Perspective

The Bwun had a checkup last week, and while we were waiting for the doctor, the Romgi and I had a conversation that went something like this:

me: I can’t believe the Bwun is four months old.
the Romgi: I know! It seems like we just brought him home from the hospital.
me: …No, it seems like we’ve had him for at least a year.

Thank you, Bwun, for a very exhausting four months.

Worth the exhaustion, right?

I said I would write

I recently decided to eliminate high fructose corn syrup from my diet. It wasn’t an effort to lose weight or be healthier so much as a realization that that stuff is everywhere – and I want to feel like I choose what I eat. I think the decision was actually spurred by a late-night snack of Wheat Thins and fromage blanc; I read the ingredients on the Wheat Thins and was surprised to find high fructose corn syrup listed.

Quite honestly, though, it’s been remarkably easy to stop eating foods with high fructose corn syrup because it turns out we don’t have many of those foods in our house. The Romgi and I are usually pretty good about buying fresh produce and using it to make home-cooked meals, with the occasional splurge on $1 menu when we’re too tired to make dinner. Getting rid of those splurges wasn’t difficult (and it saved us some of the Romgi’s hard-earned dollars). In fact, the only thing I lament giving up is Yoplait boysenberry yogurt. It’s my favorite flavor, and I could probably eat 2 a day. Unfortunately, it’s sweetened with high fructose corn syrup. I might look for an organic or all-natural yogurt to substitute, but I have this fear of trying new dairy products.

So there’s my report on that adventure.

The Bwun got to be adventurous, too, when I started him on rice cereal this past Friday. So far he’s had a predictable response: meh. I don’t imagine the cereal tastes very good. But he does a good job of eating what I give him, and making a complete mess while he eats. I suppose part of that is my fault – he always seems to move his head right as I’m trying to get a spoonful in, so it ends up all over his face…I just need practice, right?

And now I need your sage advice. I’m taking an independent study class (social psychology) that needs to be finished by October. I do have time to get things done while the Bwun is napping or playing by himself – but I feel like my first obligation is to get the house clean (and keep it clean), and somehow it just never seems to happen. Since the class is on more of a deadline than is perfecting my housekeeping skills, should I use my free time – at least some of it – to work on the class, or continue my vain efforts to not be a slob? (When the Bwun starts crawling I intend to blame all household messes on him, but in the meantime I don’t think that excuse will work.)

Tell me.