Slow it Down

When the older kids were babies, the days seemed to slowly chug along. There was breakfast and nap time and play time, and then finally dinner and bed. Oh, how I eagerly anticipated bedtime! But, as every older, more experienced mom knows, the days eventually speed by so fast you can't seem to catch your breath.

I'm not even talking about the "I can't believe I have a 10 year old" phenomenon. I just literally mean the days fly by....like there's not enough time ever to just sit and talk or read a magazine or play a board game. Mostly, it's because our kids, especially Julie, have become involved in so many activities. There's of course the nightly homework, and Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts, basketball and Science Team. And then there's karate. I feel like our second home is the karate studio--we are there that much. Five days a week we're there for some reason...whether it's regular class, Julie's leadership class, sparring sessions or demo team practices.

I love that Julie and Johnny found something they enjoy, and something they're pretty good at, but sometimes I just feel like it's too much. Like I just want to all snuggle in a bed one afternoon and watch a movie, or just play outside until dark, or have a picnic at the park. We still do all of those things, but not nearly as much as we used to. Because we're running..constantly running.

A few months ago at church our pastor talked about the danger of constantly being busy. Like you make yourself busy to justify your self worth or your family's worth. So many of us fill our lives with events and activities just to feel like we're doing something worthwhile. I know I do.

It's nearly impossible for me to sit still. Scott complains that I never just sit and watch a movie or a TV show. I constantly have to be doing something--washing dishes, sweeping the floor, doing laundry, playing on Facebook. I can never just be. I think the busyness of our lives just compounds my inability to just relax and live in the moment.

But, I'm making it my new mission to take a little time each week to just be with Scott, be with the kids, be with myself. Just enjoy those moments, even when we aren't doing anything...especially when we aren't doing anything. That might mean missing a karate session or two but I think it's important. I don't think being busy is the answer to happiness. Busy is what makes life fly by...and who wants that?