- babysat the neighbors kids(three times)
- organized the linen closet
- organized the pantry
- organized our closet
- started a new piano student
- taught 6 old ones
- attended Enrichment Night
- invited our neighbor to listen to the missionaries
- grocery shopped with coupons (spent $50- saved $150)
- helped Garrett learn to ride the bus home
- cut out 150 squares for a quilt
- helped Garrett get his homework done --about 2 hours, each night
- got some of Libbie's birthday gifts purchased
- attended roundtable
- worked at the LDS Mill for 4 hours
- made lunches every morning
- went to the gym 3 times
- had scripture study every morning
- had FHE
- had good family time at Fat Cats
- paid bills
- said prayers
- worked out October Budget
- spoke kindly to the kids (right up until last night:))
- kept the house clean
- read books to Libbie at night
- kept up with laundry
- picked up Dad's check book that was lost & found
- attended church
- taught Sunday school lesson
- picked up neighbor girl from school because she was sick
- paid debts that were due(to friends who did nice things for me)
- ordered from school book order
- got out consequence cards and power coupons to start up again
- sent 40 box tops to school
- hung up clothes after I took them off(this is HUGE for me!)
- made dinner (another HUGE one)
okay okay okay, you get the picture.
Now seriously -- can I say this was a successful week?
On one hand yes, on the other no. I am physically and emotionally exhausted. I don't know if it's just not a good week for me (inside my tiny brain) or if I just seriously can't do it all!!
As the week was going on I was thinking in my head -- WOW, I'm keeping up, I'm really doing all I set out to do. And then last night came. I am TIRED. I hollered at Garrett too much for not doing his homework. He hollered back. Philip hollered at Garrett. He hollered back. Libbie poured out her strawberry lemonade in the sink because SHE wanted to pour it. I hollered at her and told her she didn't get anymore. She screamed. She kicked me. She got a card pulled. Gavin sat there eating his corn on the cob with his missing two front teeth and said I love you Mom.(just to add a little more guilt) We couldn't sit at the table to eat the dinner I had made(shocker) because all of my quilting stuff was on it. I was running late for Roundtable. Garrett had a ton of homework left to do when I left. He didn't get it all done. The house is looking REALLY messy at this point. I go to get dressed for Roundtable...the only scout pants that fit after a summer of no running are the ones with sap on the bum. Great, just great. I don't have my cub epelets. Someone at Roundtable points that out to me! Again, you get the picture.
Are we really expected to "do it all?" Why does it feel like if I don't get it all done that I'm a failure? It seems we Mormons tend to lay the guilt on ourselves pretty thick. I realize that this is Satan. He wants us to feel like we haven't done everything perfect.
There is such wise counsel in doing everything in moderation. A friend of mine told me the other day that she came home from a church function to find her family reading scriptures. Ahhh, such bliss. Then she headed into the kitchen, dishes all over, cheerios all over the floor, not so blissful anymore. Our immediate instinct is to be mad that the kitchen is dirty. She made a great point to me -- Heavenly Father isn't going to ask if we kept our kitchen clean all of the time. He is going to ask if we read our scriptures. If we have to clean our kitchen before we read our scriptures, we probably need a priority check. I know I do.
Be moderate in order to taste the joys of life in abundance. ~Epicurus
I'd love to say I did it all this week -- but truth be told -- I'm tired and honestly I never got to editing the pictures from the family reunion (that I'm WAY over due on), going to Michael's to get the sconces Philip wants (yes, Philip wants) for the TV room wall, cleaning out the garage and painting my bedroom(that was scheduled for today, but I haven't even picked out a paint color yet) I've decided if I can get Garrett to Cub Scouts, the house clean and a few more quilt squares cut out -- I'll be doing good.
I need to remember moderation and not get overwhelmed. Moderation sure isn't easy though. Neither is motherhood. Neither is being a good wife. BUT, I'll get them down as well as I can. I need to remember that I'm doing my best and with faith the Lord will make up the difference.
15 comments:
Hey, relaaax!=) And next time I ask you to do more in a week you have too much just say no. I won't be offended. I promise!
I am going to Michaels today. Can I get those sconce thingys for you? Anything else I can do? Seriously!
Michelle
I have had a very similar week! I love this scripture. It is when Jesus went to Mary and Martha's house; Mary listened to him and Martha busied herself with work, put out that Mary wasn't helping.
"And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art troubled about many things:
But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her."
Luke 10:41-42
I think that we should stop beating ourselves up for not doing all of the "good" things; and allow ourselves to focus on the "best" things... then be content with what we were able to accomplish.
When I was reading your list, I thought, "I can't be friends with someone who can do all that." I was so glad to read the rest of it. I think it's such a 'Mormon Mom' thing to think we have to do it all. No wonder we're the Prozac and ice cream eating capital of the world!!!
You're right Megan we don't need to do it ALL. Sometimes we feel pressure from others and sometimes we put the pressure upon ourselves. Of course I feel better when the house is clean but this year I decided I am only going to keep up the downstairs. The upstairs can be a diaster and I'll get around to it when I can...slowly if ever.
Don't keep track of what you HAVEN"T done keep track of what you ARE doing and HAVE done.
Moderation in all things what a great little phrase.
P.S. your night sounded like my night last night. We were all at each other and as soon as the doorbell rang (for Guitar night) we smiled and said hello. Then My friend Denette said "how are you Jake?" Jake said O.K......Then I said "OH just tell her like it is WE are ALL at each others throats and this is NOT a happy home right now!!!!"
Oh the joys....
Megan, "We Mormons" put to much stress on ourselves. We've got eternity to work on perfection. Epicurus was a wise Greek, but something we as Mormons should be able to relate to, unless we force ourselves into the vanity game, is:
"Do What is Right, Let the Consequence Follow." Another thing we whould ask ourselves as we hustle to and fro is: "What does it really matter in the eternal scheme of things?" The answers can be found in the scriptures. Candice found a great one. Yes, and anonymous Michelle has a great idea too. "Hey, relaaaaax! And there is nothing wrong with telling others or yourself "No" once in a while.
Been there, done that,and I think
I have survived in the long run.
Of course, I think my children
might think I didn't survive mentally, but I can blame that on
old age. Do what I didn't do, relax
and smell the roses. I know Garrette comes with some special
needs but he is a very special child of God and brings a lot of
love for all of us to feel. HE
teaches us uncondtional LOVE....
Take some pressure off yourself,
family comes first, all else will
fall into place in it's due time.
Love you and keep a smile on your
face, you'll be surprised how far
a smile will go.
Love Iris
MEgan,
You do a great job. I really like Candice's thought "choose the good parts".
I really can't offer any advice, I am guilty of feeling this too....just know you are so not alone in this feeling.
Trying to do it all and be it all...runs us down.
My thoughts.... Laugh find the laughter in it all..
I actually LOL'd when I read the Libbie part of your blog...dumping it down the sink. That girl. :)
Love you.
Great thoughts from all of you! I actually had a friend ask me if I was okay (right after she read this):) I am GREAT! Some weeks I have thoughts spinning in my head and this week -- this was it.
This week is really no different from others, or even from other peoples -- maybe, minus the hollering at your kids for pouring their drink down the sink.:)
I do feel we are all in the same boat, we either have been, are, or will be.
One of my strong opinions in life is that the more we share(appropriately) the more we all feel "normal." Hope it helps. Hee Hee. It helped me to vent. I'm almost smiling now.:)
I have felt like this for about a month or so straight. I just seem to load up the things to do and then I am asked to do more. I haven't learned the word "no" (except with my kids). I love to serve, I really, really do, but it seems like when you serve, everyone chooses you to always do everything. I need to learn to say "No". We need to let things go. Who cares if Avery didn't read one night or Ada forgot to hand in an assignment or Addison skipped a couple of practices at home. We need to live and stress less about fitting it all in and especially fitting it all in perfectly. We CANNOT do it all. I wonder how parents with many children seem to do it all and I struggle with only three. Oh, but if we were a fly on their wall. Nobody can do it all! Let me know when you meet the one that can. Just breathe and remember you too!
Hanging up clothes is a big deal for me, too!
Yeah, I guess you had a lot going on (read that with heavy sarcasm). I think you DESERVED granola!
I love the mill, too (when the machines work). We're taking turns going. And someday I'm going to make whole wheat, um, something. Whole wheat flour seemed like such a healthy thing to get, right?
I like these thoughtful posts. I think that the fact that you are asking yourself how the week went is a great sign. We need to be able to look at our lives and take the good and leave the bad. If you are humble, teachable, and have the desire, you will come to the right balance for you. ;)
You need to have a spa afternoon to yourself. You should be proud of what you were able to accomplish. I have to say you are wonder woman.
Sounds like you need sometime in the hot tub. Let me know when you can come over. Cort goes back to nights on Tuesday.
I'm exhausted just reading the list! Wish I had your energy.
What are "consequence cards and power coupons"? Please share....
Hey thanks for letting me know about this...you're right, exactly how I feel! I agree, I need to simplify. It's easy to push the ones you love most to the "back" while you try to keep up on everything else. I know they know I adore them, but sometimes life just gets a little crazy and I want to stop time and just hang with them. And then I re-evaluate and everything's back on track. So, good timing with conference this weekend, right?? Can't wait.
Anyway, thanks again for your words of wisdom!
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