Thursday, January 19, 2012

Are You Intentional?

      These last few days have had me deep in the trenches of mothering. My youngest came down with the stomach bug, which meant, schedules, outings, dates, and carpooling were thrown out the window. While I was wading in puke and “Mommy I don’t feel good,” cries; I actually welcomed it.  Recently my plate has been more than full of my goals, projects, lists, editing manuscripts, and prepping a new website. Added to this was the pressure to ensure I was on top of my responsibilities for our local MOPS group, and my new position has Community Coach for MOPS International. Let’s not forget the extra concern for my oldest and her school work while I was balancing appointments for an evaluation for my son. My plate wasn’t just full, it looked like a small version of Mount Everest.
        Gone were the list of to-dos, and in came a chance to be at rest with my daughter. As I cleaned the bedding and monitored her spew progress, it also gave me a chance to be intentional about loving her and reminded me of why I became a mommy in the first place. 
     How is it that we have a deep desire to become a mom and once the chance presents itself, we get sidetracked with our other passions and goals? Motherhood isn’t just about giving birth and keeping our little ones entertained, it’s about making them smile while we watch Diego for the hundredth time, playing war zone with my son’s action figures, and watching my oldest create her pastel masterpieces.
         Watching our children grow up can be lost in the throngs of our careers, passions, and dreams. But in the end, I don’t want to be remembered by my kids as always being on the phone or sitting behind my computer screen; I want to be remembered for the forts I helped build, taking them to the Children’s Museum, baking cookies with them and giving them my full attention when they needed me. So when Tori became ill, it was a chance to regain the ground I lost to focus on her. I turned off my computer and phone, tucked my to-do list away and focused on being fully present with my sick babe. We spent these last three days, watching movies in my bed, playing house with her Toy Story Squinkies, and making snakes with her play dough.
        Are you intentional about spending time with your kids? Do you welcome interruptions like sick days or do you find yourself saying, “Just a minute, let Mommy get this done!” I invite you to free fall back into the joy of mothering. Your to-do list can wait while you bake cookies or build a fort, and watch Diego again for the millionth time!

7 comments:

  1. I try and make deliberate quality time with my kiddos but it is always hard tuning out other distractions, deadlines and engagements pulling me in a hundred different directions. Glad you made time for some quality time. Hope your daughters feeling better. Glad to be a new follower..u can follow me back at http://thelittlelilypad.blogspot.com

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  2. I love this post, you're 100% right. I'm a stay at home mom and I STILL find myself going a million directions at once. Now, I slow down and make my LL the main focus. I'm trying to cherish these moments while there are here! New follower from MBC.

    Jessica
    www.anewadventureblog.com

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  3. Remembering what a joy and an honor it is to be a mom and the joy my daughter brings to my life is the only way I stayed sane in those early years.

    We have lots of great memories. She will be 16 this year. I homeschooled early on. My focus was her and our life.

    No stress no distractions. My house was/is messy. I do not care. She never had a bed time. Our schedule was random. We did everything together.

    There wasn't even a lot of money. Still she counts birth to ten as her favorite years. Just mom the apartment and our cats plus friends and outings.

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  4. As much as I try to be intentional in everyway, I find myself in epic fail mode constantly! Thanks for the refreshing reminder!

    http://www.thebrokenmommy.blogspot.com/

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  5. Wow! Thank you all for visiting and lending your voice! Motherhood is such hard work and it's often forgotten what our goals are as we raise our kids day to day!

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  6. It is so hard for me to get everything done during the day. I'm a full-time working mom who lives two hours from her job. This means I'm gone everyday from 5:00 in the morning until about 6:00 at night. I still need to cook, clean, do laundry, spend time with my little guy, and grade papers/lesson plan each night. Not to mention also have fun time with my husband. Time is a commodity in this house. The T.V. is not.

    Also, I am here to tell you that I'm giving you the Versatile Blogger Award. :D Congratulations!

    justatouchoflife.blogspot.com

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  7. Thanks for this post. This is exactly where I was last week. Under lots of stress and pressure to make a deadline, and my oldest gets pink eye and is home from school for 2 days. I tried to take a deep breath and say "OK, Lord, I know I need to spend quality time with my precious daughter, but how will everything get done?" I hate to admit my first thought was "Not now! I have to work!" So obviously, I definitely struggle with this. I try to give my agenda to God everyday, asking Him to order my steps. When I do...then He does! And everything seems to be ordered properly--by Him!

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