The other day I started getting antsy about not growing enough as an individual. I started wondering, “How come I’m not making more time to read self-help books? How come I’m not setting specific growth goals for myself?” 

I indulged that line of thinking for about two seconds and then remembered that 2016 is my year of “Health & Wellness.” Specifically, I am focused on sustaining an exercise routine and focusing on healthy eating. 

And I’ve been doing it! Despite working full-time and trying to be a good wife/mother/friend, I manage to run twice a week and go to yoga once a week. And it feels great. 

The key for

Henry just turned five, and up until this point, he hasn’t really been enrolled in any extracurricular activities (aside from a safety swimming class when he was a toddler). I definitely subscribe to the ideas explained within Simplicity Parenting around giving children wide-open time to play outside, create, explore, get bored, and decompress. I haven’t felt like the benefits of extracurricular activities outweigh the drawbacks at this point. We are already a stressed out family with two full-time jobs and full-time school for the boys. 

However, at our recent conference with Henry’s teacher, she mentioned that she thinks he would benefit from a formalized activity that helps him channel his