Parenting

Five years ago, I became a mother.

It’s the most important role I’ve ever had to play.

It’s a humbling experience knowing that I have these two girls to love, nurture, and guide.

I get to teach them and play with them. I laugh with them. I pray every day that they will continue to delight in the world around them.

We play games, go on walks, draw pictures, and cook together.

I do all this knowing that one day this will change. They will grow up and find their way in the world. They’ll make mistakes, have their heart broken, and struggle at times.

But, they’ll also laugh, love, follow their dreams, and have adventures. Oh, I do hope they have adventures!

All I can do is love them and guide them. Yes – that is enough.

I’ll encourage the laughter, the hugs, and the late night giggle sessions between sisters.

I’ll pray that they remain good friends throughout their life. I’ll pray that they never lose their endless curiosity and eagerness to learn.

I hope they remain compassionate to both people and animals. I pray they will always be the lovely young ladies that they currently are.

As a mother, I sometimes doubt myself. Don’t we all?

But I know deep down that as long as my girls have plenty of love and gentle hands to guide them, they will thrive. And that is what being a mother – no, being a parent – is all about.

What does motherhood mean to you?

Happy Mother’s Day!

Is this a familiar scenario? Almost-empty coffee mug, a little Pinterest browsing and a very lazy morning.

It happens most mornings around my house and I’ll admit that sometimes the time stretches much longer than it should.

There are times when I have to be on the computer and times when I just want to. But, no matter the cause, my laptop is a pretty integral part of my life.

The coming week, April 30-May 6 is Screen-Free Week which is a week created by a Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood to encourage families to step away from the TV, computer, and even the iPad and find other ways to have fun.

I’ll be honest with you, I’m just not sure how much we will be participating. I do know we’ll cut back on TV time and I hope the weather cooperates so we can spend that extra time outdoors. This past week with 3 of the 4 family members down with the stomach flu, the TV was on A LOT. But, we needed it and I don’t feel bad about it. But now that we’re healthy, it’s time to cut back again.

But, what about me? What about that laptop? Do I need to unplug? Why, yes, of course I do. Screen-Free Week has got me thinking about how I can do that.

I’m not going to cut it out this next week. In fact, I can’t. For various reasons, I will need to check e-mail on a daily basis.

Also, I still want to provide you with things to do with the family. If you’re looking for things to do away from a screen, check my archives! I’ve got over 200 posts full of activities for you and your family to do!

One thing I have decided is that I will be unplugging on occasion. Not just next week, but all through the year. I do need to get away and feel that relief.

And that, is what Screen-Free Week means for me. It’s a reminder. Stop working, watching, and doing and just enjoy the moment. Read a book, watch birds, go for a walk, swing, bake cookies… the possibilities are endless! Unplug and enjoy!

What about you? Will you be participating in Screen-Free Week?

Since Earth Day is coming up on Sunday (April 22nd), I wanted to share a way that I have consciously moved toward being greener.

About a year ago, I got serious about greening my cleaning routine.

I was always uncomfortable with using all the harsh cleaning chemicals around my pets and children, so I started researching ways to eliminate those chemicals.

That’s when I met my two best friends, vinegar and baking soda. Combined with a spray bottle and a pile of old rags, I can clean my house from top to bottom.

Vinegar:
I mix vinegar with water in a 1:1 ratio and add to the spray bottle. I use this for counter tops, window sills, window, mirrors, and bathroom fixtures. Combined with an old towel, it gets the job done.

I put about 1/2 cup vinegar in a microwave-safe bowl and heat for a couple of minutes. When it’s done I let it sit in the microwave for a couple of minutes and then wipe the microwave interior with a rag. All those icky bits of splattered food just comes right off! Plus the warm vinegar will now work wonders on any hard water stains you have around the house.

If you have stainless steel appliances, a rag dipped in vinegar will shine those fingerprints and smudges right off!

Baking Soda:

I keep my baking soda that I use for cleaning in a glass Parmesan shaker I found at the dollar store. It looks cute and I no longer have to deal with a soggy baking soda box! Combined with a rag or scouring pad, it can be a life saver.

I always hated cleaning cookie sheets until I discovered that baking soda combined with dish soap will get all those stuck-on bits off. I just grab my shaker and shake a bit on and then scrub with a scouring pad. It comes right off!

You can also use the baking soda for cleaning sinks and tubs.

Baking soda is also an effective odor remover. Sprinkle on carpet and vacuum it up. Good as new!

Now you’ve seen how I’ve made my cleaning routine greener. Do you have any good green cleaning tips?

It’s so easy to overlook the little things, isn’t it?

I was on a hike with the family and the girls were moving as fast as they could. They were excited and full of energy. They were ready to move.

Suddenly, a voice from behind said, “Slow down! You just missed a pretty flower.”

They circled back and looked.

Sure enough, in all of their excitement, they had walked right by a pretty spring flower poking out of a bed of dead leaves.

We talked about slowing down, looking around us, and paying attention to the small things.

Do you ever do that? Go so fast through life that you miss the little things.

Do you miss the kind words, giggles, funny stories, or whispered secrets because you feel so busy.

I know I do! Laundry needs to be done, work is pulling in many directions, the problems of the world weigh heavy. It’s so hard to look beyond that.

But, it’s important to look beyond that. No, you don’t have to push aside all of your other responsibilities. It just takes a few minutes. Look down, look around, open your eyes and pay attention to all the bits of beauty and happiness that are around you.

Why not take this weekend to slow down a bit?

Stop and look, listen, and smile. That’s my plan.

I want to see the little things this weekend and appreciate their beauty! How about you?

Would it shock you to hear that I sometimes struggle with balance?

No, I don’t have it all together. In fact, a lot of time, like this past week for example, I feel like I have way too much on my plate.

I struggle to prioritize. I know I need to do better.

So, this weekend, while spending time with my family, I’m going to work on balance.

So, how do you find balance? Here are the steps I’m going to take to help balance my priorities.

1. Write it all down. Write down everything, big or little, that you have to do. Write down things you have to do as well as things you’ve been wanting to do. Make sure “learn to crochet” is on that list right along with “go grocery shopping” and “mail birthday cards.” When it’s all written down, you’ll have a better idea of everything you have to do.

2. Prioritize. What do you have to do now. What can you put off until later? Is there anything that you don’t need to do. Make sure you fulfill both your wants and needs. Is learning how to crochet important to you? List it as such. You can’t find balance if you don’t allow yourself time to fulfill some of your wants.

3. Slow down! Stop the frenzied pace you’ve been living. You can feed your family sandwiches and raw veggies for dinner. The dust bunnies will not devour your house if you let them sit one more day. Step back and breathe. You’ll find it much easier to tackle your list if you take it slowly.

4. Say no. Are you over-committed? Is there anything you can say no to? If there is nothing you can cross off your list now, can you say no to any commitments that come up in the near future. Try not to add anything more to your list until you can cross things off.

5. Enjoy the little things. Read a book you’ve been meaning to. Help you child find rocks to add to their collections. Hold your husband’s hand. Snuggle with a baby. Remember, life doesn’t need to be frantic and focusing on the little things can help bring that into perspective.

I’m hoping I can find balance this weekend. How about you? Do you struggle with balance?