Hi Happy Mom!
     Do you remember a couple months ago when everything important was postponed? Did you think that we'd all be forced to stay at home? Days turned into weeks, moms turned into homeschoolers, hugs turned into fist bumps, and the word postponed turned into cancelled. 
     Are you getting sick of this hum-drum life? Or are you thankful for some down-time? Do you have a new best friend named Zoom? Are you filling your days or are they slipping by? Reality is hitting me that it's been two whole months since this crisis began. This week I am especially sad since in a normal world, I would have been flying out to Pennsylvania this week for my daughter's college graduation. It would have been my first time visiting her college. Since we live thousands of miles away and airline tickets from Hawaii to Pennsylvania are usually around a thousand dollars, my daughter has been traveling on her own over the past four years. She definitely is my most independent child. I am so sad that I sometimes start crying out of the blue, then wipe my tears, and pull myself together so I don't make my children who are missing out on life events sad. I have a son who is also suppose to graduate (from High School) this month. I know one thing for sure, the class of 2020 will be resilient leaders.

So how am I coping with all this heartache?
     I follow a schedule:
     9:00am wake up, get dressed, make workout pre-drink
   10:00am work out
   11:00- 2:30pm teach classes via Zoom (lunch at 1:00pm)
    2:30pm work on grades/study help for students/meetings
    3:30pm monitor kids' distance learning school work
    4:30pm homework (Master's classes)
    6:00pm go for a walk
    7:00pm dinner
    8:00pm homework and grading while watching a movie with my family
   12:00am bedtime
And, repeat!

      The positive thing about all this is the amount of time I get to spend with my kids and husband. I think it's great! I'm not sure if my kids think it's as great as I do. I know they miss seeing their friends, going to the beach, participating in sports, going to the movies, school lunch (well, maybe just my private schooler), and having friends over. Graduations have been postponed, kids are getting use to distance learning, and an astronomical amount of TikTok videos are being made. This is definitely an uncertain time. One thing I'm reminded of is how blessed I am to be a mother. How wonderful it is to spend 24/7 with the people I love the most in the whole wide world! And guess what? Life is still moving forward. 
     Each week I am going to pick three goals to focus on, three people to contact, and three home projects to complete. I am determined to not cancel life, but to enjoy it. Events may be postponed or cancelled, but I will celebrate the accomplishments of those I love. I will take care of myself so that when all this is done, I can look back and say, 2020 was indeed my best year yet. 
     Please share what you chose to do for YOU on the Happy Moms Facebook page. I hope you all have the best week ever. Put priority on yourself. Make time! Get Happy! You are worth it!!!

What's on the Menu this week?

MONDAY: Steak and Garlic Shrimp
TUESDAY: Cakenoodles with Bok Choy
WEDNESDAY: Japchae Noodles with Impossible Meat
THURSDAY: Veggie Pancakes
FRIDAY: Miso Eggplant over Rice, Fish Cake
SATURDAY: Meat Jun/Fish Jun, Kimchee, Taegu
SUNDAY: Tacos/ Taco Salad

What's happening at Happy Moms?
Daily posts and weekly newsletters is all I can do right now. Working at home, being a full-time teacher and mom and staying happy and calm is my focus. 
What's happening in my home?
Keeping the kids motivated to do schoolwork, clean the house, workout, and practice social-distancing is the goal. Also, eating together, preparing meals together, and trying not to let social media take over.

Have a Happy week! Please let me know if I can be of help in any way with making time for yourself. If you need a pep talk to realize your worth, feel free to email me at mahele@happymomhappyfamily.com and please post comments or suggestions on my Happy Moms Facebook page.

Happily Yours,
Mahele