Two weeks ago - after one week of potty training - I decided that I no longer wanted to spend my days as an edgy, stressed out person with no sense of humor who I wouldn't want to hang out with. I decided I wanted to stop and enjoy my life. No one in my family is deathly ill; I am making friends here; I have plenty of room for my kids to run around; I have red curtains I made hanging in my kitchen; I have a backyard; I have two adorable sons; I have a devoted, funny, kind husband. Why not stop stressing out and enjoy my life a little more?
That's when I decided to follow Dr. Leo Marvin's advice from What About Bob and "take a vacation - from my problems!" Some people would call this selfish or lazy. I call it delightful.
Here's how I did it. I stopped worrying about the following:
1. How my clothes fit
2. Where the potty training accidents occur
3. Whether I made it out of the house every day
4. If there's dust on the furniture and shirts in the ironing pile
5. If the toys are all put away at night
6. Having the boys watch t.v. so I can get something done
7. Trying to entertain my primary class with boredom-defying lessons
8. Whether I gave equal attention to each of my boys
9. Whether the boys liked and ate their dinner
10. If my boys got enough exercise that week
Instead, I started thinking about and doing the following:
1. How my Father in Heaven sees me
2. Michael is amazing for potty training at 28 months
3. I love living in a house instead of an apartment
4. Getting more sleep makes me happy and calm
5. I like taking time to enjoy reading a book and doing my hair and make up
6. Getting something done without breaking up fights every 2 minutes
7. Teaching my primary class to appreciate what the early members of the Church did
8. Giving more attention to my husband
9. Making meals that Josh and I enjoy eating
10. If I got enough exercise that week
The result? I was thoroughly relaxed and calm. I really felt like I was on a vacation. My bedroom turned into a sanctuary from baby land. I sat in my backyard and read a book in the sunshine. My boys liked some of the new food I made and didn't starve to death. I had more energy. The ADD kids in my primary class weren't there today for my non-entertaining lesson. I discovered that non-iron shirts really don't need to be ironed and the layer of dust on the furniture didn't cause any allergic reactions.
Alas, after two weeks of this hiatus, my house is so messy I can't stand it so I am going to scrub it all tomorrow! Then I'll catch up on the shopping and prepare an interesting primary lesson.
The prognosis: I will keep ebbing and flowing and trying to find a balance between vacation and responsibility, while remembering that taking a break from stress makes everyone happy. So, old Bob and I agree, Dr. Leo Marvin is a genius.
Now if I could only hire a cleaning lady I'd be set for life!
9 comments:
Love it! :)
Baby Steps.
Great advice. I love it.
I love it! So true!
Also, I had the weirdest dream the other night that your parents were short selling their house and that we bought it for a steal of a deal. Then your mom wanted me to buy all of the furniture that everyone had hauled out to the common ground behind their house. It was a totally random pregnancy dream. Just thought I'd share!
Oh my goodness. I am absolutely inspired right now! My family has a deep bond with Dr. Leo Marvin and I'm off to take his advice and make my list. (By the way, whether you realize it or not, you have a very balanced life and very healthy sense of the world around you. Both lists reflect that. I've said it before and I'll say it again...I want to be just like you when I grow up!)
I think we all need to take a break every once in a while to recharge! Good for you!
Don't forget Dr. Marvin's other advice...baby steps...I feel like I am baby steppin all over the place. Your post is an excellent reminder to stop letting these things bother us and bog us down. They really aren't important. If you happen to find a cleaning lady like Rosy, let us know!
I'm so glad you figured this out already in your life. It took having a baby at 38, knowing he was my last, to really stop and just enjoy him and the life around me. I could not have posted so eloquently as you though. Loved it!
Oh, the great balancing act of motherhood! That was beautifully written and something I need to remind myself of constantly. Sometimes it just feels good to let things go, and then it feels good to put it all back together again, and the cycle continues! I wish you lived next door to me-wouldn't we have fun!
You are such a good writer Kristina. I am glad I am not the only one who struggles finding that balance!
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