Gwen writes

homeschool mom of 4 trying to fit in some time for writing and reflection

Menu
  • About
  • Contact Me
  • Goodreads
Menu

Day Five

Posted on June 7, 2019 by Gwen Shaneck

Today I noticed… anxiety. After I finished lunch, and while my fifteen year old was making his lunch (having just woken up for the day…. After first waking up to have breakfast and then going back to sleep until after noon) I noticed a tightening in the front of my throat. I began to freak out. How could I be allergic to my lunch? Eggs, toast, butter, and tomatoes. I’ve had that numerous times. What does Aldi put in their butter? I quickly googled tightness in the throat. Anxiety. Anxiety was the diagnosis from doctor google. Anaphylactic shock does not set in with a tightening of the throat. So, I wasn’t going to die. But, anxiety? Not what I wanted to read. I’m not a very anxious person. But, apparently I am.

A real estate agent arrived after I talked myself down from the ledge. With the tap at the door I promptly forgot about the tightening of my throat and my potential suffocation. All I could do was wonder who it was. “The Real Estate Agent.” My fifteen year old said But, she wasn’t coming until 6. Ha! Jokes on me. She was coming just after lunch on the sixth. Talk about a huge miscalculation. Our house lay in ruins and here was someone coming to evaluate the value of our property.

It is an interesting experience walking around our home, noticing the filth and the clutter. Feeling like I should be feeling shame, but knowing that in five hours none of this was going to be here. That my week of solo parenting, that our months of frantic house-fixing, that our years of chaos were going to be swept away in a very hectic cleaning spree of epic proportions. Or was it? It’s not easy to tell how that was going to work out. I’ve been decluttering for years and yet when I look around I feel despair at all that remains to do. At all the stuff that we have. At all of the things that four children manage to accumulate and ruin.

Huh. I’m not sure it’s any wonder that I felt anxiety. I wonder that I don’t always feel as though I am suffocating under an invisible hand.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

What is this place?

Welcome to my little place in the internet. I write about my family and what it’s like to suddenly find myself homeschooling my four children – including a high schooler and two middle schoolers during COVID-19. I also spend some time writing about writing and how I am trying to get more of it in my life.

Instagram

gwenshaneck

It looks so delicious! Working my way through @tan It looks so delicious! Working my way through @tanseyclaire #dinneruncomplicated and this is sheet pan eggplant parmesan #dinner #homemade #tryingnewthings #cookingisfun #uncomplicatedcooking #clairetansey
Jelly fungus #jellyfungus #fungusamongus #jellyfun Jelly fungus #jellyfungus #fungusamongus #jellyfungi #fungi #fungiphotography #fungusphotography #fungusofinstagram #fungiofinstagram #fungilove #mycology #mushrooms #mushroomsofinstagram #naturephotography #amateurphotography #macrophotography
“City hike” today at #blackwatercreektrail #ly “City hike” today at #blackwatercreektrail #lynchburgva #hike #hikersofinstagram #familyhike #nature #naturephotography #natureishealing #getoutside
My kids were so excited for the tiny amount of sno My kids were so excited for the tiny amount of snow we got this morning! #snowfamily #snowman
Do you follow @sharonsaysso if not, you should. Ju Do you follow @sharonsaysso if not, you should. Just facts. You decide - make up your own mind. Sharon isn’t trying to tell you how to think. She’s giving you the space to do it.
I took this picture to show off my late blooming C I took this picture to show off my late blooming Christmas cactus, but the design of the mineral deposits on the terra-cotta pot caught my eye. #naturalbeauty #beautyinthemundane #christmascactus #beautyintheeveryday #unexpectedbeauty #houseplants
This was near the summit on yesterday’s hike (a This was near the summit on yesterday’s hike (a part of the AT that leads to Apple Orchard Summit) and it was otherworldly. The trees (apple trees maybe?) were low and twisted and the trail was this grassy path #hikingtheat #hikingtheappalachiantrail #appalachiantrail #appleorchardmountain #hiking #familyhikes #hiking #hikersofinstagram #virginianature #virginiahiking
After taking down the tree I set up a little readi After taking down the tree I set up a little reading nook #read21in21 let’s do this! #readersofinstagram #read #readingchallenge #readingchallenge2021 #reading #readingtime
Apple Orchard Summit via the Appalachian Trail 2/5 Apple Orchard Summit via the Appalachian Trail 2/52 hikes for 2021 #appalachiantrail #hikingtheblueridge #blueridgemountains #blueridgehiking #virginia #virginiahiking #virginiahikes #nature #naturephotography #hiking #familyhike #hikeva
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Recent Comments

  • Easing back into a morning routine: creating peace – Gwen writes on Homeschool Morning Meeting – What we’re doing
  • Gwen Shaneck on Sourdough Experiences
  • Jan Chanski on Sourdough Experiences
  • On buyers…. – Gwen Shaneck on Day Six/Seven

Archives

  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • May 2020
  • March 2020
  • January 2020
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • June 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019

Categories

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org
© 2021 Gwen writes | Powered by Minimalist Blog WordPress Theme