Survey Sunday!
Many, many weeks ago, I wrote a couple of posts on how I need more structure in my life and how I felt I was just barely getting by. So I thought I would reevaluate (or survey) how I have been doing since then. To get caught up from the beginning here are the 2 original posts (HERE and HERE). Here is the original list (in black) that I composed to get started on trying to get control of the tailspin, in green is what I have done so far:
- my household duties- slacker - I feel that I have made huge improvements in this area. On most days the house is cleaned when Jeremy gets home. I have made a flexible schedule where I vacuum twice a week, the main floor (kitchen, the boys rooms, the living room and a bathroom gets cleaned once a week and the laundry has been under control now for almost 4 weeks. I do laundry twice a week and everything is folded (maybe not put away).
- my workout duties- slacker – Nothing! I am still struggling with this aspect of my schedule. Although Jeremy and I have discussed making this a priority, I just have had no motivation. And to make things harder for me, my membership ran out last month and getting it renewed wasn’t budgeted yet. I usually use Christmas money for this so I will wait another month. But just so you know I am NOT making excuses, I did check out some DVD’s from the library to try in the interim, just haven’t opened the cases yet.
- my “one-on-one time teaching my sons” duties- slacker – We are still running around trying to get as much outside time as possible, but I am being more deliberate in “teachable moments” while we are out. I have also made mandatory DEAR (Drop Everything and Read) time every day. I have been working on Letters and numbers with Evan more and making more Arts and crafts a priority.
- my “one-on-one time paying attention to my hubs” duties- slacker – You may have noticed that I am not on Twitter as much as I was. I have made it priority to not work on Blog stuff at night after 9:00 and decrease my Twitter time at night also. Now I have been flexible with this, if Jeremy is working at night, I may get on here and there but other than that, I stop all computer stuff at 9. I also try to get all housework done during the week so that Jeremy and I can play during the weekends with the boys instead of both of us doing “chores” during the weekend.
- my dinner duties-slacker – There has been an improvement, but not good enough. I would say, dinner is ready when Jeremy gets home 3 or 4 times a week. So this week I decided to get back to meal planning and actually writing out the plan to keep me accountable but also allow Jeremy to know what’s up so that he can help out also. Having a written plan help our communication out!
- my eat healthier duties- slacker - I try, but along with working out, it is just easier to eat whatever the kids are eating or most days I am not hungry and forget to eat until I am STARVING then I raid the refrigerator while the kids nap and eat anything and everything in sight. This is where menu planning has helped me in the past. If I know what I am eating before hand (I used to plan breakfast, lunch AND dinner when I was pregnant with Carter) it truly keeps me on track.
Here were my original goals and I have crossed off the ones I feel I am doing well with and the ones that aren’t crossed off, I will focus more on in the upcoming weeks.
- Workout 3 mornings a week – including cardio AND weights
- Spend 15-30 minutes with each son per day, individually doing activities that are age appropriate and educational.
- Have a healthy dinner ready for my husband, at least 4 nights a week. Keep in mind I have the luxury of eating at my parents one night a week and my in-laws one night a week. That gives us 2 nights of freedom.
- Have a routine set up for daily chores – blah!! Not really looking forward to this one.
- Limiting my computer play time (Twitter, Facebook, checking email) to 30 minutes a day.
- Working on this blog 30 minutes – 1 hour a day, or a total of 7 hours a week.
- Spend more time on daily devotions, in the Word and in Prayer
Hopefully I can report back in a couple of weeks with at least another item crossed off the list.
Stumble Upon
Del.icio.us
Buzz
You Mean I am Not the Only One…
When I wrote the post Scheduling to Schedule, I felt like a BIG loser in the “Mom” world, because so many moms can juggle babies, house work, volunteer work and even full time work amazingly, that I find myself often feeling inferior. But it was so amazing to hear the comments and emails that I received from that post and what was even more ironic, I came across 2 different posts that same night from Renee (Me, Myself and Mommy) and Christine that were very encouraging also.
Wow, maybe God is telling me that it is okay to feel a little inferior. And no, I can’t do it ALL on MY own. And yes, my priorities are somewhat in line, because my relationship with my boys, above house work and blog work, needs to come first. Do I need to continue to work at being a better mom and wife? Yes, but now I am little bit more encouraged to know that I am not the only one trying to figure this out!
I realized that I am definitely not alone in this journey of being a better mom, wife and friend. That in my admission of my faults, I helped others get inspired to re-evaluate their priorities. I can’t wait to hear the stories from all of you who sent me some love from that post, because we are in this together! Please keep me updated on the good things you are doing.
Related Posts:
Missing…
Help, I have lost my camera! Seriously! I really do think that it is gone for good. I can’t live without my camera. Yes, my iPhone takes pictures, but not great ones! I feel lost and lonely without it.
I didn’t even want to write a post, because I hadn’t taken any good photos the last few days. Come on now, I can’t write about my kids without pics of them.
The ironic thing about this whole situation is that at the pool a few days ago, I was throwing it around and really being careless with it, because I really needed a new camera anyway. And I think I even told Jenny at some point that I could “accidently” lose it or drop it in the pool. That would definitely expedite the process of getting a new one.
So I kinda feel guilty now that I truly have lost it! But, the upside is that I get to get a new one. So, please, please help me out and let me know what kind of camera I should get. Since my wonderful, loving husband (sappy suck up there) wants the very best for me, price isn’t a main issue. We obviously won’t go extravagant but want a great quality camera that will last for awhile. That is if I can keep track of it and not lose it! So please let me know if you have a camera that you love! Any suggestions will be helpful!
Scheduling Time to Schedule
I have a confession for all of you. This summer I have been a complete slacker on most priorities. Let me break it down for you even further:
- my household duties- slacker
- my workout duties- slacker
- my “one-on-one time teaching my sons” duties- slacker
- my “one-on-one time paying attention to my hubs” duties- slacker
- my dinner duties-slacker
- my eat healthier duties- slacker
As you can see, I have made it a point to play all summer long with my boys. I haven’t cleaned like I should have, worked out like I should have, taught like I should have, eat like I should have. I have pretty much goofed off all summer…and let me tell you something…I enjoyed almost every minute of it!
But reality has sunk in. Unfortunately, this Ohio weather will be changing soon and I will no longer ask myself in the mornings, “should we go to the pool today or go to the park?”
I will not have the luxury of lounging with Evan in the mornings while Carter takes his morning naps – because I have a feeling that sometime soon he will officially be down to one nap a day.
As a teacher, there is something magical about August! August brings on the need for change, the antsy-ness of getting back on a schedule, the excitement of new beginnings. Even though it also brings on a little uneasiness of having to break from vacation and sad that the free-time is over. Fortunately for me, that part isn’t in the equation any more since I am a SAHM. This August still had the same effect on me, even though I will not be returning to the classroom this year.
I long for a new challenge, new things to teach my kids, some structure in my free-flowing ways.
I have tried several times this summer to make a schedule and stick to it! But unfortunately those schedules have been dismissed and forgotten very quickly.
My very good friend Jenny, you may of heard of her before, from Mommin It Up! is in need of a schedule too. Don’t worry, I am not passing judgement on her, we have discussed this many times while running after our kids and together we have decided to try to keep each other accountable with our schedules. That got me thinking, I am going to write a post about it so that you guys can keep me (us) accountable. She will posting hers too!
So starting this week I am going to do the following. Think of these more like goals right now, but in the next couple of weeks, I hope to have a finished calendar to show off!
- Workout 3 mornings a week – including cardio AND weights
- Spend 15-30 minutes with each son per day, individually doing activities that are age appropriate and educational.
- Have a healthy dinner ready for my husband, at least 4 nights a week. Keep in mind I have the luxury of eating at my parents one night a week and my in-laws one night a week. That gives us 2 nights of freedom.
- Have a routine set up for daily chores – blah!! Not really looking forward to this one.
- Limiting my computer play time (Twitter, Facebook, checking email) to 30 minutes a day.
- Working on this blog 30 minutes – 1 hour a day, or a total of 7 hours a week.
- Spend more time on daily devotions, in the Word and in Prayer
Let me just tell you, I really do like being on a schedule! BUT if I don’t have to be on one, I find myself using my time very unwisely and floundering around like a fish out of water, and that does not benefit the lives of my 3 men and really doesn’t benefit me either!
So I am asking for you help!
- Please keep me accountable.
- Also let me know if you have made any personal goals for yourself and I will try to keep you accountable too!
- Do you have any tips for me, because I need all the help I can get!
Related Posts: Working It…Or Trying to Anyway
