Lately, I have gotten some of the
sweetest emails from blog followers.
They always start or end with “I don’t know how you do it all.” Well, I
have never been one to hide anything so I want to let you in on a little
secret, I don’t.
sweetest emails from blog followers.
They always start or end with “I don’t know how you do it all.” Well, I
have never been one to hide anything so I want to let you in on a little
secret, I don’t.
Seriously, “ALL” includes a lot in my world and I don’t get close to it. So, true confessions. How
do I do it all? Well, each day I chose my priorities in “my” world. Some days that is blogging (but obviously not lately lol), some days
creating or presenting, and then are t-shirts, planning, playing, etc. I usually pick just ONE of those to work on a
day and some days NONE.
do I do it all? Well, each day I chose my priorities in “my” world. Some days that is blogging (but obviously not lately lol), some days
creating or presenting, and then are t-shirts, planning, playing, etc. I usually pick just ONE of those to work on a
day and some days NONE.
After I have
picked “my” priority, I look at my “family’s” priority. Being a wife and mother
trumps all. I may *think* I have been
big plans for myself on any given day but often my family has other plans for
me.
picked “my” priority, I look at my “family’s” priority. Being a wife and mother
trumps all. I may *think* I have been
big plans for myself on any given day but often my family has other plans for
me.
When my kids were younger, I am not going to lie..I hated being a taxi driver. Seriously, I didn’t find it rewarding at all. I guess that made me selfish or just purely exhausted. Because of my kids’ individual issues prior to adoption, we went to a lot of therapies, appointments, etc and I think that was all overwhelming to me. Our journey from then to now is quite amazing and only the work of God.
Well, let me
tell you, the thought that my kids are seriously teens and their years in my
house are limited kinda sends me over the edge. Being a taxi / mom who never sleeps doesn’t seem so bad any more. I don’t care how far I have to drive or how late I have
to stay up, I really love every minute of it. That doesn’t mean I don’t
complain sometimes. I can have a cranky side, ehem. When my daughter started high
school I came to a huge realization that these moments were fading too fast and
I needed to take a step back and breath
them in before they are gone.
tell you, the thought that my kids are seriously teens and their years in my
house are limited kinda sends me over the edge. Being a taxi / mom who never sleeps doesn’t seem so bad any more. I don’t care how far I have to drive or how late I have
to stay up, I really love every minute of it. That doesn’t mean I don’t
complain sometimes. I can have a cranky side, ehem. When my daughter started high
school I came to a huge realization that these moments were fading too fast and
I needed to take a step back and breath
them in before they are gone.
I occasionally go through a mourning when it
comes to time with my kids. My children
were 4, 5, and 7 when we started fostering them. Now, ten years later it is
almost unbearable to think about them growing up and leaving home. I feel like
I haven’t had enough time with them. So, my priorities shift more often then
not to my kids.
comes to time with my kids. My children
were 4, 5, and 7 when we started fostering them. Now, ten years later it is
almost unbearable to think about them growing up and leaving home. I feel like
I haven’t had enough time with them. So, my priorities shift more often then
not to my kids.
When I started blogging, creating, and presenting, that in itself became a full time job. Something had to give but I honestly wanted it all. I truly enjoy it all. So, true confessions: I pay someone to clean my house every Friday. Tammy has been with us for almost as long as we have had our kids. She would come once a month and do the serious dusting and clean everything with bleach. Because of my asthma, the dust can send me over the edge and deep cleaning can sometimes literally make me sick. I would say this is the only silver lining of my asthma, an excuse to get someone else to do a little cleaning. I also can’t handle bleach. It makes my eyes swell shut. I told you I was a hot mess, right?!! Since I added my online adventures to daily life, it just made sense to have Tammy come once a week instead of once a month. That is totally worth working two jobs, for real!
More true confessions? Okay. Every Sunday my husband grills for at least three days. I don’t like us eating junk or eating out a lot. We always cook several things on Sunday and then I put them in containers in the fridge for later. We usually go with chicken, steak, and even a hamburger or turkey patty. Fish is the only thing I cook the day of. Each night, I pull out our meat, pop in a steamer bag of veggies and make a salad. Seriously, it takes me ten minute to put together dinner and for the most part, it’s healthy. I also make my lunches for the week on Sunday too. I use many of my sister’s recipes for clean eating. You can follow her here. Since it is summer, I usually have a few go to meals though. I usually buy a rotisserie chicken on Monday and debone it. I separate it into two containers. In one container, I add cilantro, a handful of black beans and organic corn. It’s so yummy. I also add fresh avocado and tomato when I eat it but don’t mix it in. I eat it just like that or put it in a lettuce wrap. I put the second half of the chicken in another container and make chicken salad. I use one small individual container of plain greek yogurt, pecans, grapes, dried cranberries, cut celery, boiled eggs, and one packet of stevia in the raw. OMG. It’s so good. So, meal prepping saves me SO much time. I can have more time to work and play without sacrificing a bigger butt. Remember my butt is already big. Working on that. 🙂 Also, I work out at least three times a week. I go at night when my bestie, Jessica, can go. I am honestly weak when it comes to this so I need a partner. Luckily, I have a great one. We have been doing strength training for six weeks now and I really love it. I lack discipline (which is probably why I have a big butt) but she motivates me and encourages me.
Another thing I have to really work on is to keep moving. I don’t come home and flop down even though I want to. I try to wash a load of laundry at least every other day so I don’t have to waist a day doing laundry. As soon as I get home I pick up the house and get everything done. I seriously don’t sit down for at least an hour after I get home (during school and summer). Once I am done though, whatever time I have left is mine. It’s really nice to sit down with a clear mind to work and not have to worry about stopping to do this or that.
During school I try really hard to make the most of my planning time. I think my first two years I just laid on my desk trying not to pass out. Haha! Now, my priority is to NOT live at school but be available for my family. I LOVE my job but I love my family more. So, I move like no body’s business when my kids are out of the room so when the day is done, so am I. Each year it gets easier and I get more organized.
So, true confessions: I do NOT do it all. I do a little at a time and just try to do that much well. I seriously am a hot mess a lot of the time but I guess I don’t appear that way..which means I am getting better at being a hot mess, right?! 🙂 Haha!
Okay, I need a nap. I never nap but my husband hosted this summer fun thing this weekend (which means I had to do a lot as a hostess lol) for his cigar club and I haven’t slept much in the last two nights. If my big butt is getting to the gym later, I need a power nap. Yes, I do require some sleep. 🙂 I hope you are having a great summer break. Mine has been filled with lots of fun so far. I will come back later and share my latest adventures and what I am currently working on. Love and virtual hugs.
I love that you wrote all this down!!!
I will not sit down when I get home either because I can't stand things hanging over my head. 🙂
Can't wait to hear more about your summer adventures!
PS You amaze me.
Thank you for sharing so much of yourself! Teaching and being a mom is hard work. It really helps to share what works with one another. I love the meal planning tips. That is my weakest area. Fortunately my husband cooks a lot!
Jennifer
I love that you are honest about not doing it all!!!! I sometimes feel overwhelmed when reading blogs wondering how I could ever keep up with others!! I think you are an awesome and wonderful mother and teacher!! Can't wait to see you in Vegas!!!
LOVE YOUR HONESTY. However, I still do think you do it all…you are truly wonder woman!
Love your honesty and love you ! See you in Vegas 🙂
Journey of a Substitute Teacher
Good read!!! Wish I could be with y'all in Vegas!!! I will miss all of you!!!
Thanks for sharing! One of my favorite parts of the blogging world is to be able to connect with others who love teaching, love their families, and love their free and manage to find ways to make room for all those loves in their lives! Keep on inspiring me! 🙂
Love you girlie! Thanks for your honesty! My problem is I don't have enough self motivation to not plop on the couch as soon as I get home! #guilty
I LOVE your honesty! I can so identify with what you said about driving your kids around. I used to hate being a taxi driver, but the second it ended I missed it like crazy. My daughter is is 19 now…and while I still miss those moments I am really enjoying becoming her friend. Good luck!
Camp Kindergarten
Thanks for the great read!
You are still such a busy woman and I do feel better about the person I hired to clean my house twice a month. Totally worth it!!! I ordered the Daily Five book you are going to read and was wondering if you are going to do a book study on it this summer (In all your free time, ha ha)? If so, I will start reading!! Thank you!
I was looking at your t-shirt shop last night and OMGosh, love it! Can you take my blog button and put it on a t-shirt? Do I need permission from my page designer?
Hubby and I have four children, ages 21, 18, 15, 13. When they were all under the age of 7, I thought they would always be close and that time would meander along. As you know, once they pass 7th grade, it feels like a roller coaster. Hang on for dear life and try to enjoy the moments, because suddenly, it's over. I can not believe our oldest son will be a Sr in college this fall. Our 2nd son will be a Fr at the same university and I'm happy they will have access to each other, just in case.
Have a wonderful summer, Crystal!
Chrissy at ReadWriteSing