Rocking in a worn, overstuffed recliner comatose from late nights with an infant, my brain clung to reality, but tears flooded resolve. My life was no longer my own. I was exhausted trying to keep my previous pace.Would I ever rest again? Would I ever finish another project?
Before my son was born, it was not uncommon for me to plow through project after project. Decorating, organizing, or creating always brewed in my mind. As a new mother, I quickly realized I might be able to accomplish one thing a day, not my previous lengthy scroll.
I used to tease my mother for having closets and drawers full of half-finished creative pursuits. Her craft closet overflowed. Fabric spilled out of the doors. Rainbows of acrylic paint stuffed the shelves. Ideas stored until the moment of inspiration became cobwebs.
What I didn’t realize was my closets would resemble hers. Now I regret my laughter. (Forgive me, Mom.)
Caring for a family is a lot of work. Nourishing bodies, minds, and souls is a sacrifice. 10 1/2 years ago, I moaned through sobs, “Even if I never sleep again, it is worth it.”
I surrendered to the job God gave me, a job eternities more important than making pottery or redecorating the bathroom. This doesn’t mean I never take time to delight in the process of creating, or work to finish a job while the dishes mold in the sink.
However, I changed the way I view projects. Instead of thinking I need to paint the entire house, I break it into smaller tasks.
- Gather paint samples.
- Choose color.
- Buy paint.
- Paint one side of the house.
- Repeat until complete.
When I use this idea with smaller projects and hobbies, the results are better. I ran out of house paint a year ago right after my husband lost his job. Now it won’t be such a stretch to add paint to the shopping list, so I’m going back to step three. The season needs to change before I climb the ladder to slather ugly brick with creamy Darby Creek, but it will happen, not as quickly or as easily as before my children came, but it will happen.
Many of my craft supplies collect more dust than I desire, but as my children grow I hope we’ll rediscover an idea or two and create something far better than I imagined. Maybe we’ll create a memory, and my children will know they are more important than to-do lists.
Photo credits: maessive, lenchensmama
Renae teaches her ten-year-old son and two little girls at home. She has prepared lesson plans, enjoyed children’s literature, and delighted in discovery with her children for five years. By studying Principle Approach philosophy, she realized what she always suspected: the Bible lies at the heart of all subjects. Find her reflections at Life Nurturing Education.
I had to laugh as I thought back to my first child and those sleepless nights! We really had no idea what we were in for, but it has been worth every minute! We’re on our way to the next newborn(#5) and I imagine I’ll still have a night or two where I just want to colapse and ask God why newborns can be so exhausting, and why I am never quite able to finish a project. But I wouldn’t trade this time for anything!
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I used to be able to do 50 tasks at once.. now I settle for one. I don’t look at it as “settling” though. I do one thing at a time and I do it well.
Hope you catch up on some sleep soon
Be blessed!
Sallie
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I can sooooo identify with this post! I have only recently learned (since Aspen was born) to break my projects into tasks. This is really evident in my writing. Where I used to sit for hours, headphones on, real world tuned out, and words flowing freely tothe page, I now have to content myself to type or scribble a few words at a time. But I’ve learned that they still add up to a finished story, just not as quickly.
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Tdrowlee,
Congratulations!
Sallie,
I like your perspective! You are right. It’s not “settling” for something less. Raising our children is a blessing and privilege.
Earthmommy,
It really helped me to break my projects up. I like to have check lists, so it works well for me. I can still feel like I’m accomplishing something even if it takes longer.
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Sooner than you can imagine, you’ll be able to work at one thing for a long stretch….and you’ll gladly interrupt it for a phone call from one of your adult kids. Where does the time go?
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Great post! I am still in the process of learning that things around the house don’t have to be perfect, projects don’t have to be completed all at once, etc! I remember wondering why my mom (who had 5 kids) didn’t stay on top of everything better…now I know!
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So true. I get frustrated because I used to be able to multi-task and keep several things going on at once. Now I forget things even for the one project I’m plodding through…because I am multi-tasking all the time. Balancing the needs of four children, a husband, a house and my little projects?
One thing at a time is good advice.
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Great question! I like how you’ve broken this down for us!
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