January 2, 2012- Day TWO-
To start off… yesterday, after I posted, I got ready for bed and guess what I did for myself—Something I haven’t done in at least six months—I did a little exercise! Not a lot, that would be crazy. But I did do 25 squats, 15 pushups (real ones… not girl ones- and it was a lot easier than I thought it would be!), 25 sit ups and I stretched --- It wasn’t much-but I am not lying when I say I typically do NOTHING for me on a daily basis. So rack another one up for ME on day one!
Day two- for reals this time. Today was hard day for me. It was the day before the school week starts. Right now, because my husband took a new position in a town three hours away from where we lived. Normally the entire family would move. But, I teach and am under a contract. AND we have bills, so I need a paycheck. So commute is what my three daughters and I do. We drive home to Daddy at the end of our school week and then late Sunday night, we drive back to stay in our “old” town. It’s not ideal… but I have a job and that’s more than a lot of people have.
SO, as I was saying it’s usually a tough day for me. Not only do I need to make sure we have enough laundry clean for us to pack up for a week. I need to make sure my husband has laundry and groceries and a relatively clean home to live in while his family is away. I dislike Sunday’s. It’s a hard day to do something for ME. But I did find a way.
First thing’s first. When I woke up this morning… my to do list popped in my head. I set a schedule for myself and went to it. Folded laundry, started new laundry, emptied dishwasher, cleaned up some stuff. Hmmmmmm after that, before I woke the kids up, I was supposed to get to exercise a little. But all of the sudden, it’s 9am and the kids still aren’t awake… Dang it. I have chores to do outside and the girls really need to help out a little. So, I did it.. like I always do. Threw my ME stuff out the window, woke up the kids, and went outside to do chores. UGGG, I know I have to do that sometimes, but it sure frustrates me because I do it A LOT! That’s ok. I will just “revamp” my schedule.
The girls have been all about going for a big bike ride… so that’s my new plan…. Go for a ride with the big girls, I should get some exercise and some fresh air. Almost even better.
We went on a drive with Daddy to help him with some things at work. Took more time than I thought… OF COURSE. But I did find some time to write. Thank GOD for smart phones. So I am putting that here as ONE thing I did for myself today. I wrote.
Grocery Store… another to do list. Did buy myself some yummy creamer so that I can enjoy some coffee in the am. Haven’t always been willing to do this. My motto has always been, it costs extra money and it’s extra calories… I probably don’t need it. But- I have decided- it’s a cheap splurge- and OH SO YUMMY. But this trip burned more of my precious time! Remember… I have a three hour drive to do with three little girls. And I need to start before 8 pm so I can get there before too crazy late!
Girls are still asking for the bike ride. It’s 3:15 now and I told Daddy we would do dinner at 5. I have laundry to keep doing, packing hasn’t been done and I haven’t even taken a shower yet! When my oldest daughter asked me about the bike ride while we were putting groceries away, I did what most parents do… said.. “When we get some of our stuff done, we will do it.” But this wasn’t good enough for her and she blurted out “You always tell us that!” HOLD ON SISTER! At this point, I had had a day of little girls and their sassy little mouths. So I did Just for Mommy #2 of the day--- I stuck up for myself and sent little missy sassy and her mouth to her room. I had a little session with her about respecting her mom and finding more respectful ways of expressing frustration. I then gave each child a 5 minute chore and told them that if they wanted to ride bikes, they would get that task done in 5 minutes…. AND I meant it! Fifteen minutes later, we walked out the door to go for our ride. Push over!
BUT—I did get to do Thing #3—Ride my bike (OK—it was my husband’s bike, mine is forever lost at my mother’s house—I think it’s time for a new one.) BUT I used my legs and I got some exercise—outside! It was a little less exerting than I had hoped for… my five year old has sticks for legs and its pretty tough for her to go very fast. But the eight year old and I traded on and off so one person could circle around the baby girl and the other could catch up to my six year old that doesn’t do well with stopping or starting or turning on her new, bigger bike. We rode for an hour. It might not have been extremely hard, and I certainly wasn’t sweating.. but I was moving—and that was great! Baby steps… it may have been to go for a ride with the girls… but I was claiming it ME time. I had fun. I hate my husband’s seat on his bike, but I had fun. My caboose hurts already though. Did I mention that it was JUST BEAUTIFUL OUT! Oh, A warm January afternoon. When I say warm, I mean like 45*--- we don’t live in warm country. But the sun was out and it was amazing! Talk about make your heart happy!
So, we made it back to the house, got some dinner done, packed our clothes, kissed Daddy 100 times, and got on the road. Normally, the car stereo is blaring little girl Taylor Swift or someone young amazing and oh so girly… but on this road trip- I did Me thing #4- I claimed the stereo and the CD player for me. I listened to MY music- which happens to be God Music. And I love it. It does make me better. It brings me closer to God, reminds me of when I was young and makes me happy.
And now here I sit… recalling my day. Tapping away at my keyboard. I like to end the day this way.
#1- I wrote during down time. Time when I normally would have been surfing facebook on my phone. I wrote.
#2 – Stuck up for myself to my children. A little bit of demanding respect. But they know when I am serious and if I am going to survive junior high. I need to get back into really putting my foot down.
#3- Rode my bike—outside and moving!
#4 – Listened to MY MUSIC—I let God talk to me on my drive.
And now I will do some situps, push ups, squats.. Why NOT?!
Colossians 3:16 ESV
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
3 John 1:2 ESV
Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul.
Exodus 20:12 ESV
“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.
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