Shaunahoney

Getting back in shape after having a baby is a lot harder than I imagined. When I was pregnant my pre-natal instructor said you only need extra calories equivalent to a peanut-butter and jelly sandwhich. Once I got over the morning sickness, I craved everything and anything I could get my hands on. I thought the extra weight would drop once I gave birth but I was wrong. Though in all fairness, I only gained an extra 15 lbs which is normal. I gave up smoking and drinking only to indulge in tons of food. Now, dropping those bad habits is tough. I just tried working out and ended up giving up halfway through my second set of push-ups. Supporting X lbs on your arms is not easy. I’m not huge now or anything but I would like to tone up in time for Dance class in January. This is going to be a long journey. Wish me luck.

Too often, I am so agreeable with people around me and do not express what I am really thinking. It gets in my way because I secretly resent them for controlling the situation. Instead of protecting them from hurt feelings, I am just creating a negative view of them in my own head. I think there is a fine line between being honest and being too blunt so I will have to find my balance but I think it is important to express your true thoughts.

I have taken driver’s training twice and I have also taken one brush-up lesson recently. The first time I took DT I felt quite confident behind the wheel despite a few novice mistakes. I failed my first road test unfortunately because I did not successfully parralel park, however I did not have any other checks against me. I tried again two weeks later and failed because I was noticably nervous and the examiner felt that she had to walk me through it. After that I let 6 years go by without trying again. Last winter, I resumed DT but under bad driving conditions (black ice, snow ruts, etc.) I was also pregnant and distracted. This time, I did not even attempt to go for my road test, knowing that I was not ready. I did improve my skills a little bit though. I was driving with my boyfriend and accidently backed into a car behind me in traffic when an ambulance approached and I let my nerves get the best of me. I tried a brush-up lesson a few months ago and was a nervous wreck because I only drive sporatically and do not get much practice. Now it is November again 2009, and I have a 5 month old baby but still no license. It is really important to me to get this so that I can take him places this winter and not be housebound. I also found out that I will need to take him to the opposite end of the city twice a month and do not want to do this on public transit due to the poor weather, inconvienience, and exposure to people who may be sick (h1n1.) It is also really important to my boyfriend that I get my licence and gain a sense of independence, and important to myself. It has taken a huge strain on our relationship, because I have to rely on him to get anywhere in the winter and when you live in Canada winter pretty much means all the time! My plan of attack is to know my driver’s training book like the back of my hand and try to get someone who will practice with me combined with one more brush-up lesson if needed. The problem is I am on maternity leave with little money and have already spent close to $1000 on obtaining my licence with no result. Please wish me luck and pray to the driving God’s that I can get my licence!!!