The Mom Challenge Week 2
(Hey there! Are you new to The Mom Challenge? If so click here to find out info and to see the other week’s challenges! Feel free to join in anytime!)
Hooray it’s week 2 of the Mom Challenge! How did eating dinner together go last week? We did better than in the past – it’s still something to work on for us. Our main problem is that the house we moved into has a very small eat in kitchen so we traded our larger table for a pub table that seats only 2. And our bar only has 2 stools at it – I think I may need to invest in a third chair. That and trying to work around schedules – daddy doesn’t get off work until 8:30 so usually it’s just Josh and mommy dinners. There wer some great comments and ideas over at our Blog Frog community as well – make sure to check them out.
Alright week 2. The challenge is: Slow down.
This one is going to be super hard for me. I wake up each morning and write my to do list. (I’m a lister) And it usually is HUGE! I know perfectly well that I have more things to do than time.
I feel like I rush Josh from the time I get him up to the time I say good night.
“Hurry and get dressed.”
“Quick go brush your teeth.”
“Move, move, move or we are going to be late!”
“Here I’ll just do it, we’ve got to hurry.”
The only thing that rushing does is create stress and missed oppurtinities. I found this poem online the other day and it’s perfect for this week’s challenge.
slow down mummy, there is no need to rush,
slow down mummy, what is all the fuss?
slow down mummy, make yourself a cup tea.
slow down mummy, come spend some time with me.
slow down mummy, let’s pull boots on for a walk,
let’s kick at piles of leaves, and smile and laugh and talk.
slow down mummy, you look ever so tired,
come sit and snuggle under the duvet, and rest with me a while.
slow down mummy, those dirty dishes can wait,
slow down mummy, let’s have some fun – bake a cake!
slow down mummy, I know you work a lot,
but sometimes mummy, it’s nice when you just stop.
sit with us a minute,
and listen to our day,
spend a cherished moment,
because our childhood won’t stay!
~ R. Knight
I don’t want to miss a chance to do something special with my kids just because my to do list isn’t complete!
Also, sometimes Josh tries to be helpful and I say no thanks. I mean if he pushes the grocery cart we will be in the store forever. Or he wants to wash the dishes – that’s nice but water will go everywhere and what if he drops the plate and plus, they won’t get all the way clean. He wants to help cook dinner but I just have to get this done. I know aweful right? Instead of being in a hurry and wanting these things done I should have just let him do it. It would have made him feel good and be more apt to help in the future. I could always re-wash the dishes after he’s long asleep.
Now I know that we can’t just put off our entire to do list to play with our kids. Wouldn’t that be nice??? And I do think that kids need to learn that there is a time where sometimes moms and dads just need to get some work done. But I challenge you this week to slow down just a little – take that extra time to let your kids in on your day. Your to do list will be there again tomorrow. And so will the laundry. I promise. Because laundry never goes away.
I usually go to work while Josh is at school, so we both get home about the same time. And this is usually the time where I’m running around, cleaning, doing laundry, getting dinner ready or we are having to get home and rush to run 1,000,000 errands. Not this week. This week I’m going to slow down.
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Love it – thanks for posting. I rush my poor kid around too. Then I swear he goes slower just to mess with me, and I get more frustrated because we’re late… it’s a bad situation!
I have no reason to rush, but I always feel like I get impatient too easily. All the scenarios you mentioned I can relate to. Thanks for the idea. Definitely going to try it.
It’s nice to know I’m not the only one. I rush my kids a lot. Being a single mom, somedays it is just plain hard to get anything done, especially with 2 toddlers running around. Then I lay in bed at night and ridicule myself for rushing my girls instead of enjoying seeing them have fun with something I just want to get done.
I have gotten much better at slowing down since I had my son (probably because I’m being lazy lol) still it’s a good idea to really make a conscious effort to slow down and focus on your family. My hubby could use work in this area too.
I am a list maker, too and it is hard to be still! But, being very intentional about it, I found myself really enjoying just playing in the floor with my boys (4 yrs and 9 mo) and also found that it was great to have no Tv noise and hubby join in the fun of just hanging out…this will be something we will continue!
I really needed to read this post. I felt like you were describing my life perfectly. Being a SAHM, I have all the time in the world (most days) and therefore, should NOT be rushing so much to get things done. I need to remind myself that the housework will still be there later/tomorrow and that I should enjoy my kids while they are little. THANKS for sharing! I will make a BIG EFFORT to slow down.
This one is HARD! Thanks for bringing it into my focus. I need to work on this. Life’s a journey- not a destination and I forget that A LOT!
This is soo important, now that my boys are older and I expect them to pitch in, I think the fact that I did these things myself to “save time” when they were younger has only led to the fact that now it is much more of a challenge to get them to do it now that they are old enough to do it well, why? because they are used to me doing it all! So, do yourself a favor and let them help and praise them for doing so, in the end it will save you more time and build a better thought process for them. I am embarrased at times how my boys now seem to think this is womens work but that is what I taught them so it is my own fault, working on undoing some of that!
I’m not really a list person…. I love this, it kind of goes with something my mom says – ” St. Peter doesn’t care what your house looks like… but rather how you treat famliy & others with love, compassion and kindness daily”
I read this blog, and concentrated on this today. My three year old wanted to help wash the dishes. Usually I wash and then I let her load them into the dishwasher. Usually I would say no if she asked to wash, but I remembered this today and let her wash them. She actually did a fantastic job!! I’m going to let her do it more often.
I also read more books and got more hugs. Although my voice is a little hoarse. 🙂
Just joined this challenge but it’s nice to know I’m not the only mom out there that feels like she is rushing her child. I feel like it’s this constant battle EVERY morning!! I’m like, “Go! Go! Go!” It get’s her wound up and me wound up and I don’t think either one of us get anything done any faster. Plus i keep telling myself ‘Get up 10 minutes earlier and you could solve all of this!’
Ok, yep can definitely improve here! Slowing down this week!
I love having my thirteen month old help me. One day it took about twenty minutes to put the clothes in the dryer. She took one thing out at a time and handed it to me. I think it is adorable watching her learn.
Just joined the challenge and I need this! I work from home so that just adds to the stress of all the other at home duties. I have a 23 and a 3 month old and am constantly putting off my oldest to get my to do list done. I often think I will regret this one day, but never actually slow down. This week I will slow down even if it means staying up later than usual to finish my to do list. Thank you.
thanks for posting this….i need to remember to slow down && enjoy my babies!!!!
This is a big one for me. My husband works out of town and is often gone for weeks at a time. I have a full time job and a 8 year old and 3 year old. We are also in the process of moving. This has been a crazy time and I know as much as it hurts i have neglected them lately. I’m def. going to be slowing down this week. Thanks for this challenge as i really feel my family needs this!!
I just joined this challenge. I already do #1 very well, so I skipped to this one, which I do NOT do so well. Going to try to work on this this week. Thanks! Excited to do the challenge!
I just joined this challenge as well. Like Rose-Anne I am starting on this step which is definitely a challenge for me. Thanks for this challenge.
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