Taking the time...
One year ago this week, I started my blog! My plan is to eventually turn each year into a book of pictures and memories that I can give to my children.
I decided today to concentrate my efforts on my children instead of trying to do household chores and work on some other things that I wanted to get done. I have noticed the past several days the behaviors and attitudes have been "noticeable" and that I have been very irritable (making them even more noticeable) because I have been trying to get MY things done and feeling a bit of the "holiday rush".
I made a tally chart so I could observe good behaviors and the one's I wanted to see an improvement on. I have to say, this was a great way for me to zone in on my children. I was able to address each specific situation with compliments or guidance. Beings that I wasn't trying to do anything else, I was a lot more patient. The children responded well to clear boundaries, accountability, and lots of Mommy time. I was still able to fold and put away laundry and clean the kitchen (by noon!) without it being my focus.
The most important part of my day is loving, leading, training, and guiding my children even though it can be a challenge to follow through with this when I feel overwhelmed with the need to "get things done". It was a good reminder that a clean and orderly house isn't as important as time spent raising my children. The house isn't so disastrous that a good hour or two can't fix it and this can be easily done when Phil gets home. I was reminded, as I marked again and again in the "compliance" column, that I have WONDERFULLY behaved children and even more so when I am with them. This makes me feel confident that the job I am doing, although not something I can mark off a list, measure by an accomplishment or goal attained, IS making a difference. Sometimes this is hard to see when you live a life where your daily tasks are undone faster than you can do them!
I decided today to concentrate my efforts on my children instead of trying to do household chores and work on some other things that I wanted to get done. I have noticed the past several days the behaviors and attitudes have been "noticeable" and that I have been very irritable (making them even more noticeable) because I have been trying to get MY things done and feeling a bit of the "holiday rush".
I made a tally chart so I could observe good behaviors and the one's I wanted to see an improvement on. I have to say, this was a great way for me to zone in on my children. I was able to address each specific situation with compliments or guidance. Beings that I wasn't trying to do anything else, I was a lot more patient. The children responded well to clear boundaries, accountability, and lots of Mommy time. I was still able to fold and put away laundry and clean the kitchen (by noon!) without it being my focus.
The most important part of my day is loving, leading, training, and guiding my children even though it can be a challenge to follow through with this when I feel overwhelmed with the need to "get things done". It was a good reminder that a clean and orderly house isn't as important as time spent raising my children. The house isn't so disastrous that a good hour or two can't fix it and this can be easily done when Phil gets home. I was reminded, as I marked again and again in the "compliance" column, that I have WONDERFULLY behaved children and even more so when I am with them. This makes me feel confident that the job I am doing, although not something I can mark off a list, measure by an accomplishment or goal attained, IS making a difference. Sometimes this is hard to see when you live a life where your daily tasks are undone faster than you can do them!
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