A Glimpse of Good Weather | How Much Did I Spend Last Week? May 12-18, 2025

Monday

We’re still working on toilet training Atlas — so far, he’s got a 100% success rate so long as he has nothing on his lower half, but obviously this isn’t a feasible tactic for when he leaves the house so please, all suggestions welcome! — so this morning the TV is broken again (“so hard to fix the TV!” Atlas proclaims) while Atlas has his breakfast.

It’s actually incredible how much of a difference the TV being off makes to his demeanour (like “you’ll feel better if you go for a walk”, this is a truth that is very annoying); he plays with his toys for a bit and then we put on his coat and backpack and he trots out to the bus, happy as Larry (as compared to the tears and major meltdowns we’ve had in the past as I’ve had to tear him away from the TV to go out to the bus).

Once he’s on board and I’ve waved him off, I put Roman in the car seat and into his buggy and we head off for a walk. My plan is to walk around our estate, but I’m almost back when my Mum calls, so I decide to take a longer walk while I chat to her.

When I get home, I get Roman changed and fed (he slept for pretty much the entire walk) and then he sits on his lap while I have an online appointment with my psychiatrist to confirm that I’m still doing well and to renew my prescription. (I pay a $40 co-pay)

Once that’s done, I have a really quick shower and head to pick up Atlas from school for speech therapy.

We stop for coffee and croissants ($21.12 — daylight robbery, there has to be a better snack option for Mondays but we don’t have time to go back home after pickup and going through the drive-thru queue puts in some time, because otherwise we’d be way too early and having to wait around with a toddler and a baby is not my idea of fun) on the way, and then afterwards I make the terrible decision to go through the drive-thru car wash. ($22)

The line is massive and both children are whining by the time it gets started — honestly, what I thought would be a thrill for Atlas, he is very blase about. Spoiled! When I was his age, going through the car wash was the highlight of my day!

When we get home, I put Atlas down for his nap straight away, and Roman happens to fall asleep at the same time, so I’ve a blissful hour and a half of quiet while I tidy up the kitchen and fold and put away a load of washing.

Once Brandin is home with the older two boys I take a quick trip to Kroger to get some things we need (mostly strawberries, why is it always strawberries?) ($77.50), then come home and we make pasta with tomato sauce (exciting!) for dinner.

Bed and bathtime is the same soul-destroying routine as always.

One of the boys’ 529 contributions comes out. ($100)

Daily total: $260.62