Edits are a normal part of a mother's day. While some needs and demands are known in advance, there are always the "surprises" that call us to respond and detour. The tricky part is to do the detour dance gracefully. For instance, I had planned to write this last week while kids were in school...and for a variety of reasons, they took turns NOT being in school. I crossed off the "appointment" I had made with myself last week and moved it to yesterday. Yesterday, a Monday, the "plan" was that 3 of my kids would be at school...and yet...a detour. Instead of making the appointment I had with my computer, I had 2 kids at the doctor. One with pink eye and the other to confirm his ankle wasn't broken. Detours.
Even as I write, the 15 year old came to me to announce symptoms of what I suspect will be diagnosed as strep. A detour we took 2 weeks ago with his younger brother....and from what I hear, many families at the school they attend are also taking this same detour. Isn't it fascinating how Life provides the opportunities to "practice" what we preach / teach...sometimes subtly, other times, with bold and loud reminders. What had I JUST written about being graceful? I'm reminding myself that I'm open to edits and that I'm CHOOSING what to participate with and WHEN.
There are times when the appointments, errands, tasks, and plans get edited because of opportunities to play, to linger longer with a neighbor, to add a favorite client to the afternoon, or to choose a meal that requires more time than originally planned. These detours I tend to have more Grace for. Long lines, traffic, flat tires or strep, it doesn't come as easily.
Like you, I'm busy. For me to maintain a level of efficiency, I've found that when my day ends it's helpful for me to reflect on what was and wasn't done, Rather than seeing the undone as a negative, I cross those things off the list too, While it feels good to have a sense of what was, in fact accomplished, it's helpful for me to have a sense of what's left. I don't beat myself (or anyone else) up, but rather, I take a moment to hold it up to my life, to decide if it fits. If it does, WHERE and WHEN does it fit? I take a moment to move it there. It doesn't serve me to have it still on "today's" list if today is over, right? Sometimes, I decide that a task isn't important enough to get my energy and attention...or maybe it's not even MY task to be doing. Often, I have to return to accepting and participating in the seasons we're in. Some tasks are trickier in certain seasons than others. I'm keeping the appointment I made with myself to write today. Next, I'll make the appointment for the strep test...and make it to the dentist w/ a few kids later this afternoon.
At the end of the day, I'll do my review and cross it all off today's list. I'm interested to see how it unfolds. I know there will be Grace enough and that I'll have the opportunity to choose it.
Even as I write, the 15 year old came to me to announce symptoms of what I suspect will be diagnosed as strep. A detour we took 2 weeks ago with his younger brother....and from what I hear, many families at the school they attend are also taking this same detour. Isn't it fascinating how Life provides the opportunities to "practice" what we preach / teach...sometimes subtly, other times, with bold and loud reminders. What had I JUST written about being graceful? I'm reminding myself that I'm open to edits and that I'm CHOOSING what to participate with and WHEN.
There are times when the appointments, errands, tasks, and plans get edited because of opportunities to play, to linger longer with a neighbor, to add a favorite client to the afternoon, or to choose a meal that requires more time than originally planned. These detours I tend to have more Grace for. Long lines, traffic, flat tires or strep, it doesn't come as easily.
Like you, I'm busy. For me to maintain a level of efficiency, I've found that when my day ends it's helpful for me to reflect on what was and wasn't done, Rather than seeing the undone as a negative, I cross those things off the list too, While it feels good to have a sense of what was, in fact accomplished, it's helpful for me to have a sense of what's left. I don't beat myself (or anyone else) up, but rather, I take a moment to hold it up to my life, to decide if it fits. If it does, WHERE and WHEN does it fit? I take a moment to move it there. It doesn't serve me to have it still on "today's" list if today is over, right? Sometimes, I decide that a task isn't important enough to get my energy and attention...or maybe it's not even MY task to be doing. Often, I have to return to accepting and participating in the seasons we're in. Some tasks are trickier in certain seasons than others. I'm keeping the appointment I made with myself to write today. Next, I'll make the appointment for the strep test...and make it to the dentist w/ a few kids later this afternoon.
At the end of the day, I'll do my review and cross it all off today's list. I'm interested to see how it unfolds. I know there will be Grace enough and that I'll have the opportunity to choose it.
