What I've Learned since October

I've learned some important life lessons since October. Following is a list (in no particular order) and some of my commentary:

1. No matter how guilty I feel at times about giving birth to an only child, I cannot have another baby anytime in the near future. It might push me over the edge. And how fair would that be, having another baby and having to explain to him or her that the reason Mommy had to be committed was his or her birth? Not fair, I say. So to those who have been wondering, Alex is an only child until further notice.

2. There's something to putting on blinders and telling yourself that you can make it through "X" and that everything will be better when "X" is over. Unfortunately, it's important to make sure that others are aware that everything that is not "X" will get neglected and or thoroughly forgotten until "X" is over, or else some people (like your husband) will be very upset with you. AND, this way of living doesn't work as well as one would think if there are about 500 "X"s on your agenda, some of which demand the same amount of time at the exact same time.... On the bright side, this mentality is what caused me to get through what I can-not-yet-fondly-recall as "The Horrific Month" without a meltdown (see below for more thoughts on meltdowns). So to summarize, compartmentalizing is a good strategy....assuming you have informed all stakeholders and there aren't too many pressing items on your agenda.

3. Holiday meltdowns are inevitable. For me. Especially when the "season" kicks off before Halloween because of the annual trip to Disneyland and doesn't really let up until after New Year's. So I should just have one sometime before Thanksgiving to get it over with and not wait until the week before Christmas... Or maybe I should just have one when it comes and then realize that it's not the end of the world if I have one...because really, aside from some sobbing and tears and a voice in my head telling me to pull it together (thanks, Tomika), what's the big deal?

4. If, for over a month, you don't really get restful sleep and you're living with a stress level that would cause a heart attack or stroke for most people, you are going to get sick. (Just learned that one this week.) And when you do get sick, you might as well stop to rest and try to get well, because you really have nothing if you don't have your health. And you have to miss all kinds of things you've been looking forward to doing/experiencing/seeing because you don't feel well enough to participate. So maybe restful sleep and meditation shouldn't get thrown out the window at the end of October...