Managing Time

I like to think that I'm pretty good managing my time. I know that it's better for my health and for our family if I don't over commit myself. Having a husband with a job that is VERY unpredictable makes planning very hard. He spends a lot of time away from home so when he is home, I want to be home with him and enjoy family time. He's always on call and usually gone for at least 2 days. He can be called any time of the day or night every day of the year unless he's on vacation 3 set weeks out of the year. This probably makes it easier for me to not over commit. 

Right now we only have one child (almost 5 yrs old) and she only does one extracurricular activity. She is in ballet and goes once per week. We wanted to put her in t-ball but we knew that if we did, we would have something we'd have to take her to several nights a week. We are considering gymnastics but trying to decide if we replace ballet with gymnastics or if we let her do both. 

Most people have extremely busy weekends but we typically don't. We like to have planned things on the weekends but typically my husband gets left out because he is almost always gone on the weekends. We do plan things sometimes but we leave ourselves with some free weekends. It gives us time to just relax on Saturdays and then Sunday we go to church. 

I challenge you to not over commit yourselves. Especially if you have more than one child. If you have several and they are all in one extracurricular activity, it's already busy. If each child has 2 or 3 activities that they do, you (and the children) will all get worn down and exhausted. You need family time too. If nothing else, make sure to have dinner together as a family. It gives you time to talk as a family and get to know how your children are feeling and what they may be dealing with at school. 

Make sure you have some "ME" time too. You need time to decompress as well. If you are stressed and overwhelmed, it will show and your family will probably be affected. If you get a little bit of time each day or even once a week to rest, you will feel refreshed and happier. Spend time with your friends as well. You need time to talk and relate to other women/mothers. It helps knowing that you aren't alone in this walk as women, wives, mothers. We all go through similar struggles and we could use advice and encouragement. 

Proverbs 16:9
The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.

1 Thessalonians 5:11
Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.