Slow ... Children Playing

Although Cletus and I usually laugh at this sign and look for the slow children that are suppose to be playing in the neighborhood, I think that this phrase describes my recent thoughts. I am just too busy. I don't have to be too busy, but I let myself get that way. The words to this song have been running through my head lately: "I'm in a hurry to get things done, Oh I rush and rush until life's no fun. All I really want to do is live and die, but I'm in a hurry and don't know why". There are lots and lots of good things to be involved in, but it's so easy to be involved in too many of them. We only have two children and only one of them is in extracurricular activities, but I find that I am running here and there so often that I am not enjoying my day, I'm not enjoying being a mom, and I'm certainly not stopping to enjoy the little pleasures in life. I get to be unhappy and frustrated and I feel that my schedule is out of my control. But, I know that that's not true. I am in charge of where I spend my time and whether I am on the go too much. I realized recently that it had been a week since we slowed down to have family time together - all 4 of us just being at home with nothing scheduled! Children grow up way too quickly for this to be a norm in our household. I want the house to be clean and for things to be orderly and nice, but when it comes down to what is really important, who cares? I want to play with my kids. I want to laugh with them, to get down on the floor and read to them. I want to be able to do something spontaneous and silly because we have nothing going on. I want to be able to leave dishes in the sink so that I can go and play kickball outside with my family. I want to slow down. Our prophet, President Hinckley, said something one time that I loved. I tried to find the exact quote but couldn't. It said something like, "enjoying the time of just being at home together as a family is an art" and that it is necessary for our children to have that constant in their lives. So, here is my public promise now to slow down, to breathe, to play and to laugh, to leave chores until later so that I can enjoy my children while they still want to play with me.

6 comments:

Scott Kelly said...

Amen sista!

chris said...

blame your father.
love, mom

RACHEL said...

thanks alice, i needed to hear that!

Crystal and Brad Barger said...

So true! I only have the little man. It is easy to get busy as there is much to do.

Unknown said...

We have been having this same discussion at our house!! I am glad to hear about your pledge and I am making one too. Also Greg will tell you I have no problem leaving dirty dishes in the sink. Maybe that is one thing I can get better at if I don't add too much to my plate, along with playing more of course. hehehe :) Actually we did something kind of fun a couple of weeks ago and made a time budget with each day in the week and what the time is used for and actually scheduled in play time and family time and couple time and I think it has really helped me feel less overwhelmed and more in control and hopeful!!

allyn said...

i had a week last week where i was gone almost every morning. i felt so terrible that noah didn't get a real nap every day because of the things in my schedule. i'm ruining his health and probably his whole life!

alice-did you want to come hang out wiss me on saturday while cletus and hayden are playing?

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