Since "me time" is such a popular idea, I carefully scheduled my morning devotions in my first time slot of the day and my computer time in the slot where my children are having quiet time. I put my reading time and bath in the slot after the children went to bed. I was all set!
Then, my son started waking up in the middle of my devotional time. I must admit my attitude wasn't very good the first few times he did this. "Ugh! He's awake so early? Lord, don't you know I'm trying to have time with You? I mean, if I don't have my devotions, I will be irritable and cranky and....um...yeah."
I kind of got used to that when my daughter would pop up during my computer time. "Hi, Mom! Can we have a tea party and just spend some time together?" Again, my attitude went something like: "Ugh! This is the first time I've gotten to sit down all day. I mean, I need this time to unwind and just sit and have a...cup...of...tea....um...yeah."
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Then, my third child would need a drink just when I was filling the bathtub. And my newborn would wake up just as I was crawling into bed. When I got him settled down, my husband was ready to talk.
I finally realized that if my schedule went as I had planned it, the only one I would soon have a relationship with was myself. Sounded kind of lonely. It sounded like it would be especially lonely when I turned 82.
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So, I am trying an experiment. My morning devotions is always accompanied by my cup of coffee, so when my son joins me, we have "coffee time"--my coffee with a tad of sugar and cream, his milk with a tad of coffee and cream. If I'm going to fix a cup of tea and talk to friends on the computer, why not fix an extra cup for my daughter and talk to her? My newborn and I have "milk time"--frequently. Then my second son and I...well, we're working on "juice time", I guess. Then, there's always evening coffee with my husband.
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Of course, too much caffeine is not good for one's health and can render bedtime useless. But again, that's for another post!
What a great point. I can relate to almost all your words. I have said and done the schedule and acted the same way when situations arise.
ReplyDeleteI love what you mentioned about the irony of praying and then complian when He sends the opportunities our way!
Excellent post.
Thank you for the reminder! I find myself so often getting caught up in making sure the everything on the to-do list gets crossed off that I forget to be a wife and mom...and to live in the moment.
ReplyDeleteNodding my head! The harder I try to schedule "me time" the less of it I get. Maybe I'll try scheduling others in first...
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