1. There is more air and more light in my new cubicle. That is all I need.

2. Not only has Em participated in the school discussion about children's heroes, she has even been picked to be one of 9 kids from school to debate with other peers from the municipality.

3. Jay’s little hands warm mine while we drive to her dancing class.

1. I feel my friend's excitement. She is eager to take part in that course.

2. When I see my teenage girl's face and hair, not curly but straight, I see me.  

3. Moving my stuff from one desk to another. Feeling like an absolute professional failure. Building a career for 15 years and this is the same position, only in a different division. But I welcome change. Any change is good.

1. I have a cold but I feel so much better today.

2. It's such a bright and sunny day it seems like Spring (but feels like Winter).

3. My teenage daughter and her classmate set a date to start on their assignment on idioms for the Slovenian class. Special assignments are the only part her school work that really get her full attention.

1. Sleeping in. Cartoons are being watched, breakfast is served, and I am still in bed.

2. She comes rushing back in within minutes."Veš, kak' je mrzl'!" (you have no idea how cold it is!) she says and her cheeks are like two red apples.

3. While reading the English story out loud she makes a whole dramatization with her voice and gestures. Who says homework's boring...?

1. I got through the day at the office without having a hot-dog, a cake and a drop of sweet strawberry wine, all the extras I would have forgotten all about by the time I got home. Today I am doing all it takes to break the old habits. Tomorrow I will have to start all over again.

2. By the time I am out of the door again pancakes with my friend’s homemade jam are made, served – and gone.

3. Our parental meeting at the daycare centre starts with photos of our children involved in their projects and activities.

1. Lettuce, grilled cheese and yoghurt dressing for lunch.

2. There is a teenager on the fitness bike. I glance at him and there is something familiar in his face and his straight red hair. Then I see him smile at a friend and it’s the smile from more than 20 years ago, an age this boy hasn’t even reached yet.

3. Coming home from the gym I tiptoe into the living room hoping to watch the one movie in the whole week on TV. Soon I hear the squeaking of the door behind the wall separating the rooms and within two minutes a piece of paper lands on the floor. It says, in capital letters: HVALA BOGU DA SI PRIŠLA (in English: thanks god you came). I laugh out loud and go search for the little sender.

1. 
   

   I imagine the same situation happening in a week. And the week after. And I understand myself better. For now.  

2. 
   

   I sensed their resentment and it affected me but after a while I decide to pick my thoughts and let go. I don’t want to please everybody. I can’t and I don’t want to.

3. The plan to get to work super early tomorrow morning after a hopefully good night sleep come crashing down the moment I feel her hot forehead. Nothing else matters anymore.

1. 
   

   We take a walk in the sun, all three of us.

2. 
   

   For a moment when we converse about common issues, in our kitchen and away from the rest, I feel the old closeness we used to share, my Auntie and I.

3. “What’s so great about being a mommy?” she wonders at bedtime.

1. If I had had an alternative, I would have left yesterday…  So far there is one good thing about the new position they expect me to take: I get the my old pay back.

2. Post work-out energy overload.

3. I thought I’d surprise my teenage daughter by picking her up after her dance class.  She doesn’t think it’s any big deal until I tell her that we’re off to the movies, just the two of us…!

1. I have something for you, she said. A book. Her first. In it she wrote her first story. About a butterfly and the desert and the sun and the seagulls. 

2. I mail the big envelope and it is a relief. I may not be able to ever deal with the emotional loss, but at least I am getting over and done with the bureaucracy.  

3. Long showers. Lavender soap. Soaking feet. Tee tree cream. Reading. Tonight my bathroom is my spa. 

November’s gone

1. Our chat saves me from dwelling on disappointment.

2. Their old house is like an enchanted castle but then the lights reveal its colorful and cozy interior.

3. I sneak under her bedcovers while she watches TV. 

Tuesday’s 3

1. 
   

   I talk and talk and she listens and the sun keeps shining on us despite everything.

2. 
   

   There was no need to argument. To ask for help. I just did it. Nobody seemed to care. I care.

3. 
   

   I feel brain-washed.  In a good way.

Monday’s skies

1. 
   

   An amazing mackerel sky at dawn.  I can’t ever remember seeing a single cloud spread across the sky like that, in the form of a volcano eruption in grey and pink.

2. 
   

   I changed clothes and walked right out of the house, into the sun. It was a perfect walk to the library. And back, under the starry sky.

3. 
   

   There is something healing coming my way every time I experience my teenage daughter’s expressions of deepest sentiments, be it happiness, anger, sadness, pain. Or fear, like tonight. It’s in the knowing she can do it and I never could.

Wednesday anticipation

1. 
   

   I feel assured about not experiencing unplesantries without prior notice. Which is good.

2. 
   

   I help Jay dress up for the dancing class. I feel her heart pound in anticipation.

3. 
   

   Em’s looking forward to going to the book fair.

Finally, Tuesday

1. I feel my unease. Can't focus. Can't work. Then my coworker says something about scanning some competitor's prices and I can't be more grateful for the lucky chance to leave the office for a couple of hours.

2. It's been ages since I sat down next to her to draw. To read, I will do that any time. But to draw, no. It seems too simple, won't shut the mind. But then I do just that. Draw ornaments, patterns, doodle. And I dive into peacefulness, even if just for an hour. We both do.

3. I watch her parade in her new black boots. And I can see she is growing. Too fast.

Free-day it is!

1. "Do you even see it is sunny outside?" And I see my friend is right to draw my attention away from life's unimportant small issues.

2. "If you take time, you can find many interesting things." Jay is referring to the stones she found someplace, and I am thinking intangible things.

3. "Do you have plans after Em's dancing class tomorrow ?" And I say yes because my day and my daughter's is planned out.

Thursday's 3

1. I wanted to pay just gas but then I pick a sandwitch to take along  which I haven't done in months, and the lady behind the counter checks my card and says it's free of charge because I have 5 stamps already.

2. Jay brings her notebook home from daycare and she shows me all her beautiful drawings. She tells me she has joined the choir, for the very first time. Yep, she is a big girl now.

3. There is a young man at the castle cafe, he's a cook actually with great skills in decorating food, who makes wonders out of pumpkins... There, what a sunflower!

Dancing Wednesday

1. Human nature never fails to amaze me. Which is good. Even when it's about power.

2. The girls' dancing is like watching butterflies. So fragile and beautiful. Jay's first performance with the group.

3. Buying tickets to a puppets' show.

Active Tuesday

1. I have a to-do list. The lines in red really bug me because they have a deadline in October and they are just calling for immediate action. So action it is. Stopping by to schedule my car service.

2. Last time Jay and I went for a walk in the woods we saw trash lying around and we promised to each other to pick the empty bottles and wrapping paper next time. Today I would have forgotten all about it if Jay hadn't reminded me to take the trash bag along.

3. Crushed walnuts on our dining table.

Monday’s heights

1. Jay tells me she got a star from her teacher for singing a song at daycare. She’s got happy eyes.

2. It’s the first time I hear Em play piano accompaniment to flute.

3. It’s late and I have a slight headache but my energy level is surprisingly high. My investment into a wristband is paying off already.