One Step at a Time

I think it was when I became a mother that I realised the importance of making changes one at a time. Motherhood can seem so overwhelming. There is so much information out there, so many people who want to give you advice. Sometimes I felt completely snowed under and I didn't know how to dig myself out nor did I even feel like trying.

Some days I was thrilled to have been able to have a shower!

I eventually figured out that all of the things I was worried about - nutrition, sleep, education etc for my baby (and myself) couldn't be addressed all at once. I started being kinder to myself and congratulating myself with each new achievement no matter how small.

I feel that this is a life long necessity. I cannot make all of the changes that I want to today but I can make one, maybe even two. Or maybe today I won't change anything but I will enjoy my time with my family and then feel motivated again tomorrow to give some of that love back to the earth.

And on the Seventh Day She Rested

Have you ever said "I wish there was more time in the day", or "...another day in the week"? Wehehehell, this is exactly what I have just experienced. I feel unbelievably excited by the opportunities available to me now that I have freed up more time for me and mine.

Instead of filling every Sunday with 3 hours of church, preparations to get there, food prep afterwards, lesson prep. in the afternoon etc etc etc, now I have a completely 'new'/open day every single week to fill in with delicious activities with my family and friends. Sigh :)

Instead of insane weekly 2-3 hour Young Womens Presidency mtgs I have half a day to..... well to do all those things I could never seem to make time for. It doesn't end there. Tuesday nights I had Youth Activities to attend from 7pm-9/10pm. Then there were the extras: Sunday night Firesides, YW Camps, Youth Conference, Stake Fri/Sat night activities including Dances (groan!), Lesson Prep, phone calls, emails, I'm exhausted just remembering it all. Goodbye to volunteering all of this time at the expense of my sanity AND my financial security! Just when I was ready to work, I got thrown this curve-ball of a calling that they "don't usually assign to mothers of young children" but they "had a strong witness that it was the right call". Hmmmm. I reclaim my time!

Now to a doosie I have recently encountered. I was reading some threads about why people stay and why people leave the church. One person posted that they had tried leaving but then they were so bored on Sunday that they ended up going back. What!!! Then in conversation with some active members someone said that people who leave the church "don't make good use of their time, they fritter it away". Another said that they were sure that they "would not use the extra time in a constructive way so they were better off staying at church". Pause. Shake off feelings of incredulity. Ok then. Do some people just need an excuse not to engage in life?

So here's my plan to make everyone happy. If your idea of fulfillment is the rather extensive list of activities mentioned above then knock yourself out. If you'd rather "fritter away your time" then this way please. Bikini's are optional ;)