Each day I face the day with a hopeful expectancy of getting about 211 things done before 3pm. Adventurous? Yes. Hopeful? Yes. Realistic? No. Even my Saturday’s have a TO DO LIST.
Now, I know better than to expect myself to complete all the tasks on my To Do List A.K.A. Wish List. And, when I do not complete certain tasks sometimes I really beat myself up. I feel like I have failed that day. Do you ever feel like that? Do you ever feel like you put on your Super Hero gear ready to rescue the day, only to finish the day feeling like you have to double your efforts the next day?
When our son was born, everything changed. We had to evaluate our schedule, we had to change our priorities, and we had to settle down more. My husband, Scott and I have always been the type of people to do, do, do, and do some more. I have always had an issue with telling people no, so I just said yes to almost everything asked of me within reason. And in saying yes, I of course brought Scott in on it too. How nice of me. Then he started saying yes more and more and before we knew it, we were on the road doing so much, that we would just scratch our heads and say how did we get this occupied? Then Seth joined our family, and like I said, everything changed. I learned to say no more, and I learned that I could not do it all even though I sure thought I could. After all, I am Wonder Woman, turned Wonder Mom! Or Super Woman turned Super Mom if you prefer, wink wink.
So dear readers, lately I have been thinking a lot about my priorities and the new baby we have on the way. We have enjoyed the last 8 years being a family of 3, and now, that number is going to increase, and our schedule and lifestyle will change again. I’m a little more prepared this time around since this is not our first baby, but it’s been 8 years. So much time has passed, even Scott said the other day that he could hardly remember what it was like having a little, little baby 24/7. I remember some things, like putting the TV remote in the refrigerator because I was so tired from all the lack of sleep, I think we put the telephone in there too. Or the time, I asked Scott where the baby was after I had woke up from a quick nap, and he was so exhausted he could not remember where he laid Seth down (we had 2 cribs) and started calling out “Seth!” meanwhile I am laughing hysterically because I knew a week old baby was not going to answer him back “Here I am dad.” I love to remember the funny times. I am sure there are many more, but then this little blog would be a book.
What about you? What tasks do you take on that could be something that you could pass on, or simply just not add to your list? How many times do you say I wish I had more time for this, or that, and beat yourself up because you did not do your Super Cape justice? Stop. Please stop. Before you drive yourself crazy. I am talking to myself here too, believe me every moment of my day is occupied. In fact as I write this I have a timer to my right keeping me on target with my daily goals. I only have this break because right now it’s circle time and our little daycare friends are doing show and tell with my mom. At 11am I will be in the kitchen preparing lunch for those 8 sweet friends, cleaning up the kitchen, then Home School my wonderful son while the other little friends nap time about 1pm. So you see I never stop. My mom never stops (we are a team, we work together). Am I complaining? No way, I love my life, my crazy, fun, adventurous, never a dull moment life. All I am saying is I could not do everything without a list, and I can’t do everything on the list either. And I am learning that, that is okay. What is more important to me is making sure my family knows how much I love them, how much God loves them, and no matter how occupied I might be, they are always my #1 priority.
We, as parents only get one shot at raising our children. If that means the laundry piles up to the ceiling because Seth needs me to help him more with Math, then the laundry piles up. If it means the dishes wait till after Seth is in bed because he wants me to look at him play Wii to see him beat a level he has been working on, then the dishes will wait. What is important to my family is important to me. When I decided to be a wife and a mother I knew my life might be on hold much of the time. I knew that I would have to place myself second to my family many times too. And that’s okay, because one day Seth will be grown and have his own family, and so will our other little one on the way, and then our nest will be empty. So if my task list is still long at the end of the day, that’s okay with me, because I know the most important tasks have been done.
Please enjoy this chart, the link is below, it was emailed to me through a blog I subscribe to called Passionate Homemaking. I really hope you like it as much as I do, it really makes you think, and places a good perspective within you. Have a happy day, and if you are wearing an “S” on your chest today don’t forget it’s ok to take it off from time to time and just be you. Love to all ~ S.
stephaniecatlett.com 
You’ll always be my Wonder Woman! Love you