My goal for this year is to Be Prepared – you know like the boy scouts. Technically it’s our family goal, but I can’t remember if I actually told anyone else in our family about it, or asked for their input….
I get excited when I think about it. Seamless mornings because we’d picked up and packed lunches the night before. On time to everything with the kids having all papers and sports gear neatly stacked ready to go. Meals planned, and any prep necessary done in advance. I even took it further to include having first aid supplies always on hand, food staples etc.
But unfortunately this is what our house often looks like in the morning – but I made sweet potato waffles so that’s good right?The morning pictured was particularly bad – laundry is everywhere only about once a week.
As the year progresses, it’s gotten worse. Right now, we are overscheduled, a total of 9 separate activities between the three kids, that doesn’t include Justin and I’s commitments. No time to prepare, no time to clean. Life feels like a Jenga came, trying to rearrange, and balance – don’t let anything fall.
Our house is a hurricane every morning as the kids tried to get out the door, and I am left to gather and tidy the debris.
Last Sunday I became the hurricane, snapping at everyone, feeling alone. I felt like the last log in a dam, responsible for holding back the rush of water while everyone else rushed to their different activities, too busy, too tired, to help.
My attitude touched everyone, destroying what should have been a day of peace and rest.
So, sometime during the eye of the storm, we had a family meeting. I explained to my family what I needed. They all listened, they all wanted to help. Families are awesome like that.
Now it’s not just my goal, it’s a family effort. Each kid is responsible for making sure an area of the house is clean before bed. Justin oversees lunches. I fill in the cracks, still picking up any loose debris.
Together we balanced the pieces.
In Jenga, the point where everything falls down is the best part, it brings screams and laughter, and sometimes, you take the pieces and build something new.