Continuing with my last thought...
Many of my recent intentions relate to one central point: my own motivation.
We have been super busy for the past month and that alone is a good catalyst for shaking off the cobwebs and taking action.
I am often so tired during the day that my afternoon "downtime" goes from a reasonable 30 minutes (while Chloe is napping and Liam is playing some computer games on sprout or watching a favorite show) to a huge chunk of my afternoon. WHY am I doing this?!
This should be Liam's time with me. He definitely enjoys time on the computer but too much of that isn't good. We could be cooking, baking, playing a game, playing in the backyard, reading stories, coloring. Any NUMBER of activities.
I find myself a bit frazzled once Chloe is down for a nap. Usually from a morning spent in what feels like an uphill battle of : get your shoes on, use the bathroom, get buckled, hurry UP, get OUT, stop hitting, stop whining, don't tell me no...and on and on.
One of my intentions has been to stop all the yelling and find more productive ways to help my kids listen when it matters and keep us moving in a forward motion. What have I done to help with that? Well, other than think the thought- not much! I could be setting up routine charts or having us all write up family rules and post them in the kitchen, become more consistent and strategic with consequences/rewards for the persistent problem areas. I could be breathing more deeply, thinking before I speak. So many ideas that could be tried. How have I changed? Um, well, I haven't.
Another is to make more time for Mike and I to talk and collaborate on the above situation. What have I done? Nothing- unless you count nagging as an effective action.
One area that I've gotten a little bit better? SLEEP. Ha ha, even though I just wrote about not sleeping my way through this life of mine. I'm talking about going to bed at a reasonable time so I am ready for the morning. Knowing that I will most likely never be a true "morning person", I'd like to at least start off on the right foot.
One thing at a time- I am hopeful that writing about this will keep me focused on the goal.
2 comments:
I have a similar debate in the afternoons. Katy is at PM kindergarten, Luke goes down for a nap, and then David rests (sometimes sleeps, sometimes doesn't). Often he gets up after about an hour, at which point I should be plenty rested and ready to engage with my one on one time with him right? But often I'm still trying to get him to play something by himself because I'm not done with "my time." But it's hard. I'm a much better mom when I get a little break in the middle of the day (on the days that I get no break, it's not pleasant by 5pm). Anyway, it's a balance, and I think there is GOOD reason for you to get a break. But it's also nice to try to get some time with Liam.
I feel this way a lot. I feel totally overwhelmed, BUT if instead of playing on the computer, I actually DID something, my days would be less hectic. I'm ashamed to admit that I feel like I'm missing out on stuff if I'm not on the computer/phone during quiet time. We are going to Washington DC for the month of July and I have to PAY for internet if I want it, so I'm hoping that will slow me down a bit. As for the yelling? Check. Nagging? Check. Sleep? What's that?
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