Dear Mom Who Wants To Do It All,
I’m writing this as much for myself as for you. I sense your worry. I feel your fatigue. I can see the endless to-do lists in your notebook and the jam-packed schedules in your planner. I can hear you cry out with frustration, wondering “How.in.the.world.can.I.do.it.all?! There’s just too much to do and too little time!”
I don’t have the answer to your question but I do know this. You…and I? We don’t really have to, you know, do it all. We don’t! Really.
The world may tell us otherwise though. But I’m here to remind you (and myself) that we don’t. Yes, we may want to do it all but most of the time we don’t have to. Sometimes, all we have to do is just be. Just be a wife. Just be a mom. Just be yourself. Just be.
Strip down your to-do lists to the bare essentials.
Simplify your schedules to make more time for the essentials that make life truly rich and worth living. The essentials like your family.
Today, I challenge you (and myself!) to embrace the fact that you really can’t do it all… But you can do any or all of the following:
Say yes to your child when she asks you to play with her.
Read not just 1, but 3 (or more!) books when your child asks you to read to him.
Hug your spouse/partner and whisper sweet nothings into his ear.
Take 5 minutes to just breathe…deep breaths.
Give thanks for all the blessings you have but may take for granted.
When you really think about it, not doing it all seems so much more attractive, doesn’t it? So how about it? Will you join me in my quest to focus on ‘the essentials’ of life? To try to not want to ‘do it all’ but do what’s needed? I hope we can ‘talk’ about this in the comments!
This is an original post to World Moms Blog by Tina Rodriquez-Santiago, Truly Rich Mom, in The Philippines.
Dear Tina, you’re absolutely right! When your children are small the chores tend to pile up but (trust me!) you children WON’T remember if the house was sparkling clean and tidy, but they WILL remember that you played with them or took them to the park or read them stories!
My “baby” turns 18 next month. She’s about to graduate High School. Trust me when I tell you that it really does go by faster than you think! If you want your child to talk to you when she is a teen you HAVE TO let her talk to you when she is 3 and just seems to be rambling on about some imaginary creature (and you are just itching to shush your child so that you can get something “important” done). Your patience when she is small will be amply rewarded when your teen WANTS TO tell you everything that goes on in her life! 🙂
Dear Simona,
WOW! Congratulations on your “baby” turning 18 — a wonderful milestone in any child (and her mother’s!) life indeed! 🙂 Thank you for the reminder to cherish these precious moments of having “tiny humans”/littles at home! 🙂
So so true Tina!! The gentle reminder is always appreciated 🙂
I had to remind myself, Maman, which is why I wrote the post! 😛 LOL!
I love this Tina!! Thank you so much!! We have been having some issues at home and I have been trying to refocus on the truly important things like reading books with my kids and giving EXTRA hugs!
“I have been trying to refocus on the truly important things like reading books with my kids and giving EXTRA hugs!” Me too, Sarah! 🙂
Hi, Mommy Tina.
Beautifully written. Heart-felt. Spot on. 🙂
I kind of smile when I read “Read not just 1 but 3 (or more!) books when your child asks you to read to him.” Immediately my response was, “But what if she asks you to read 12 books in one sitting?” 🙂 My daughter is like that before she goes to sleep. “Mommy, read book please.” And then, “one more, please.” Then another “one more please.” It makes me sleepier than she should be! Haha!
Thanks for the insights! Blessings on you! 🙂
Hi Joy! 🙂 Praise God for using this post to “speak” to you! It’s funny, I just typed it out on my phone because I needed to write a post and couldn’t do so on the computer because I was nursing my youngest — yet a lot of people seem to “connect” with it!
I can relate to you — my kids also ask me/us to read LOTS of books at bedtime. Heehee! God bless you and your family! 🙂
Thanks, Tina! I really need to hear this today.
Praise God, Rizza! I need to hear this EVERY DAY! Haha! 🙂
Thanks Tina for this. We are planning on a lot of things to do at home and Im thinking how can I do it all. That is true, we have to be reminded to get focused and do what we make us happy.
Our 3 year old makes us read a lot of books with him. Not just 1 but a dozen before bedtime!
Tina,
I know you were talking to you, but it’s amazing how many of us connected to this post!
You are so right. I can’t do it all. And that’s OK. I’m coming up for air after family sicknesses, and I had to say no to things and focus on my family. There was so much that I had let go at home! I’m catching up and coming up for air!
Jen 🙂
Thanks for the reminder. I will do it with my child and husband and remember that they come before anyone else.
Oh Tina, what a beautifully written and heartfelt post. Thank you for this message and reminder. Bless you!