Making More Time to do Less Things

There’s just something so sweet about a child falling asleep in your arms during a bedtime story.  Last night I read my youngest the book “Just in Case You Ever Wonder“, a favorite of her big sister’s when she was a tot, and one I read to the boy often too.  That same big sister walked by and said “awww”, letting me know her sister had already drifted off to sleep, just as she too often did a little over a decade ago.

I asked her to snap a quick picture, because the moments like this, where all is quiet, and peaceful, and all your child wants to do is be held, are just too few and far between these days.

It wasn’t glamorous like the google images of moms reading to their children, but the feeling of warmth in my heart and contentment were powerful.

We went on a winter break this past week, which basically just meant half days of school and lots of playing games.

Although there were moments of fits (mostly me) and occasional stomping (the kids) it was absolutely exactly what my weary heart needed.

We had more time to slow down, and do less things.  

I took time to declutter and clear out our school room to prepare for the new year.  I evaluated and reevaluated what is working for us, and what isn’t.  I listed items to sell online, filled a garbage can, a recycling bin, and made a good sized pile to donate.

We baked 5 different kinds of cookies (something we haven’t done in years- to be fair, one of those kinds was frozen pre-portioned chocolate chip cookie dough from a neighbor kid’s fundraiser), we delivered some homemade gifts, we visited with friends, hosted a dinner, we painted, we crafted, the kids spent a day just doing laundry and didn’t complain once about it.

It was the type of week I wish we had every week. But for some reason, I get myself so busy that I forget to take time to slow down, and spend more time doing less things.

I put a bookshelf in the living room on a whim, which as helped remind me of how much I want to be reading to the kids for fun each night.  I read plenty during our school day, but simple stories, like “Just in Case You Ever Wonder” don’t always work their way into our day.  They will now.

Now that I’m all caught up on life (which meant dropping some expectations I had for myself, in order to simplify), all weekend I have been preparing new printables and pre-school curriculum for the sweet little 4 year old, who occasionally still falls asleep on her momma’s lap during a story.

 

Whatever kind of mess your December has felt like, or maybe it has been your whole entire fall, there is still time to STOP what you’re doing, and decide right now, it is perfectly okay to DO LESS.

Other people don’t expect nearly as much of us as what we do of ourselves.

Simplify, cut back, embrace the sweet little moments, and enjoy life.