Things That Just Don’t Matter as Much in the Summer

Oh summer!  Glorious, glorious summer!  The days are longer—thank you daylight savings—but they seem to fly by so much faster than school days.  And things that seem to matter a fair amount during the school year, just…don’t, over the summer.  Two such things which come to mind are…

My Hair

So, fun fact…my hair is curly.  Wavy, actually, but most certainly not straight.  The funny thing is though is that I didn’t quite realize my hair was curly until around middle school-ish.  So when I would go to the “salon” to get my hair “done,” I begged my mom for a perm.  Actually, if I remember correctly, the service was called a body wave.  (Wow, that just SOUNDS like such an 80s thing).  And the end result…I looked like a poodle.  Maybe that was the result I was looking for?  I’m not sure, I was 7.

When the poofy-poodle-ness eventually wore off, I was in 6th grade, still not sure how to style the mop on my head.  Apparently I still rocked the side-pony (as evidenced by my 6th grade yearbook photo), and maybe I brushed my hair every once in awhile?  The Florida humidity certainly did nothing to calm the frizz-fest that was my hair.  Those were the dark days of hair, so I think I’ve tried to repress those memories.

And then, in 10th grade, something magical happened.  I was shopping with my mom and saw a product simply called a “flat iron.”  The images on the front showed a girl going from curly hair to straight hair.  I was mesmerized.  This magic wand could be mine for the low low price of only $24.99?  Yes please.

And so the downward spiral of using heat to force my hair to do what I wanted it to began.

Fast forward to now.  Flat-irons have come a long way, and are now made with titanium infused ceramic plates and can heat up to 425 degrees.  While I’m pretty sure that’s even hotter than the sun (I don’t teach science, so I’m not quite sure), I barely bat an eyelash at using it 2 to 3 times a week during the school year.  It’s just easier.  And it also keeps me from having to answer the question, “Wow Mrs. Whitford, why is your hair so big?”

But during the summer time?  I think I’ve flattened my hair about 4 times.  Maybe 5.  I dunno, it’s summer, so counting isn’t really important.  Wild, crazy, frizziness?  Bring it on.  I just don’t care.  Or I’ll put on a hat.  Either way, I need to let my flat-iron rest up… just like me.

My FitBit

Can you remember back to a time when the FitBit was not a fashion staple?  Back to a time when steps were just something that helped you get from point A to point B, not something to count and help you engage in competitions with you friends?  Yeah, me either.

My FitBit is now just a part of everyday wear, and I’d feel just as naked without it as I do without my wedding rings (though I’ve had my wedding rings only slightly longer).

Like most, my daily goal is 10,000 steps.  Apparently some doctors or scientists or something somewhere decided that to maintain a healthy lifestyle, one should walk at least 10,000 steps per day (though that goal can be modified to meet your needs very teacher-y thing to say, FYI).  During the school year,  I have no problem meeting or exceeding that goal.  What with walking down the long hallway to my classroom, walking back down the long hallway to go to the copier, walking my kids to specials, walking my kids to lunch, walking my kids to recess, stopping by the office to check my mailbox…that’s not even taking into account the steps taken in and around my classroom (and of course the precious few steps to walk to the restroom when I get a much needed bathroom break).

So 10,000 steps?  Ha, I laugh in the face of that goal!  My daily quota hovers around 13,000, something I revel in taking the chance to tell my husband (I did get about 23,000 the day I went to Disney over spring break; I was pretty proud of that, if I do say so myself).

It seems like I trade my sleep goal for my step goal.  Why sleep when you can be walking, right?  10,000 steps seems like nothing, but 8 hours of sleep?  Ha ha ha, don’t make me laugh.

But during summer?  10,000 steps?  Um…not so much.  Try 5,000-ish, maybe 7,000 on a particularly active day.  I’ve definitely had a few lazy days where I’m struggling to hit even 3,000 steps.
 (those DVDs of 90210 aren’t gonna binge watch themselves!)

But ya know what?  It’s all good, cuz I know come August, I’ll be making up for my lack of steps.  And my step goal and sleep goal will once again trade places.