Well, here we are, happily making messes cooking and cleaning them up in our almost-almost finished kitchen. I probably spent 90% of my time at home this weekend in the kitchen. Sigh... it was glorious!
However, having a beautiful new kitchen and an almost done beautiful new laundry room and playroom did not come with any extra hours in the day. Still the same 24, and I do like to sleep. (Although the youngest member of our household STILL hates to sleep, but that is another post.) So after the euphoria of having a kitchen wore off a bit, I was left wondering why I was still stressed, short-tempered and running around like a chicken with its head cut off every morning and evening.
That saying should really be updated for modern life to "running around like a mother trying to get herself and her children out the door in the morning in 15 degree weather while the sun is still rising". With, mind you, (relatively) clean clothes on, homework done and IN the backpack, hair combed and WITH the lunch box in hand. A few details which, lately, have sometimes gone overlooked. I haven't yet forgotten to put my own shoes on after I'm done wrestling Lily's on her feet, but too many times I have arrived at work with my hair in the same sloppy ponytail I put it in when I woke up.
And then there was the time I walked through a snow storm to bring Daniel a lunch from the deli because I forgot his lunch box on the counter and GOD FORBID he try to eat the horrible yucky school lunch! Or, worse, I pick him up from school and he's HUNGRY. (Hungrier than usual that is. My son is now averaging 4-5 full meals a day. Nothing fits him. He's growing like a teen. And everything must now be eaten with a big dollop of hot salsa, although I did put my foot down with spaghetti.)
Oh, you know, just enjoying a little afternoon snack of rice and beef stir fry.
However, having a beautiful new kitchen and an almost done beautiful new laundry room and playroom did not come with any extra hours in the day. Still the same 24, and I do like to sleep. (Although the youngest member of our household STILL hates to sleep, but that is another post.) So after the euphoria of having a kitchen wore off a bit, I was left wondering why I was still stressed, short-tempered and running around like a chicken with its head cut off every morning and evening.
That saying should really be updated for modern life to "running around like a mother trying to get herself and her children out the door in the morning in 15 degree weather while the sun is still rising". With, mind you, (relatively) clean clothes on, homework done and IN the backpack, hair combed and WITH the lunch box in hand. A few details which, lately, have sometimes gone overlooked. I haven't yet forgotten to put my own shoes on after I'm done wrestling Lily's on her feet, but too many times I have arrived at work with my hair in the same sloppy ponytail I put it in when I woke up.
And then there was the time I walked through a snow storm to bring Daniel a lunch from the deli because I forgot his lunch box on the counter and GOD FORBID he try to eat the horrible yucky school lunch! Or, worse, I pick him up from school and he's HUNGRY. (Hungrier than usual that is. My son is now averaging 4-5 full meals a day. Nothing fits him. He's growing like a teen. And everything must now be eaten with a big dollop of hot salsa, although I did put my foot down with spaghetti.)
So, adjustments have to be made. Minor ones that, I'm hoping, will a little bit less "hurry up let's go! we're late! did you pick up your pajamas?! where is your water bottle?! ahhh!" and a bit more peaceful. ooohhhhhmmmmmmmm....
For example: In the mornings I will drink a cup of coffee from a mug, nice and hot. And then I will put the mug in the sink. I will not make myself another cup to go, and then run frantically back into the house while the car is running because I forgot it on the counter. I will not try to hold said hot coffee while also carrying two heavy bags and thus spill it all over myself. I will not bring the coffee all the way to work only to leave it on the table and forget to drink it until it is cold.
Minor adjustments.
I will wash and comb my hair in the morning. I will not leave the house looking like a schlub.
I will make my own healthy lunch to eat, and not have to buy a sandwich (and chips and a candy bar) at the deli.
I will not spend hours in the kitchen making dinner, and then try to rush around paying bills and blogging and answering emails while the kids are
These sound like a bunch of New Year's resolutions but I think of them more as okay you REALLY live here in this new house resolutions. It just so happened that our renovations were almost done after the New Year. There have been so many changes in the past 6 months. We sold/bought. We packed. We moved. We renovated. I don't need any more big changes, I just need to adjust to the ones we've already made. A little at a time.
One adjustment we are making in our family life this weekend is that we are starting a Sabbath practice. Not, like, can't turn on the lights Sabbath. More like a, turn off your phone and look at each other Sabbath. A no working, shopping, schlepping Sunday. A day of rest. So far the putting the phones/devices away seems the most daunting (to the kids and the adults). We'll see if I can make it 24 hours without looking at or adding to my to do list. (Or accomplishing anything it!)
I'll tell you more about it afterwards... Wish us luck!
You know it's serious when you are studying up on it...
