and I had been looking at it, I 29 00:01:30,440 --> 00:01:33,920 Speaker 1: wouldn't say super frequently, but periodically enough to like know 30 00:01:33,959 --> 00:01:36,360 Speaker 1: what was in there. So I decided to use that 31 00:01:36,440 --> 00:01:39,680 Speaker 1: for my kind of framework. Yes, so I think mine 32 00:01:39,760 --> 00:01:41,920 Speaker 1: was like written on a slip of paper that then 33 00:01:41,959 --> 00:01:44,399 Speaker 1: in the course of the desk clear out for showing 34 00:01:44,440 --> 00:01:48,200 Speaker 1: the house disappeared. But I mean, I know the general 35 00:01:48,240 --> 00:01:51,320 Speaker 1: gist of what I intended to do over the course 36 00:01:51,360 --> 00:01:53,440 Speaker 1: of the year, and some stuff happened and some stuff 37 00:01:53,440 --> 00:01:58,120 Speaker 1: didn't quite go exactly as planned, But you know, it's 38 00:01:58,680 --> 00:02:01,120 Speaker 1: in general, it's probably good that if you want to 39 00:02:01,160 --> 00:02:04,080 Speaker 1: truly do a goal and it's not something that you're 40 00:02:04,080 --> 00:02:06,240 Speaker 1: going to remember because it's daily, you know, if it's 41 00:02:06,240 --> 00:02:09,600 Speaker 1: something that's a bit more periodic, or it's tied to 42 00:02:09,600 --> 00:02:12,120 Speaker 1: a specific time, but that time is not January first, 43 00:02:12,720 --> 00:02:14,480 Speaker 1: you know, you might want to keep the list somewhere 44 00:02:14,480 --> 00:02:18,160 Speaker 1: accessible that you're going to look at frequently and be 45 00:02:18,240 --> 00:02:21,280 Speaker 1: that you know, planner page or a note on your 46 00:02:21,320 --> 00:02:24,560 Speaker 1: bathroom mirror or sticky note on your laptop or something 47 00:02:24,639 --> 00:02:28,679 Speaker 1: else that's that's going to remind you. So let's let's 48 00:02:28,680 --> 00:02:30,400 Speaker 1: start with Sarah though, because she has she has a 49 00:02:30,400 --> 00:02:32,440 Speaker 1: great list where she actually found her twenty twenty one 50 00:02:32,480 --> 00:02:34,920 Speaker 1: goals and match them up. So how did it go? 51 00:02:35,560 --> 00:02:38,600 Speaker 1: How does twenty twenty one look for someone? I am 52 00:02:38,639 --> 00:02:41,639 Speaker 1: pleasantly surprised about twenty twenty one, especially because it was 53 00:02:41,720 --> 00:02:43,480 Speaker 1: kind of like a weird year with a lot of 54 00:02:43,600 --> 00:02:47,160 Speaker 1: you know, transitional type stuff. By the way, I think 55 00:02:47,160 --> 00:02:49,200 Speaker 1: you should not. I remember that you said like you 56 00:02:49,240 --> 00:02:51,959 Speaker 1: didn't want to be ambitious with goals given like Henry's 57 00:02:52,000 --> 00:02:54,440 Speaker 1: age and stuff. So I think I think the choice 58 00:02:55,000 --> 00:02:58,040 Speaker 1: not to keep your list somewhere was like purposeful, and 59 00:02:58,040 --> 00:03:00,440 Speaker 1: that's okay if you're in that season of life you're like, 60 00:03:00,880 --> 00:03:03,000 Speaker 1: this is a more just like taket as it comes 61 00:03:03,040 --> 00:03:05,040 Speaker 1: year than maybe it's a year that you don't need 62 00:03:05,040 --> 00:03:07,400 Speaker 1: to have, well the promise. I had some things that 63 00:03:07,440 --> 00:03:11,440 Speaker 1: were very ambitious goals that had to happen. I mean, 64 00:03:11,480 --> 00:03:14,280 Speaker 1: I knew those had to happen, and I didn't need 65 00:03:14,320 --> 00:03:15,960 Speaker 1: to be reminded. I don't know about the little ones, 66 00:03:15,960 --> 00:03:17,640 Speaker 1: but the big stuff, you know, I would say the 67 00:03:17,639 --> 00:03:21,160 Speaker 1: house renovation and the book project and then writing the book. 68 00:03:21,200 --> 00:03:24,000 Speaker 1: I mean, that had to happen, and you know, plotted forward. 69 00:03:24,040 --> 00:03:26,600 Speaker 1: But you know, anyway, go ahead. Yeah, you had enough 70 00:03:26,600 --> 00:03:29,200 Speaker 1: big rocks. You didn't really need a reminder about smaller things. 71 00:03:29,240 --> 00:03:32,800 Speaker 1: Plus still a toddler, toddler toddler's key. All right, so 72 00:03:33,400 --> 00:03:34,960 Speaker 1: I'm going to go through a few highlights. I'm not 73 00:03:35,000 --> 00:03:37,480 Speaker 1: doing every single one of these because you'll get bored. 74 00:03:38,320 --> 00:03:42,280 Speaker 1: My first one surprise surprise. I wrote in my list 75 00:03:42,440 --> 00:03:47,200 Speaker 1: that I wanted to win the battle against distractions, including 76 00:03:47,240 --> 00:03:50,440 Speaker 1: my phone, and I wrote that it had become less 77 00:03:50,440 --> 00:03:52,160 Speaker 1: of an issue in twenty twenty and I wanted it 78 00:03:52,200 --> 00:03:54,240 Speaker 1: to be a non issue in twenty twenty one. It 79 00:03:54,280 --> 00:03:56,600 Speaker 1: was not a non issue in twenty twenty one. However, 80 00:03:56,720 --> 00:03:59,160 Speaker 1: I do feel like, especially towards the end of the year, 81 00:03:59,200 --> 00:04:02,840 Speaker 1: I have made some progress with this, culminating in just 82 00:04:02,880 --> 00:04:06,200 Speaker 1: basically leaving Instagram, because I think I finally figured out 83 00:04:06,200 --> 00:04:08,560 Speaker 1: that I just have to do that. That is the 84 00:04:08,600 --> 00:04:11,240 Speaker 1: app that sucks me in by far the worst. It's 85 00:04:11,280 --> 00:04:16,440 Speaker 1: the social media I also sometimes. I mean so, I 86 00:04:16,440 --> 00:04:19,360 Speaker 1: think it was November twenty ninth, I decided I took 87 00:04:19,400 --> 00:04:21,200 Speaker 1: that app off my phone and I started tracking, and 88 00:04:21,240 --> 00:04:23,320 Speaker 1: I was doing really, really well. Last night, I had 89 00:04:23,360 --> 00:04:25,280 Speaker 1: a very stressful day and I ended up on like 90 00:04:25,360 --> 00:04:27,600 Speaker 1: CNN and doc Simity. But honestly, that doesn't make me 91 00:04:27,640 --> 00:04:30,000 Speaker 1: feel as discussing as Instagram. So I still would call 92 00:04:30,040 --> 00:04:34,480 Speaker 1: that a victory. And yeah, I think I've made progress 93 00:04:34,520 --> 00:04:36,159 Speaker 1: on this. I think it may always be a work 94 00:04:36,160 --> 00:04:39,560 Speaker 1: in progress. But at the same time, yeah, I'm kind 95 00:04:39,600 --> 00:04:41,719 Speaker 1: of happy with where things are. I feel like I've 96 00:04:41,760 --> 00:04:44,960 Speaker 1: taken some steps. My next one had to do with fitness. 97 00:04:45,000 --> 00:04:48,000 Speaker 1: So Laura and I had decided to try the AMR 98 00:04:48,400 --> 00:04:51,080 Speaker 1: Many Happy Miles program. I don't know how she did, 99 00:04:51,160 --> 00:04:53,359 Speaker 1: she can let us know. I tried it for a 100 00:04:53,400 --> 00:04:55,440 Speaker 1: few months. I think it's a great program for somebody 101 00:04:55,480 --> 00:04:57,560 Speaker 1: who wants like a running community built in and you 102 00:04:57,600 --> 00:05:00,440 Speaker 1: want like calendars. But then I got it hot and 103 00:05:00,480 --> 00:05:03,400 Speaker 1: I got kind of tired of running, so I left 104 00:05:03,400 --> 00:05:07,080 Speaker 1: it behind and I did more strength stuff, and now 105 00:05:07,120 --> 00:05:09,760 Speaker 1: I'm kind of running again, but I find myself kind 106 00:05:09,760 --> 00:05:11,560 Speaker 1: of preferring to set my own training plan, so that 107 00:05:11,600 --> 00:05:13,760 Speaker 1: didn't work out exactly how I wanted, but I'm glad 108 00:05:13,800 --> 00:05:16,479 Speaker 1: I gave it a try, and I guess I still 109 00:05:16,600 --> 00:05:19,560 Speaker 1: was able to generally build in fitness throughout the year. 110 00:05:19,800 --> 00:05:23,279 Speaker 1: I don't feel like I kind of was as ruthless 111 00:05:23,320 --> 00:05:25,960 Speaker 1: about it as I was in twenty twenty. But I'm 112 00:05:26,000 --> 00:05:28,760 Speaker 1: just going to be accepting of myself and be okay 113 00:05:28,760 --> 00:05:31,560 Speaker 1: with it. In case you're wondering, No, I stopped doing 114 00:05:31,560 --> 00:05:34,159 Speaker 1: the AMR thing too. I mean, I think it's great 115 00:05:34,160 --> 00:05:38,160 Speaker 1: as well. I just had a revelation about my relationship 116 00:05:38,200 --> 00:05:40,320 Speaker 1: with running and exercise in general, which is that I 117 00:05:40,320 --> 00:05:43,640 Speaker 1: don't really ever want anyone telling me what to do, 118 00:05:44,760 --> 00:05:46,919 Speaker 1: and even if it's a nice thing, like I noticed, 119 00:05:46,920 --> 00:05:48,760 Speaker 1: I would get the workout for the day, and I 120 00:05:48,760 --> 00:05:51,479 Speaker 1: would just automatically change it, you know, and so like 121 00:05:51,520 --> 00:05:54,279 Speaker 1: what's the point, Like I can just do my own thing, 122 00:05:54,360 --> 00:05:56,680 Speaker 1: you know. And so I think, yes, it's great if 123 00:05:56,720 --> 00:05:58,960 Speaker 1: you are looking for a community. For me, running is 124 00:05:59,160 --> 00:06:01,720 Speaker 1: mostly a solitary endeavor, except when I run with a 125 00:06:01,760 --> 00:06:05,919 Speaker 1: friend once a month or so, and we passed the 126 00:06:05,920 --> 00:06:07,640 Speaker 1: time in our long runs. Chatting with each other that 127 00:06:07,640 --> 00:06:09,640 Speaker 1: makes that a lot more pleasant. But for the general 128 00:06:09,720 --> 00:06:11,960 Speaker 1: daily run, like, I'm just not looking for a structure 129 00:06:12,000 --> 00:06:14,680 Speaker 1: to it. It's just a way to get some exercise, 130 00:06:14,760 --> 00:06:18,039 Speaker 1: to get some fresh air. So there you go. That's 131 00:06:18,040 --> 00:06:21,599 Speaker 1: what happened with that one. Awesome. So we both quote 132 00:06:21,680 --> 00:06:23,760 Speaker 1: unquote failed, but not really because it's not like we 133 00:06:23,800 --> 00:06:27,080 Speaker 1: didn't stay active and stay exercising, which is really the goal, 134 00:06:27,279 --> 00:06:32,160 Speaker 1: especially as we get older, like just moving and enjoying 135 00:06:32,160 --> 00:06:35,960 Speaker 1: it all right. My next one is that I wanted 136 00:06:35,960 --> 00:06:38,560 Speaker 1: to try to have more, as a vague goal, have 137 00:06:38,600 --> 00:06:41,320 Speaker 1: more fun with the kids, especially as Genevieve got older. 138 00:06:41,560 --> 00:06:44,960 Speaker 1: I wrote enjoy the complexity of interaction with ages three, 139 00:06:45,120 --> 00:06:47,839 Speaker 1: six to seven, and eight to nine. Hi. I agree 140 00:06:47,839 --> 00:06:50,520 Speaker 1: with the complexity. I don't know about enjoying the interactions. 141 00:06:50,520 --> 00:06:53,120 Speaker 1: A lot of the interactions are very drama filled and 142 00:06:53,440 --> 00:06:57,080 Speaker 1: may involve screaming, So I think that was optimistic. I 143 00:06:57,200 --> 00:07:00,560 Speaker 1: will say it has been really nice to have to 144 00:07:00,600 --> 00:07:03,440 Speaker 1: plan around a nap anymore. Even though those nap times 145 00:07:03,480 --> 00:07:06,680 Speaker 1: were lovely, I mean, number one, it started to become 146 00:07:06,720 --> 00:07:08,560 Speaker 1: a bedtime issue, and number two, it just kind of 147 00:07:08,600 --> 00:07:11,280 Speaker 1: like made it hard to structure the day, especially if 148 00:07:11,320 --> 00:07:13,040 Speaker 1: I was trying to preserve it and she might all 149 00:07:13,120 --> 00:07:16,280 Speaker 1: sleep in the car and like, who knows. So, yeah, 150 00:07:16,320 --> 00:07:18,560 Speaker 1: I guess this was Okay. This wasn't that much of 151 00:07:18,600 --> 00:07:20,400 Speaker 1: a goal though, But I'll just comment that I think 152 00:07:20,400 --> 00:07:22,880 Speaker 1: I think every year it's going to get more and 153 00:07:22,920 --> 00:07:27,320 Speaker 1: more fun. I am not super into the infant toddler age, 154 00:07:27,320 --> 00:07:29,320 Speaker 1: like I can see that now more that I enjoy 155 00:07:30,160 --> 00:07:33,360 Speaker 1: older kids. You can just do so much more with them, 156 00:07:33,400 --> 00:07:35,680 Speaker 1: you can talk so much more with them. I'm not 157 00:07:35,760 --> 00:07:37,440 Speaker 1: one of those people who's like I want to keep 158 00:07:37,480 --> 00:07:40,040 Speaker 1: them a baby forever. I so I'm really looking forward 159 00:07:40,040 --> 00:07:42,320 Speaker 1: to this year. Like four eight and ten is my 160 00:07:42,440 --> 00:07:45,160 Speaker 1: kid's age for most of the year, And that sounds 161 00:07:45,160 --> 00:07:49,200 Speaker 1: really fun. Yeah, no, that sounds like a great goal. 162 00:07:49,240 --> 00:07:51,160 Speaker 1: Now that you had a couple goals too, Did you 163 00:07:51,200 --> 00:07:56,240 Speaker 1: guys actually wind up doing that? We didn't do a lot, 164 00:07:56,400 --> 00:07:58,000 Speaker 1: so I think I had wanted to do like a 165 00:07:58,000 --> 00:08:00,600 Speaker 1: couple's trip every quintile. That did not have happened. But 166 00:08:00,880 --> 00:08:03,600 Speaker 1: there were two memorable and lovely couples trips that we 167 00:08:03,640 --> 00:08:05,680 Speaker 1: did take. We did a weekend in Vero Beach and 168 00:08:05,720 --> 00:08:09,000 Speaker 1: another one in Captiva around our anniversary. I do find 169 00:08:09,080 --> 00:08:12,240 Speaker 1: that with couples time, like I love the overnights where 170 00:08:12,280 --> 00:08:14,760 Speaker 1: you actually drive somewhere or fly somewhere to get away 171 00:08:14,800 --> 00:08:17,440 Speaker 1: a little bit. It just feels, you know, so much 172 00:08:18,200 --> 00:08:21,440 Speaker 1: easier than if you were kind of staying home. I also, 173 00:08:21,520 --> 00:08:23,800 Speaker 1: at one point, I think in twenty twenty had decided like, 174 00:08:23,880 --> 00:08:26,040 Speaker 1: I don't really need date nights, But by the end 175 00:08:26,040 --> 00:08:29,280 Speaker 1: of twenty twenty one, I'm like, I need date nights, 176 00:08:30,240 --> 00:08:32,640 Speaker 1: So I don't know, not time to have revelations that 177 00:08:32,679 --> 00:08:34,400 Speaker 1: will take us through the rest of our lives. We 178 00:08:34,440 --> 00:08:38,200 Speaker 1: can change, we can change, our epiphanies can change, We 179 00:08:38,320 --> 00:08:41,839 Speaker 1: can change, and date nights can be lovely because when 180 00:08:41,840 --> 00:08:44,520 Speaker 1: you spend an entire weekend attending to the needs of 181 00:08:44,559 --> 00:08:46,320 Speaker 1: your children, being able to leave the house for a 182 00:08:46,320 --> 00:08:51,679 Speaker 1: few hours and not do that can feel just wonderful. No, 183 00:08:51,800 --> 00:08:54,640 Speaker 1: we are more organized about podcast recording. I think we've 184 00:08:54,679 --> 00:08:58,840 Speaker 1: we've gotten better there fully embracing the splitting, the interviews, 185 00:08:59,520 --> 00:09:03,480 Speaker 1: being more or spreadsheet driven. Yes, I do feel like 186 00:09:03,520 --> 00:09:06,640 Speaker 1: this has gotten better. Not only am I so one 187 00:09:06,679 --> 00:09:09,080 Speaker 1: of my goals was to like get farther ahead more 188 00:09:09,160 --> 00:09:12,959 Speaker 1: organized in podcast recording. I had created best laid plans 189 00:09:13,040 --> 00:09:15,920 Speaker 1: like mid twenty twenty, and so I had like the 190 00:09:15,960 --> 00:09:17,960 Speaker 1: two podcasts, and I always felt like I was bumping 191 00:09:18,040 --> 00:09:21,160 Speaker 1: up against some deadline. But I've been more intentional about 192 00:09:21,200 --> 00:09:23,880 Speaker 1: like putting on my calendar space to do the prep 193 00:09:24,000 --> 00:09:26,160 Speaker 1: as well as do the recording, and it's felt a 194 00:09:26,240 --> 00:09:29,560 Speaker 1: bit less crazy. And yes, I enjoy splitting the interviews 195 00:09:29,600 --> 00:09:32,280 Speaker 1: because I actually have fun listening to you when you 196 00:09:32,360 --> 00:09:34,920 Speaker 1: do the interviews, and I haven't heard it before, and 197 00:09:34,960 --> 00:09:37,000 Speaker 1: I do think interviews are just easier to do as 198 00:09:37,040 --> 00:09:39,040 Speaker 1: a one on one than a two on one anyway, 199 00:09:39,080 --> 00:09:42,240 Speaker 1: so it's like win win. Now, let's talk about your travel, 200 00:09:42,280 --> 00:09:45,000 Speaker 1: because you had some travel highlights on like twenty twenty 201 00:09:45,720 --> 00:09:48,960 Speaker 1: or were some actual travel twenty twenty one highlights? Yes, 202 00:09:49,280 --> 00:09:53,160 Speaker 1: so I had written travels somewhere with crisp weather and 203 00:09:53,240 --> 00:09:56,960 Speaker 1: autumn leaves and see Miriam, my niece, and yes, I 204 00:09:56,960 --> 00:09:59,880 Speaker 1: can give that a big fat check. We went to 205 00:10:00,040 --> 00:10:04,560 Speaker 1: North Carolina in November and there actually were autumn leaves, 206 00:10:04,559 --> 00:10:06,520 Speaker 1: so I didn't get to do like a specific leap 207 00:10:06,559 --> 00:10:09,640 Speaker 1: peeping trip, but I was pleasantly surprised to find out that, hey, 208 00:10:10,440 --> 00:10:13,040 Speaker 1: you know, when you're farther south the leaf season lasts 209 00:10:13,080 --> 00:10:14,760 Speaker 1: longer than one might think, so we were able to 210 00:10:14,760 --> 00:10:17,600 Speaker 1: see some colorful leaves on that trip as well, and 211 00:10:17,640 --> 00:10:19,720 Speaker 1: I got to see mini, so I would say that 212 00:10:19,800 --> 00:10:23,400 Speaker 1: was a definite Yes. Let's see, I had a coach, 213 00:10:23,480 --> 00:10:24,960 Speaker 1: we had, I had a goal. I had some work 214 00:10:25,000 --> 00:10:27,840 Speaker 1: related goals that I'm really happy to say they have 215 00:10:28,000 --> 00:10:30,840 Speaker 1: happened within the calendar year. We launched a coaching program 216 00:10:30,840 --> 00:10:33,560 Speaker 1: for the residents. That fully happened and that all happened 217 00:10:33,600 --> 00:10:36,720 Speaker 1: this year. And I just submitted an abstract with one 218 00:10:36,760 --> 00:10:40,280 Speaker 1: of our residents to a conference that's next spring, and 219 00:10:40,360 --> 00:10:42,240 Speaker 1: I haven't done that in quite a long time. So 220 00:10:42,320 --> 00:10:45,280 Speaker 1: that was two kind of big wins work wise, and 221 00:10:45,320 --> 00:10:47,160 Speaker 1: that's while doing all the rest of the work stuff. 222 00:10:47,160 --> 00:10:48,840 Speaker 1: So those were just kind of like side things, but 223 00:10:48,960 --> 00:10:52,439 Speaker 1: i'd call them victories. And then I had some financial 224 00:10:52,480 --> 00:10:54,920 Speaker 1: goals of like our savings, and I think we did 225 00:10:54,960 --> 00:10:56,520 Speaker 1: pretty well. My goal was to like make sure we 226 00:10:56,520 --> 00:11:00,640 Speaker 1: were using twenty percent of our money towards savings, and 227 00:11:01,679 --> 00:11:03,679 Speaker 1: I actually think we did do that in twenty twenty one, 228 00:11:03,720 --> 00:11:07,240 Speaker 1: but barely because at the end we started instead of 229 00:11:07,280 --> 00:11:09,800 Speaker 1: moving money to like our taxable account, moving into like 230 00:11:09,920 --> 00:11:12,520 Speaker 1: down payment fund. But at the same time, a down 231 00:11:12,600 --> 00:11:15,320 Speaker 1: payment is kind of like well building anyway to some extent, 232 00:11:15,440 --> 00:11:16,959 Speaker 1: So it's not money that I'm like spending on a 233 00:11:17,000 --> 00:11:21,600 Speaker 1: vacation that's evaporating, So I think that counts. No, I 234 00:11:21,600 --> 00:11:24,320 Speaker 1: think that counts. I mean, you know, saving up the 235 00:11:24,360 --> 00:11:28,199 Speaker 1: down payment is a is a worthy highlight from the year. 236 00:11:28,600 --> 00:11:31,880 Speaker 1: That's good. Buying a house also good. One thing we 237 00:11:31,920 --> 00:11:35,720 Speaker 1: did not do on the financial side is that I 238 00:11:35,720 --> 00:11:38,839 Speaker 1: think we started our estate planning process in twenty seventeen 239 00:11:39,679 --> 00:11:42,679 Speaker 1: and we never finished it. We still haven't finished it, 240 00:11:42,800 --> 00:11:46,640 Speaker 1: so that's a twenty twenty two endeavor. Probably have to 241 00:11:46,679 --> 00:11:48,959 Speaker 1: update our will because there's another baby than there was 242 00:11:49,040 --> 00:11:52,360 Speaker 1: when we created it, so lots of stuff changes. Keeps 243 00:11:52,400 --> 00:11:55,800 Speaker 1: going well cool. Well, So that's Sarah's goals for the year, 244 00:11:55,920 --> 00:11:58,720 Speaker 1: how they matched up with what she did and will 245 00:11:58,960 --> 00:12:00,760 Speaker 1: take a quick ad break, and then I guess I 246 00:12:00,760 --> 00:12:15,760 Speaker 1: can share some of my highlights. Well, we are back. 247 00:12:16,400 --> 00:12:18,480 Speaker 1: We were doing the second part of our year in 248 00:12:18,559 --> 00:12:22,000 Speaker 1: review episode. This one is a bit more personal focused. 249 00:12:22,600 --> 00:12:25,880 Speaker 1: So when I when we just talked about doing this episode, 250 00:12:25,920 --> 00:12:28,200 Speaker 1: I decided to just do it more in a highlight form, 251 00:12:28,240 --> 00:12:30,280 Speaker 1: So not thinking about what my goals were for the year. 252 00:12:30,320 --> 00:12:32,760 Speaker 1: But just like what happened this year, that was cool 253 00:12:32,960 --> 00:12:36,920 Speaker 1: that I know was happy about and enjoyed. The house 254 00:12:37,000 --> 00:12:42,319 Speaker 1: project was a giant thing. They started work in March, 255 00:12:42,360 --> 00:12:44,560 Speaker 1: although the planning was going on in January and February. 256 00:12:44,640 --> 00:12:47,120 Speaker 1: Is making a lot of selections in January and February 257 00:12:47,120 --> 00:12:50,320 Speaker 1: started ground in March. It went all summer, all fall. 258 00:12:50,400 --> 00:12:52,520 Speaker 1: We are finishing it up. Now. We did the walkthrough 259 00:12:53,080 --> 00:12:55,080 Speaker 1: you know, delivered to us at the end of the year. 260 00:12:55,160 --> 00:12:58,520 Speaker 1: We are moving in movers booked January four through seven, 261 00:12:58,960 --> 00:13:03,120 Speaker 1: so it's done. Took the whole year. I mean, it's 262 00:13:03,160 --> 00:13:06,440 Speaker 1: not done, but it's closer than it was. We still 263 00:13:06,480 --> 00:13:08,839 Speaker 1: need to get a certain wallpaper in, but we want 264 00:13:08,880 --> 00:13:11,440 Speaker 1: to do that after the heavy furniture comes in. We 265 00:13:11,559 --> 00:13:14,440 Speaker 1: still have to do a lot of exterior stuff, but 266 00:13:14,559 --> 00:13:17,640 Speaker 1: you know that doesn't have to happen before we move in. So, 267 00:13:18,320 --> 00:13:21,320 Speaker 1: you know, we survived, and I was hoping to get 268 00:13:21,320 --> 00:13:24,800 Speaker 1: through this with my you know, sanity and marriage intact, 269 00:13:24,800 --> 00:13:28,080 Speaker 1: and were apparently still married. And whether I'm sane or 270 00:13:28,120 --> 00:13:31,520 Speaker 1: not as a different matter. But you know, we learn 271 00:13:31,640 --> 00:13:34,000 Speaker 1: a lot about each other and you know, the things 272 00:13:34,040 --> 00:13:35,920 Speaker 1: that people turn out to care about that you might 273 00:13:35,920 --> 00:13:39,120 Speaker 1: not have guessed that they care about, which is fascinating. 274 00:13:39,880 --> 00:13:42,040 Speaker 1: I read War and Peace one chapter at a time. 275 00:13:42,080 --> 00:13:43,600 Speaker 1: I mean, I still have like ten to go, as 276 00:13:43,800 --> 00:13:47,400 Speaker 1: I'm saying, well, yeah, but it's the end. I'm into 277 00:13:47,400 --> 00:13:51,080 Speaker 1: part two of the epilogue, which is the last Tollstoy 278 00:13:51,280 --> 00:13:55,880 Speaker 1: throat clearing stuff. All the plot points have happened, so 279 00:13:56,160 --> 00:13:57,880 Speaker 1: you know, it's done, and I made it through it, 280 00:13:57,880 --> 00:14:01,040 Speaker 1: and I really liked it. It's a wonderful book. Absolutely recommend. 281 00:14:01,520 --> 00:14:04,559 Speaker 1: I actually did some interesting travel this year, some highlights. 282 00:14:04,760 --> 00:14:06,400 Speaker 1: We didn't really talk about it all this much in 283 00:14:06,400 --> 00:14:08,599 Speaker 1: the course of doing this, because I don't know, we 284 00:14:08,600 --> 00:14:11,920 Speaker 1: were little people have different feelings about travel, but we 285 00:14:11,960 --> 00:14:14,560 Speaker 1: did it as safely as possible. I took the big 286 00:14:14,640 --> 00:14:18,240 Speaker 1: kids to Disney World in the early summer. We ate 287 00:14:18,280 --> 00:14:22,240 Speaker 1: at Cinderella's Royal Table at Sleeping Beauty's Castle. We got 288 00:14:22,240 --> 00:14:25,120 Speaker 1: a boarding group for Rise of the Resistance. I all 289 00:14:25,240 --> 00:14:27,760 Speaker 1: cool stuff. The Rise of the Resistance was like this 290 00:14:27,800 --> 00:14:32,360 Speaker 1: whole saga we had not gotten them, you know, earlier whatever, 291 00:14:32,440 --> 00:14:34,880 Speaker 1: And so the day we were going to try this again, 292 00:14:35,480 --> 00:14:37,440 Speaker 1: I got up to be on at seven o'clock to 293 00:14:37,680 --> 00:14:40,040 Speaker 1: get on, and I didn't get it, Like I was 294 00:14:40,160 --> 00:14:43,680 Speaker 1: literally four seconds and they were gone for the day, 295 00:14:44,160 --> 00:14:46,600 Speaker 1: and I just how is this even possible? You know, 296 00:14:46,640 --> 00:14:49,080 Speaker 1: and my kids are gonna be upset. There's a second 297 00:14:49,160 --> 00:14:51,360 Speaker 1: chance at one o'clock or whatever that you can do it. 298 00:14:51,760 --> 00:14:56,920 Speaker 1: So Jasper researched this, he you know, found he went 299 00:14:56,960 --> 00:14:58,640 Speaker 1: online and found like all this stuff, like while we 300 00:14:58,680 --> 00:15:00,240 Speaker 1: were waiting in line, of like, where is the right 301 00:15:00,280 --> 00:15:02,520 Speaker 1: spot in the park where the Wi Fi is best? 302 00:15:02,800 --> 00:15:06,000 Speaker 1: So we went and popped ourselves in that spot. He 303 00:15:06,200 --> 00:15:08,200 Speaker 1: was on it. He was following the directions, he was 304 00:15:08,240 --> 00:15:11,240 Speaker 1: on my phone, and he got it. So we were 305 00:15:11,480 --> 00:15:13,960 Speaker 1: riding Rise of the Resistance, which is a lot of fun. Actually, 306 00:15:13,960 --> 00:15:16,000 Speaker 1: it was a really cool ride. I can highly recommend it. 307 00:15:16,160 --> 00:15:17,720 Speaker 1: I think they're switching it out to a point where 308 00:15:17,760 --> 00:15:20,400 Speaker 1: now you just wait in line or something, which slightly 309 00:15:20,480 --> 00:15:23,920 Speaker 1: more democratic, I guess, because if you're willing to wait 310 00:15:23,920 --> 00:15:26,280 Speaker 1: for two hours, you can go on it. But yeah, 311 00:15:26,320 --> 00:15:29,360 Speaker 1: it was. It was cool. We took a resort vacation 312 00:15:29,520 --> 00:15:32,440 Speaker 1: with all seven of us this summer. We went to 313 00:15:32,600 --> 00:15:36,720 Speaker 1: Turks and Caicos, which was fine. I have to say 314 00:15:36,920 --> 00:15:41,200 Speaker 1: that international travel with the toddler is just hard. We 315 00:15:41,240 --> 00:15:43,280 Speaker 1: didn't have a hard time getting the passport like I 316 00:15:43,280 --> 00:15:44,880 Speaker 1: thought a lot of people had said, like, oh, getting 317 00:15:44,880 --> 00:15:47,280 Speaker 1: a passport during COVID is going to be you know, 318 00:15:47,280 --> 00:15:48,720 Speaker 1: you're never gonna be able to It didn't. It was 319 00:15:48,760 --> 00:15:52,680 Speaker 1: actually fine. I don't know if our particular part of 320 00:15:52,760 --> 00:15:56,240 Speaker 1: the state department was working faster, which blessed them if 321 00:15:56,280 --> 00:15:59,440 Speaker 1: they were, but we had no problem getting it. The 322 00:15:59,560 --> 00:16:03,160 Speaker 1: issue is that my child does not sleep when he 323 00:16:03,280 --> 00:16:07,120 Speaker 1: is not at home. And it is fine when you 324 00:16:07,160 --> 00:16:10,720 Speaker 1: are in a house somewhere that you have rented, which 325 00:16:10,800 --> 00:16:14,120 Speaker 1: is what we often do for vacation purposes, but when 326 00:16:14,120 --> 00:16:17,640 Speaker 1: you are in a hotel, that is not really gonna work. 327 00:16:17,680 --> 00:16:20,920 Speaker 1: And I think the most I slept consecutively the whole 328 00:16:20,920 --> 00:16:23,320 Speaker 1: week was about two and a half to three hours, 329 00:16:23,640 --> 00:16:26,160 Speaker 1: And even though it was a resort that had baby care, 330 00:16:26,280 --> 00:16:27,800 Speaker 1: so it was like I could go dump him there 331 00:16:27,960 --> 00:16:29,920 Speaker 1: for you know, two hours at a time, and then 332 00:16:29,920 --> 00:16:31,160 Speaker 1: go pick him up and then bring him back for 333 00:16:31,160 --> 00:16:34,560 Speaker 1: two hours or whatever. Still hard. It was still hard. 334 00:16:35,880 --> 00:16:40,720 Speaker 1: So lesson learned, made memories one way or another, and 335 00:16:40,760 --> 00:16:43,120 Speaker 1: you can't relax. Yeah, I think your two year old 336 00:16:43,200 --> 00:16:46,120 Speaker 1: is miserable either, like even if you dump him there, 337 00:16:46,160 --> 00:16:48,440 Speaker 1: but you know you're like thinking that he's screaming the 338 00:16:48,440 --> 00:16:50,120 Speaker 1: whole time, Like how would you even take a good 339 00:16:50,200 --> 00:16:52,760 Speaker 1: nap when you only slept? That's that sounds and then 340 00:16:52,920 --> 00:16:55,880 Speaker 1: your awareness the whole time that like, wow, every minute 341 00:16:56,000 --> 00:17:00,720 Speaker 1: costs like twelve dollars or whatever. I mean, there was 342 00:17:00,800 --> 00:17:04,080 Speaker 1: good stuff. I mean, so Sam and Jasper went scuba diving, 343 00:17:04,200 --> 00:17:07,400 Speaker 1: not Jasper. Sam and Michael went scuba diving. Jasper, Ruth 344 00:17:07,440 --> 00:17:09,639 Speaker 1: and Alex and I did this snuba thing which was 345 00:17:09,680 --> 00:17:13,119 Speaker 1: really cool, like you you know, have as it's basically 346 00:17:13,200 --> 00:17:15,720 Speaker 1: a scuba tank, but you're like tethered to it and 347 00:17:15,720 --> 00:17:18,960 Speaker 1: it floats on the surface, so it's the scuba experience, 348 00:17:19,040 --> 00:17:22,240 Speaker 1: but you don't carry the tank on your back underwater, 349 00:17:22,640 --> 00:17:24,440 Speaker 1: so there's just a little bit more flexibility that you 350 00:17:24,480 --> 00:17:27,320 Speaker 1: can come up and down quicker. And plus they're in shallow, 351 00:17:27,400 --> 00:17:29,760 Speaker 1: shallow water, I mean, you know, so you're not dealing 352 00:17:29,760 --> 00:17:32,840 Speaker 1: with the surfacing issues that come with with scuba. There 353 00:17:32,880 --> 00:17:34,879 Speaker 1: were highlights, Like there were fun times. It was just 354 00:17:34,960 --> 00:17:38,720 Speaker 1: a hard trip. So and then getting you know, like 355 00:17:39,160 --> 00:17:41,280 Speaker 1: getting COVID tests for all of us to come back 356 00:17:41,280 --> 00:17:43,320 Speaker 1: to the US and everything. I'm just the everything. I'm 357 00:17:43,359 --> 00:17:46,439 Speaker 1: at it. Our domestic trips had had some upsides. We 358 00:17:46,480 --> 00:17:50,640 Speaker 1: went to Maine in early September, went to a Kadia. 359 00:17:51,040 --> 00:17:53,920 Speaker 1: It was so beautiful. I mean, the lobster was amazing. 360 00:17:54,000 --> 00:17:56,480 Speaker 1: I can't really eat butter anymore, but I was just 361 00:17:56,520 --> 00:17:59,800 Speaker 1: like having a little bit with the The lobster was great, 362 00:18:00,359 --> 00:18:02,360 Speaker 1: so I really had fun with that. We went leaf 363 00:18:02,359 --> 00:18:04,240 Speaker 1: peeping it up state New York. So we did go 364 00:18:04,359 --> 00:18:07,000 Speaker 1: on a that was not the purpose. My brother got married. 365 00:18:07,000 --> 00:18:11,240 Speaker 1: He had gotten married by zoom in December of twenty twenty, 366 00:18:11,680 --> 00:18:14,560 Speaker 1: and then they decided to have the actual full wedding 367 00:18:14,560 --> 00:18:19,120 Speaker 1: and reception in October at their place in upstate New York. 368 00:18:19,160 --> 00:18:21,000 Speaker 1: And it was just so gorgeous. I mean, like the 369 00:18:21,080 --> 00:18:24,679 Speaker 1: peak weekend we went hiking in Lake Minnewaska State Park. 370 00:18:25,040 --> 00:18:29,000 Speaker 1: It's just, I mean, stunning, stunning, stunning. We stayed at 371 00:18:29,000 --> 00:18:32,440 Speaker 1: this gorgeous farmhouse that had like the chickens and the 372 00:18:32,440 --> 00:18:35,720 Speaker 1: colors of the fall off so amazing. So I highly 373 00:18:35,720 --> 00:18:38,560 Speaker 1: recommend that we went apple picking. I think I want 374 00:18:38,560 --> 00:18:41,119 Speaker 1: to do that like every year. I did a solo 375 00:18:41,320 --> 00:18:44,240 Speaker 1: trip to Cape May to finish my book manuscript, and 376 00:18:44,240 --> 00:18:48,560 Speaker 1: I would also hardly recommend traveling alone. So throw that 377 00:18:48,720 --> 00:18:53,000 Speaker 1: out there. Another highlight writing Tranquility by Tuesday. I mean, 378 00:18:53,000 --> 00:18:55,240 Speaker 1: I'm still editing it, but the bulk of the manuscript 379 00:18:55,280 --> 00:18:57,560 Speaker 1: is written. That was not a small project either. Doing 380 00:18:57,680 --> 00:19:00,159 Speaker 1: that is a huge highlight time diary project of one 381 00:19:00,200 --> 00:19:02,960 Speaker 1: hundred and fifty people over ten weeks and then writing 382 00:19:02,960 --> 00:19:06,080 Speaker 1: a book about it. So like the House, many parts, 383 00:19:06,240 --> 00:19:10,440 Speaker 1: many people, lots of management, but it's mostly done. Also, 384 00:19:10,640 --> 00:19:13,360 Speaker 1: Lego projects, we did a ton of Lego projects over 385 00:19:13,400 --> 00:19:17,199 Speaker 1: the year. I did like, you know, the Lego Friends 386 00:19:17,240 --> 00:19:20,119 Speaker 1: with Ruth. I did like a NASA Rocket with Sam. 387 00:19:20,200 --> 00:19:23,680 Speaker 1: I mean it's just you know, fifteen hundred piece projects 388 00:19:23,960 --> 00:19:26,960 Speaker 1: that take weeks. But it's a great way to hang 389 00:19:27,000 --> 00:19:30,280 Speaker 1: out with like nine to thirteen year old kids, I 390 00:19:30,320 --> 00:19:33,520 Speaker 1: would say, and get them to sort of chat with 391 00:19:33,560 --> 00:19:36,280 Speaker 1: you and have fun and like you're doing something. So 392 00:19:36,320 --> 00:19:41,119 Speaker 1: we wound up doing the with the Christmas Village type piece, 393 00:19:41,320 --> 00:19:43,520 Speaker 1: like the Santa's Visit. We did that, and I just 394 00:19:43,840 --> 00:19:46,520 Speaker 1: sprung for the Elf Clubhouse, so we're doing two this 395 00:19:46,640 --> 00:19:49,200 Speaker 1: year because why not. I also did a lot of 396 00:19:49,240 --> 00:19:53,320 Speaker 1: a thousand piece puzzles, so more long projects that you 397 00:19:53,480 --> 00:19:56,280 Speaker 1: see through start to fit. I got a little tired 398 00:19:56,320 --> 00:19:58,639 Speaker 1: of thousand piece puzzles. By the end of the year. 399 00:19:58,680 --> 00:20:00,879 Speaker 1: I had bought three autumn thinking I was going to 400 00:20:00,960 --> 00:20:02,960 Speaker 1: do them, and then I just lost it. I did one, 401 00:20:03,320 --> 00:20:04,840 Speaker 1: and then I couldn't get through the hundred and fifty 402 00:20:04,840 --> 00:20:06,679 Speaker 1: pieces of Blue Sky, and that was the end of 403 00:20:06,720 --> 00:20:10,520 Speaker 1: my puzzle obsession. So well, you know, sometime in the 404 00:20:10,520 --> 00:20:12,679 Speaker 1: future I'll get back to it. But yeah, a lot 405 00:20:12,760 --> 00:20:14,400 Speaker 1: of a lot of puzzles are not going to go bad. 406 00:20:14,560 --> 00:20:17,200 Speaker 1: That's the good news about puzzles. Yeah, now they won't. 407 00:20:17,280 --> 00:20:21,160 Speaker 1: They won't. And then, you know, one thing that has 408 00:20:21,200 --> 00:20:22,960 Speaker 1: been a highlight for this year is figuring out just 409 00:20:23,000 --> 00:20:27,480 Speaker 1: like I have such a range of children, and I mean, 410 00:20:28,200 --> 00:20:30,719 Speaker 1: one of there's very few things that we can all do. 411 00:20:30,840 --> 00:20:32,280 Speaker 1: I mean, there are certainly some things that we can 412 00:20:32,320 --> 00:20:34,960 Speaker 1: all do, and I really enjoy like family dinners. Now 413 00:20:34,960 --> 00:20:37,160 Speaker 1: that Henry's sitting in a chair, I'm just looking around 414 00:20:37,160 --> 00:20:38,840 Speaker 1: at all of them, and he's really trying to be 415 00:20:38,920 --> 00:20:41,679 Speaker 1: part of it because he's old enough to do that. 416 00:20:42,480 --> 00:20:45,560 Speaker 1: And to see the interaction of the older children with 417 00:20:45,800 --> 00:20:50,040 Speaker 1: him is just amazing and heartwarming and wonderful. But On 418 00:20:50,080 --> 00:20:52,280 Speaker 1: the other hand, there are certain things that we can't 419 00:20:52,400 --> 00:20:55,600 Speaker 1: do with him that the older children might want to do. 420 00:20:55,680 --> 00:20:59,160 Speaker 1: But we've you know, figured out stuff like it turns 421 00:20:59,200 --> 00:21:01,960 Speaker 1: out you can hire childcare for a few hours on 422 00:21:02,000 --> 00:21:05,679 Speaker 1: the weekend for just one child, right, And this is 423 00:21:05,800 --> 00:21:08,760 Speaker 1: the sort of thing that I don't think people like 424 00:21:09,000 --> 00:21:13,159 Speaker 1: my vision of childcare when I was pre kids and 425 00:21:13,280 --> 00:21:16,600 Speaker 1: did not recognize that. And especially when I see things 426 00:21:16,640 --> 00:21:21,040 Speaker 1: like people, oh, I'm hiring childcare as you're outsourcing yourself, 427 00:21:21,280 --> 00:21:23,359 Speaker 1: like you know, I want to see my children, I'm like, well, 428 00:21:23,359 --> 00:21:25,199 Speaker 1: I always see my children too, And in order to 429 00:21:25,240 --> 00:21:29,479 Speaker 1: do stuff with my older children, sometimes we need to 430 00:21:29,520 --> 00:21:33,919 Speaker 1: not have the baby. And so hiring a setter for 431 00:21:34,000 --> 00:21:35,399 Speaker 1: him for a few hours on the weekend so we 432 00:21:35,440 --> 00:21:37,800 Speaker 1: can go tubing on the Delaware River, so we can 433 00:21:37,840 --> 00:21:41,159 Speaker 1: go ice skating, all of that is stuff that is 434 00:21:41,200 --> 00:21:43,600 Speaker 1: a lot harder with a toddler or impossible with a toddler, 435 00:21:43,680 --> 00:21:45,119 Speaker 1: Like they weren't going to let us put a toddler 436 00:21:45,160 --> 00:21:49,280 Speaker 1: on a tube in the river. So you know, that's 437 00:21:49,320 --> 00:21:52,879 Speaker 1: that's our realization. And I think we have one more 438 00:21:52,920 --> 00:21:54,920 Speaker 1: year of it, and then I think he'll be sort 439 00:21:54,920 --> 00:21:56,639 Speaker 1: of getting into the stage where he can start to 440 00:21:56,680 --> 00:21:58,560 Speaker 1: do stuff maybe a year or two two years. I 441 00:21:58,600 --> 00:22:01,800 Speaker 1: see two two years, okay, because I feel like we've 442 00:22:02,200 --> 00:22:05,199 Speaker 1: just gotten there. And Genevieve turned four this past weekend, 443 00:22:05,240 --> 00:22:08,040 Speaker 1: and I'm like, okay, like, you're not going to fall 444 00:22:08,040 --> 00:22:10,400 Speaker 1: asleep at six pm. If you didn't not, you are 445 00:22:11,280 --> 00:22:13,600 Speaker 1: less likely to throw a temper tantrum. Like, you're right, 446 00:22:13,640 --> 00:22:16,000 Speaker 1: three is easier than two. But I think I think 447 00:22:16,040 --> 00:22:18,720 Speaker 1: in two years you're going to be like and then 448 00:22:18,960 --> 00:22:23,320 Speaker 1: Jasper's going to be like driving everyone around. That's the issue, Like, 449 00:22:23,320 --> 00:22:25,280 Speaker 1: like not two years, but like three and a half. 450 00:22:25,480 --> 00:22:29,359 Speaker 1: He's going to be an adult. So I know in 451 00:22:29,400 --> 00:22:31,280 Speaker 1: two years he can be part of the carpool. That 452 00:22:31,400 --> 00:22:33,760 Speaker 1: is also true. I am so excited about that, by 453 00:22:33,760 --> 00:22:35,399 Speaker 1: the way, I mean now, I mean a highlight of 454 00:22:35,920 --> 00:22:38,680 Speaker 1: so starting high school has been cool to see him, 455 00:22:38,960 --> 00:22:41,480 Speaker 1: you know, come into his own with that and all 456 00:22:41,480 --> 00:22:43,360 Speaker 1: the stuff that's in high school, and you know, see 457 00:22:43,440 --> 00:22:46,480 Speaker 1: him find his his tribe and he's doing like a 458 00:22:46,520 --> 00:22:50,199 Speaker 1: science competition and he's joined the select chorus. He's one 459 00:22:50,240 --> 00:22:52,280 Speaker 1: of the very few freshmen who auditioned and got in. 460 00:22:53,000 --> 00:22:57,040 Speaker 1: So that's been really fun to see that happen. Been 461 00:22:57,160 --> 00:23:00,159 Speaker 1: very proud of that. But yeah, every time we drive 462 00:23:00,200 --> 00:23:02,120 Speaker 1: into the high school parking lot, I'm like, Okay, when 463 00:23:02,119 --> 00:23:04,440 Speaker 1: are you going to get your license that I can 464 00:23:04,760 --> 00:23:08,760 Speaker 1: let you take my old, dozen year old car, and 465 00:23:09,080 --> 00:23:11,199 Speaker 1: you know, because I don't care if it's like banged 466 00:23:11,280 --> 00:23:15,440 Speaker 1: up and just go drive yourself. So that'll be amazing, 467 00:23:15,520 --> 00:23:18,119 Speaker 1: it will be amazing. You're close, we're close. We can 468 00:23:18,200 --> 00:23:20,160 Speaker 1: leave kids home alone. We can leave the older two 469 00:23:20,200 --> 00:23:23,440 Speaker 1: home with some of the younger ones. Like so certainly 470 00:23:23,760 --> 00:23:26,080 Speaker 1: Josper and Sam are both capable of staying with Alex 471 00:23:26,240 --> 00:23:29,440 Speaker 1: for not hours, but you know, some amount of time 472 00:23:29,920 --> 00:23:33,960 Speaker 1: I've left Henry sleeping with Jasper home in charge. I'm 473 00:23:34,040 --> 00:23:36,199 Speaker 1: a little wary of I mean, he would watch him, 474 00:23:36,240 --> 00:23:38,240 Speaker 1: but he'd like feel resentful about it if I left 475 00:23:38,280 --> 00:23:41,439 Speaker 1: him for like hours with Henry. So I tend to 476 00:23:41,560 --> 00:23:43,600 Speaker 1: hire a center for Henry if that's going to be 477 00:23:43,720 --> 00:23:47,679 Speaker 1: a situation. But yeah, so that's that's the that's the 478 00:23:47,720 --> 00:23:50,280 Speaker 1: deal right now. And then the last thing, it's been 479 00:23:50,320 --> 00:23:53,160 Speaker 1: sort of a revelation over the course of the year, 480 00:23:53,800 --> 00:23:56,800 Speaker 1: I must not have had this health problem as acutely 481 00:23:56,880 --> 00:23:58,520 Speaker 1: in the past, because I feel like life would have 482 00:23:58,600 --> 00:24:02,920 Speaker 1: been unlivable if I had but whatever. After the fifth 483 00:24:03,160 --> 00:24:08,639 Speaker 1: pregnancy or something, I had a chronic sore throats and congestion, 484 00:24:09,480 --> 00:24:14,240 Speaker 1: which is one of these mysterious medical maladies that who 485 00:24:14,280 --> 00:24:17,240 Speaker 1: even knows what that could be because it's symptomatic of everything, right. 486 00:24:17,240 --> 00:24:20,720 Speaker 1: It could be allergies, it could be dietary issues. It 487 00:24:20,760 --> 00:24:24,120 Speaker 1: could be a throat condition of some story. I mean, 488 00:24:24,160 --> 00:24:27,159 Speaker 1: there's just so many things it could be that you 489 00:24:27,440 --> 00:24:29,560 Speaker 1: don't even know, Like what specialists would you go to 490 00:24:29,560 --> 00:24:33,760 Speaker 1: to get it treated, like, because GI and allergy are 491 00:24:33,800 --> 00:24:39,479 Speaker 1: totally like separate kind of things. And so anyway, long 492 00:24:39,720 --> 00:24:44,440 Speaker 1: story short, lots of doctor Google, lots of crowd sourcing, 493 00:24:45,000 --> 00:24:50,879 Speaker 1: lots of trying stuff out. By taking a regimen of 494 00:24:51,480 --> 00:24:59,119 Speaker 1: anti reflux medications and avoiding dietary triggers such as dairy 495 00:24:59,760 --> 00:25:04,000 Speaker 1: and and wine, I am able to keep it under control. 496 00:25:04,119 --> 00:25:07,800 Speaker 1: And so like, not having chronic pain is like a 497 00:25:07,920 --> 00:25:12,560 Speaker 1: great way to in the year. I gotta say, like 498 00:25:12,680 --> 00:25:15,960 Speaker 1: I will pause and be like I can breathe, my 499 00:25:16,080 --> 00:25:18,840 Speaker 1: throat doesn't hurt, Like I'm not, you know, counting the 500 00:25:18,840 --> 00:25:20,399 Speaker 1: minutes till i can go to sleep, but hopefully I'll 501 00:25:20,440 --> 00:25:22,520 Speaker 1: wake up, you know, with it not hurting, you know. 502 00:25:22,640 --> 00:25:26,359 Speaker 1: So it's that has been a huge, huge relief, and 503 00:25:26,400 --> 00:25:30,920 Speaker 1: I it's just like life when you get older, stuff 504 00:25:31,200 --> 00:25:33,840 Speaker 1: just happens, so true, and I feel I feel like 505 00:25:33,840 --> 00:25:35,600 Speaker 1: the key with that was the trial in her right, 506 00:25:35,720 --> 00:25:38,840 Speaker 1: Like you had to you had to experiment with different 507 00:25:38,840 --> 00:25:41,439 Speaker 1: things because no doctor. I mean, of course I have 508 00:25:41,520 --> 00:25:44,240 Speaker 1: high respect for doctors, but there are certain things that 509 00:25:44,280 --> 00:25:46,399 Speaker 1: are just hard to test for You're gonna have to 510 00:25:46,520 --> 00:25:49,680 Speaker 1: just do different things and see what works and then 511 00:25:49,800 --> 00:25:52,920 Speaker 1: and then figure it out. So that's amazing not having pain. 512 00:25:53,000 --> 00:25:55,800 Speaker 1: Is trying anti allergy medicines for a while and that 513 00:25:55,840 --> 00:25:58,359 Speaker 1: didn't do anything. And so I was like, well, Darren, 514 00:25:58,480 --> 00:26:00,320 Speaker 1: like what you know, I've had high hopes it like 515 00:26:00,640 --> 00:26:03,359 Speaker 1: it was, you know, because congestion and sore throat is 516 00:26:03,400 --> 00:26:07,720 Speaker 1: a pretty obvious like you know, pollen and whatever else 517 00:26:07,840 --> 00:26:11,080 Speaker 1: and breathing allergy, but no, it wasn't that. Well, it 518 00:26:11,119 --> 00:26:13,280 Speaker 1: could be an allergy, but it could be a food allergy, 519 00:26:13,440 --> 00:26:15,280 Speaker 1: like I think it's more likely to be a food allergy, 520 00:26:15,280 --> 00:26:18,119 Speaker 1: and that it turns out that not everybody who has 521 00:26:18,200 --> 00:26:21,720 Speaker 1: reflux has like heart broom, that there are other forms 522 00:26:21,800 --> 00:26:24,679 Speaker 1: you can get that in and so that was a 523 00:26:24,760 --> 00:26:28,879 Speaker 1: revelation as well. So I mean, who knows, maybe like 524 00:26:28,960 --> 00:26:30,879 Speaker 1: this will stop working at some point it turns out 525 00:26:30,920 --> 00:26:33,880 Speaker 1: that there was just some other you know, magical coincidence 526 00:26:33,920 --> 00:26:35,639 Speaker 1: that that made it feel better. But it does in 527 00:26:35,680 --> 00:26:38,760 Speaker 1: fact feel better. And so you know, medical mystery maladies 528 00:26:39,800 --> 00:26:41,480 Speaker 1: and this is not medical advice. No, this is not 529 00:26:41,480 --> 00:26:44,600 Speaker 1: an unocal advice at all, but you know, it may 530 00:26:45,160 --> 00:26:47,960 Speaker 1: be something that you just have to experiment with over 531 00:26:48,000 --> 00:26:50,400 Speaker 1: time and figure out what will work and what won't. 532 00:26:50,600 --> 00:26:53,920 Speaker 1: So anyway, that is up. Well, this has been our 533 00:26:54,119 --> 00:26:56,360 Speaker 1: second part of year in review. I hope everyone who 534 00:26:56,400 --> 00:26:58,520 Speaker 1: is listening to this in late December is having a 535 00:26:59,040 --> 00:27:01,640 Speaker 1: RESTful holiday vacation or if it is not a RESTful 536 00:27:01,640 --> 00:27:04,040 Speaker 1: holiday vacation because you are home with your one in 537 00:27:04,080 --> 00:27:06,840 Speaker 1: three year old while their daycare is closed, we want 538 00:27:06,960 --> 00:27:11,440 Speaker 1: to send a shout out to you soldiering through it 539 00:27:11,520 --> 00:27:14,400 Speaker 1: because you know, when you have little kids, vacations are 540 00:27:14,400 --> 00:27:19,280 Speaker 1: often not RESTful and we understand, and so you know, 541 00:27:19,560 --> 00:27:23,320 Speaker 1: cheers to getting through the day and celebrating when it's 542 00:27:23,320 --> 00:27:27,200 Speaker 1: bedtime and just kicking your feet up and having a moment. 543 00:27:27,760 --> 00:27:30,200 Speaker 1: So we're there. Well, putting this podcast on to distract 544 00:27:30,200 --> 00:27:32,440 Speaker 1: you while your kids are making a complete and utter 545 00:27:32,480 --> 00:27:35,639 Speaker 1: destruction site out of the playroom. Exactly, exactly, let it go. 546 00:27:35,800 --> 00:27:37,840 Speaker 1: It'll be good, all right. Well, this has been best 547 00:27:37,840 --> 00:27:40,760 Speaker 1: of both worlds. We will be back next week, which 548 00:27:40,800 --> 00:27:43,680 Speaker 1: is actually going to be next year, with more on 549 00:27:43,760 --> 00:27:48,280 Speaker 1: making work in life fit together. Thanks for listening. You 550 00:27:48,280 --> 00:27:51,600 Speaker 1: can find me Sarah at the shoebox dot com or 551 00:27:51,760 --> 00:27:55,440 Speaker 1: at the Underscore Shoebox on Instagram, and you can find 552 00:27:55,480 --> 00:27:59,640 Speaker 1: me Laura at Laura vandercam dot com. This has been 553 00:27:59,680 --> 00:28:03,040 Speaker 1: the best of both worlds podcasts. Please join us next 554 00:28:03,040 --> 00:28:06,200 Speaker 1: time for more on making work and life work together.