For
Jen's Quick Takes Friday this week, my "quick takes" are from my vault of vast maternal experience and wisdom. I must clarify, of course, that I don't actually
do any of these things myself. I'm just in awe of the moms I know who can actually pull off these amazing seven habits.
1. Wake. Up. Early.Again and again, I discover that moms I admire rise quite early--long before the other members of their family. I don't know why the hours between 5 and 7 a.m. are more productive than those between 10 and midnight, but for some reason they must be. Maybe someday I'll wake up to see for myself.
2. Become Brutally Proficient at Throwing Things Away.Stuff Management is a serious skill that is absolutely critical to managing a home well. Heck, they should offer a college degree in it, I think. Mail and paperwork, kids' artwork, hand-me-down clothing, school supplies, pantry and 'frig management--for me, anyway, this is going to take a lifetime of work and suffering to figure out. The master's degree in this field could be available for homeschoolers, for whom Stuff Management rises to a whole 'nother level.
3. Power Up.Motherhood is exhausting and demanding, and it is vital that we do whatever it takes to keep our own energy up. I'm talking about sleep, exercise, and nutrition here. This is different for each of us, of course, but I can tell you that fat, lazy, and tired is no way to go through life.
4. Put On Your Own Oxygen Mask First.When you stumble in the door with a carload of kids and groceries, with everybody starving, whining, and exhausted, it's okay to take a little bathroom break for yourself before trying to make lunch for the masses. Or make coffee in the morning
before starting your little sweeties' breakfast. You may have heard that parenting is a marathon, not a sprint. This is true. Take a water break, for goodness' sake!
5. Know Thyself.Over the decade-and-change that I've been a mom, I've spent a lot of energy trying on different hats and running around doing crazy stuff that doesn't work for me. (Come to think of it, I've done that my whole life, but I digress...) Try your best not to do this. You are the heart of your family, just the way you are. Just be you.
6. Stay Loose.Over and over again, when I get everything figured out around here (yeah, right), somebody changes schools, or has a birthday, or stops taking naps, or decides she doesn't
like wearing dresses every day, or develops an extreme aversion to Cream of Wheat, which was his favorite breakfast last month. It's a moving target, apparently. Successful moms seem to be prepared for this, and even recognize that it's a
good thing--which, of course, it is.
7. No Do-Overs Allowed.It's a scary thought, but we only get one shot at this. Also, we get no guarantee of tomorrow. Have you
ever heard anyone say they were surprised at how
slowly their kids grew up? Time is precious. Do absolutely everything you can to squeeze every last drop of life out of...life.
Now go on over to
Conversion Diary for everyone else's great Quick Takes posts!
Here at Chez D., we support the governor's attempt to look out for the taxpayers by responsibly managing the state's budget. Of course, we also love public school teachers, and we wish they weren't victims of the powerful labor unions.
