The Mom Challenge Week 2

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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

(Source)

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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