No matter how hard I try...I just can't keep up with it all. Now that I am working full-time (for the next 6 weeks or so) I can't do it all. I am trying to cook, clean, work, create and blog AND workout! I am going into overload mode and stressing myself out.
Today I am making a few adjustments. First and foremost I am so grateful for the job and am trying to do my best (i am teaching elementary art...what a blast!) AND I have begun my workouts at the gym!!! Yay ME!!! During my free-hour today I am sitting down, pen in had and sorting the rest of my priorities out.
I miss blogging and inspiring, girls. Please know that. I LOVE this place and all of you! Tell me...how do YOU manage to fit it all in??? I MUST know!
Leave me a comment...make my day!
I would say that since ya working outside the home, I would let my expectations of an immaculate house go. I see it this way, When I die (which will happen) Will I be worried over dirty dishes, laundry that didn't get folded, etc.. NO! Why? Because when we leave this earth we leave with household things undone. No matter how perfect a homemaker ya are we all leave something undone. I say think about what will make my family happy. Will they be upset I didn't sit down and chat with them or have a clean home. I would say they'd love to have the quality time with you. Those are the memories they will think of, not "Man, Mom sure did leave us with a load of laundry to do" lol It's a matter of what ya can live with, verses are YOU trying to make EVERYTHING perfect all the time? I'm not saying don't do housework. I'm saying pick ya battles. Does the house need dusting every day? No, Do the dishes need to be done? yes. If ya can't blog every day then it's fine. I don't blog every day, I blog when the opportunity presents itself. Not that I don't love ya blog entrys, I do. But I know life gets in the way. And aren't we talking about 6 weeks of school? Then this phase will be over & ya can resume ya egular activities. I say the gym is important to keep you healthy. YOU DO NEED to create though. This is for ya mental helath as the gym is for ya physical health. Do what makes YOU feel good about your life. NOT what society says ya should do. We were made by God in HIS image not the worlds. Seek HIM to find where he thinks you need to scale back. I hope I helped in some small way.
ReplyDeleteHugs, Poe
hi leslie, get the family to help. surely they are old enough to know that the house don't clean itself. that way if everyone mucks in to keep the house tidy, and perhaps even take it in turns to cook, it will help you all to enjoy your quality family time together. leslie this is only a suggestion but in the long run it will relieve some of your stress levels in worrying about trying to fit everything into your schedule
ReplyDeleteIt will take a shift in expectations, rethinking what's needed as opposed to what you think needs to be done. A little team work goes a long way, there may be things that will need to be taken over by another member of your family team. Why not shoot for one blog entry a week, see if that's manageable. Lots of great advice from others already, I'm sure in time you will find a new groove :-)
ReplyDeleteLove all your comnents!!!! Thanks so much:)
ReplyDeleteSo, here are my suggestions, get the kids to help with the house and the meals, maybe even the hubby too. You could put Jackson in charge of dinner one day and Emma in charge another day and Dave in charge on another day. Do every other day and then you can leftovers on the off days. Or maybe even on Saturday and Sunday make a whole bunch of frozen dinners so you can just pop them in the oven when you get home, or do crock pot meals (I know how you love them!!) and wait until the weekend to blog, like Sunday after church. Oh and breathe!! I don't know how you do it all, you are amazing!!! I miss seeing your face, it's been too long!
ReplyDeleteI love everyone's suggestions. I, too, was thinking that the kids could definitely chip in to do laundry, cooking, and cleaning. There's no reason for you to be doing all of that along. Doing some big batch cooking on the weekend can give you some freezer meals to last through the week. (There are web sites that can help you with planning that.) I think your workouts should be a priority, because feeling healthy and strong will help you with all of your other priorities. Continuing to make time for your family is definitely one of those priorities; you guys are way too close to let that slip! Change your blogging expectations, too. Just let us know; we'll understand if you tell us that we'll only hear from you once a week for awhile. We'll still be here! :-) As far as your art-making is concerned, you can still do just a few moments here and there...put paint down on a canvas, add a layer here and there, prep a journal page. It might not feel as satisying as doing a whole project at once, but it will keep your fingers in the game until you have more time. I hope this helps!! :-)
ReplyDeleteAgree with Poe!! God time and Me time are important, slot that in first, then all the rest will fall in place :D .
DeleteBlessing,
Charri
Okay, I absolutely LOVE this post! I find that so many things you are going through or express are happening to me too! I just started a part time job working for my Mom's design business and then of course I just opened Etsy which I have to create art for in order to give myself a good chance at success. AND I do LB as well (but I must say, I joined without expecting to do a single lesson - I watch every single one - but my days to do art are full of "musts" and I didn't want the extra pressure ;)
ReplyDeleteI think all we can do is what you already are - make not of what brings us joy and try to fit as much of THAT in as we can . . .at least for now, xoxo