Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Curse You Mr. Edison

"But I didn't have tiii-iiiime to do it!"

When I was a child/teenager that was my catch phrase at home.  

Granted, I was extremely busy.  I did school full time (of course), from school I walked to the local junior high where I spent the next four hours cleaning, and then I walked home, scarfed down some food, and rushed out the door to go swing dancing.  It was glorious.  It so much fun.  When I got home from dancing (10:30 was my cerfew on weeknights) I would stay up until around midnight doing homework, and then crash.  I would generally finish up whatever homework was left the next day during lunch.

That was my life.  I loved it.

However, it didn't leave a lot time for me to do my chores.  

Which was not acceptable in my family.  

During those years, my father's catch phrases were "Do it right instead of over" when I would do a hurried and sloppy job, just to say I got it done.  And "You have the same amount of time as everybody else.  Look at all the things Thomas Edison accomplished in his life.  Don't tell me you don't have enough time.  You just need to manage it better."

Sadly, his catch phrases have stuck with me whereas mine has become a childish and whining echo of spoiled leisure.  And I hate that I just admitted to that.

But time is something that is eluding me.  I need to figure out a way to get everything done in the day.  Just like Thomas Edison (curse that man for raising the bar so high!).

I always thought that when I had a child in school, things would be much simpler, and I would have more time to do things, because let's face it, one child is so much easier than two.  And for some reason, Keith being in school has brought about the opposite result.  Somehow I have even less time.

Lately I have been reflecting and trying to prioritize.  Family, scriptures, prayer, and exercise have been at the top for the past several months.  And not always all of them.  Add to that school things for both Keith and Jeffrey, journaling, making time for friends, reading, cleaning, etc, and there is not enough time in the day.  Even if I get up at 5:00 to start my day!  I just don't get it.

With my goals, I have been trying to organize myself.  I have been doing better, but even so, things are being forgotten.  It is frustrating.  

I read once that time crawls as a child, it skips as a teen, it runs as a young single adult, but the second kids enter the equation, it flies at the speed of light.  Once they are grown and gone, life starts to run, and then skip, and then eventually crawl again.  I am ready for the skipping.  I like that.

But not when it comes to my kids.  Then it should crawl.  Like a sloth.  Because they are too precious to let even a moment go by.

By Keith's request, lunch today was exquisite.  
Brussel sprouts, blood oranges, strawberries, kiwi, and macaroni and cheese.  Yum, yum, yum. My kids have great taste in food.  I asked him how many I should cook, and he said "All of them!"  I only cooked a third, but they were all devoured.  It makes me happy, knowing they love and crave healthy food.  That shows me that despite my shortage of time, at least it is being well spent.


Myya said...

That blurb you read was beautiful. Oh & I sooo agree with the sloth moving when it comes to our kids. They just grow up when you turn for a second or when you blink.

GREAT choice in foods... YUM!

A Randomlicious Blog for the Soul said...

I'm such a loser! Do you know how badly I want to keep up with your BLOG!? I love you!!!
I'm so sorry I haven't been by, your sweet comments remind me HEY AMY!!!

My two are not in school yet but it's only a matter of time with my oldest son! I so feel like that with the crawl as a child skips as a teen and runs as a young adult..time is flying by too fast for my liking and I can literally spend all day cleaning if I wanted to. A mothers work is truly NEVER finished. I think it's all in the choices we make and how we choose to spend our time. I'm guilty of making not so good choices with my time. Some days though I do say who CARES if this house is a mess and who CARES if I stay home with my kids and watch movies and who CARES if some days I need a break! YOu do what you can when you can , the BEST you can!

That lunch is making me hungry :) Isn't it weird I can still always eat macaroni and cheese!?

And I love your fathers catch phrase "Do it right instead of over" because my husband doesn't do it right and I have to do it, over or just do it myself to avoid all of that :) Although I wouldn't love your fathers catch phrase when I was younger?!

Amy your such an amazing mom, I just know it from reading your blog and your kids are amazing! I wish our kids could play together because I know they'd be great examples for my kids! Not so sure the other way around but for me it would be a plus! :)
HOpe you have a great day! I need to bookmark your blog and or something !: )

Sue said...

It's true; the time does fly.
And all you can do is give it your best.

I believe, with all your love, that will be enough.


Lisa said...

Yum! Good lunch! And such sweet kids!!