I love the “a-ha” moments of life, when things click, the light bulb goes off, and we gain some clarity and understanding. But I’ll be honest with you, I like it best when the “a-ha” moments are also feel-good moments, because sometimes they are not. Sometimes they really sting.
That’s what happened to me the other day when talking with my youngest daughter about things to do this summer. Faith expressed some worry that she’d be bored because she wouldn’t have anyone to play with since her sister always plays with the neighbor. I said, “What about me?” To which she replied, “You’re always too busy to play with me, Mommy. You always have to work or do laundry or do cleaning. I used to ask you to play, but I don’t anymore because you never can.”
My heart? Broken.
Now, her answer is not entirely true or fair, but it doesn’t matter. That’s her perception, and I’m not okay with her feeling that way. Not by a long shot.
Life is busy, and of course there is always a lot to do. I can’t just quit my job, stop cooking, and forego laundry. But, there has to be a better balance than this – one that shows my children that they matter more than a clean floor. I certainly want them to see me fulfilling my responsibilities, but being their mom – that’s my biggest responsibility. They are my priority.
This summer, I’m fortunate that I have more wiggle room to define what our schedules are like, and during this time I’ll be working hard to strike a better balance. My goals are to regain control over my time, to really hone in on my priorities, and to live in a way that reflects that.
I was really impacted by something Aby wrote in Lesson 1 of the It’s About Time online workshop: “The crux of time management is to become intentional about how you spend your limited time. It’s about making the most of this finite resource. This doesn’t necessarily mean that the goal is to fill that bucket to the brim, or to try to be ultra productive every minute of the day. Rather, it’s about creating space for the things that matter most to you.”
Yes! That’s exactly what I’m after – making the most of this finite resource known as time and creating space for the things and people that matter most to me. I can’t yet see all the steps that get me from here to there. But it starts with knowing that I want something different. (Check!) And then it continues by taking steps in a new direction. Off I go…
Happy Summer!
P.S. If you could use guidance in regaining control over your time or going after your goals, take a look at our time management class. You’ll learn how to manage your time and create a customized system that’s just right for you! Also, if you want to learn how to achieve your goals, we can help with that, too!
Jennifer, Love your honesty! I often don’t want to admit that! But, I am going to focus on being intentional this summer and love your idea of the Welcome Summer sign you made!
Thank you, Tracy! Here’s hoping we both can achieve that focus, and maybe even sooner than we think. By the way, I wish I could claim the sign idea as my own… got to love Pinterest! 😉
Out of the mouths of babes, huh? Sometimes we need that 🙂 I’m confident you’ll have a wonderfully balanced summer!
Kristen, so true that sometimes we need that honesty to help hold us accountable. Thanks so much for your comment. You have a great summer, too!