it's all working out

[cateyespecks]

The last couple weeks have been pretty busy. Even though I haven't started the new position yet, I have been slowly training for and taking on some of the responsibilities. I am doing this while still completing my usual case manager position... until we can hire someone new for that role. So far it's been a heck of a lot of networking and setting up meetings with community partners. It feels like a lot. I think I'll find my groove though.

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I also joined the local YMCA almost two weeks ago. Not something I really planned to or expected to be doing, but my coworker randomly joined a couple days prior, and asked me to come as a guest to a class (pilates) with her. I went, and then came home to research pricing for membership. It's kind of expensive in my area ($82/month), and wasn't sure if it was worth it to me, since I am not historically good at sticking to workout routines. I imagined I would waste that money, because I'd stop going. Granted, I've never joined a gym or took fitness classes, really only ever tried doing stuff on my own, and it would often fizzle out.

Even though the Y is expensive, I did look on my health insurance website, as I know many offer discounted memberships or partial refunds if you prove you visited X-number of times per month. Turns out they actually have discounted memberships that cut the price to about 1/3 of the usual price per month - $28. So, I decided to bite the bullet and just try it. In the last two weeks I've been to 6 classes - pilates, strength and sculpt, and two different aqua exercise classes. I really like it so far, and hopefully I keep up with it. It feels a bit different when it's live instruction.

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I've also been helping my mom clean her house the last couple weekends. Since my dad passed away, her mental health has declined quite a bit and she's let things go. My older brother and his family are headed down for Easter, and wanted to stay with my mom (she's got 4 bedrooms empty). Over Christmas she told them No, because she was ashamed of the state of the house. For Easter, I told her to say Yes, and that I'd help her spruce things up. She was overwhelmed at first, but she agreed that she'd feel worse and maybe regret not being able to spend that time with the family (especially the grandkids). So, she's allowing me to help her. I am going back this weekend.

Comments

[vysila]

Glad to hear that all those big changes are getting addressed in more or less proper order. And how fabulous that you are helping your mother and that she has agreed to let the family stay with her. I know that feeling of saying - not just yet - but in the long run being able to spend time with grandkids (who care nothing about the state of the house) is so much more valuable.

Yay to adopting a bit of exercise. With everything going on in your life right now being able to exercise is probably helping with some stress issues. Fingers crossed it continues to go well.

[cateyespecks]

Yeah, I definitely think my mom would regret not opening up her house and her time to spending time with the grandkids, who she really only sees a half a dozen times a year, since they live about 3 hours away.

Indeed, I think exercise will help a bit with my mental health as well. I am hoping I can decrease my stress and anxiety a bit... on top of just getting back into shape (a shape that's not beach ball shaped, haha) a bit!

[vysila]

3 hours away is practically next door (the way I look at it)! But then again, I have no relatives whatsoever closer than a 16 hour drive, so that kind of colors my perception. LOL!

Your mom - and you - are so going to enjoy the big visit!

Hope you are able to keep up the exercise program, even if not very intensely. Just getting to a different place and purpose is very helpful, I think. And I can't help but think you are under a fair amount of stress right now, even if for a positive reason. Non beachball shaped bodies, unite!

[jajalala]

Ooh the Y discount sounds like a great deal!

I love that you're going to help your mom clean. Houses get overwhelming, especially living alone! When I was much younger, my mother had some sort of thing going on with some of her lady friends where they would visit each other to clean each other's houses lol. Somehow it's easier when it's not your own! Good luck with the cleaning, and with the new job position.

[cateyespecks]

Yeah, I am really enjoying the Y so far. In my area, if I were to go to a drop-in class at a yoga studio or similar, it would cost $10-20/class. So it's really a deal right now! Only minor annoyance is I work, so the classes that fit my schedule can be a little limited, but so far I've liked all the ones I've attended.

That's a neat arrangement of your mom's friends all helping each other clean. I'm always more motivated to do things I don't love (exercise, cleaning, etc.) if I've got others with me to complete the task. And I agree with your comment on cleaning being easier when it's not your own. I can de-clutter other people's spaces SO well. Mine? Ehhh, I am a bit more resistant to it. haha.

[coffeetime]

That is SUCH a deal on Y membership. My local branch is $53 a month for a single adult, and my employer/my HMO do NOT offer any deals. We used to get deals, now we do not. I don't love the Y but I would work out there if it were cheaper than my gym, because it has a pool and it's open longer hours on some days. (My gym is $37/month but has no pool, no classes other than powerlifting/bodybuilding and those cost extra.)

Hope the cleanup went well. My mom used to wait for me to visit and have me clean her house, or at least parts of it. Even though I lived 400 miles away and only visited a couple of times a year. She wasn't much of a housekeeper. Now she's in assisted living and I'm guessing it's a real job for them, keeping up with her mess.

[cateyespecks]

Yeah, I think this is a fixed rate for the first year. I don't have delusions that it will stay the same price for a second year, but who knows. So far, for $28 it's absolutely worth it. If they were to jack the price in the second year to $82 for a single adult, I don't know if I'd renew of not. Maybe? For me, who (at least now) is primarily taking advantage of group exercise classes, it may actually be worth it. If I were to do drop in classes at other studios or gyms, they typically cost $10-20/class. So yeah... I am getting a heck of a deal for now.

My mom has never been a housekeeper. I distinctly remember her not letting her own parents in (when they were dropping me off from a weekend stay with them) who had to use the bathroom when I was a kid. As an adult, I am not always tidy either, but I do make it a habit to not let the common areas of my home get messy, in case anyone needs to use my bathroom or unexpectedly stops by to visit.