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After having 4 days off, its back to reality this morning. Back to work...and probably a pile of stuff on my desk...but I have it planned out in my mind to get through it all. Just sort out all my mail and plow through the pile. Its the only way to do it.
Its shocking-25 miners in West Virginia (where the princess goes to school)were killed in an explosion yesterday. That's so shocking-imagine you kiss your husband good bye in the morning, and he never comes home. Sometimes the big man thinks I am overly dramatic by making sure I tell him and our little dude that I love them & cover them with kisses when I leave. I remember talking to a friend after 9/11 who completely changed their life around, and that was the life lesson she had learned. It had inspired her to be a better person.
I spent a good chunk of time this weekend organizing my arts & crafts studio. It looks awesome, and I can actually find stuff in there. I even made a framed scrapbook page yesterday, as well as a few cards. I do have more cards to make still, and I might bring that to do on my lunch hour instead of scrapping (it is scrapping, just a little different). I need some more inspiration sometimes.
The little man was asking why we didn't have any baby pictures hanging up, so I told him that I would put some out-which I did. Then he asked me if I had a baby album for him. I do have baby pictures, but I don't have them scrapped or anything. The local scrapbook store (which I love that place!!)has a monthly class called bundle of boy, where you make a 2 page baby boy layout. In a year, I'd have an entire album done! That's a cool concept. Now if they would only have a wedding one, I'd be golden!
Its embarrassing to admit that I have been married for 7 1/2 years and I have not completed my wedding album yet. There are a bunch of very raw emotions about that day still, and I don't want to bring them up by scrapping that day. To this day, I have not watched my entire wedding video. Its not that it wasn't a glorious day and believe me, I am happy that I am married, its just that weddings either bring out the best or the worst in people. One day, I will scrap it, and life will be wonderful.
Just like one day I will scrap my little man. I have so many pictures, and so many albums that I wanted to do and I never got around to them. Just like many other things in my life, I didn't make the time.
I have 24 hours in a day, and that 24 hours is the same as everyone else. I work 8 hours of them, sleep 8 hours so that leaves 8 hours for other things on most days. I have commitments to PTO, church and other volunteer organizations. I need to cook, clean, do laundry and other housework. Most of all, I have time to spend with my little guy and make up for the time when I am not with him. I also have to work out, stretch and have some down time. So, its making decisions on what to do with those 8 hours of non-committed time. During those 8 hours, I can choose to be productive or I can chose other actions (or inactions).
Today I am choosing to be productive. I need to be-I am tired of not accomplishing what I need to every day. My family suffers more than anything else, and its not fair to them. This morning, after my coffee hits me a little bit more, I need to do my 15 minutes on the treadmill. I need to put away 2 loads of laundry, empty the dishwasher, dust, swifter the floors, make the beds, swish & swipe the bathrooms, pack up lunches, eat breakfast, get dressed and get out of the house. Dinner is already prepped, so the big man just needs to reheat tonight when I get home. I am trying to make life easier for everyone, but I need everyone to pitch in too. I am working on getting the little man to pick up after himself, and to put away his toys before bed. That doesn't usually happen on a consistent basis. Part of it is exhaustion on both the big man's and my parts. By the time the little man's bed time rolls around, the last thing we want to do is spend another 15 minutes or so cleaning up and nagging. The other part is the fact that we don't walk the walk all the time either. For example, glasses and ice cream bowls left in the family room after dessert last night-still there this morning. Stuff left out, dirty laundry on the floor. You get the picture. Little Man told me yesterday when I asked him to clean his room, "But Mommy you have stuff on your floor too".
The light bulb went off then.
I need to pick up after myself, and lead by example rather than letting the little man see me being messy too. I need to keep that in mind when I am going about my day. I remember my grandmother used to threaten me as a child, "God is watching you" which would terrify me into submission. But as I was going about my day, I thought to myself-my son is watching me. He is noticing what I do, and how I lead my life.