This week has not been the way I expected it to be. I had my plans laid down, and was looking forward to a very productive week of sorting through things, and getting things organized.
However, my son came down with bronchitis and I ended up spending all day Wednesday in the ER with him. My daughter didn't sleep well this week, and I have been feeling under the weather as well. Needless to say I was not as productive as I wanted to be.
I began to beat myself up over it, I was telling myself that I shouldn't have "lazy" this week, and that I should have been strong enough to keep going and do the things I wanted to do this week.
But then I realized, I have wanted to get back to the basics. As wives and mothers our job is to take care of our family. This week my children needed me to put aside "my plans" and spend time cuddling and nursing them, the basics of motherhood. So what if my laundry room is still a clutter castle or my kitchen floor didn't get mopped on the "right day" this week. Missing a few chores won't make the house fall down or end the world. (Those of you who know me well know how it pained me to type that last sentence!)
I tend to put alot of expectations on myself. I want my house to always be clean and organized, I want my children to always look put together and be well behaved, I want my husband to always come home to a smiling wife, a good dinner and a calm house. And while these are good things to strive for, in reality, it isn't going to always happen like that. Sometimes my husband comes home to a stressed, burnt out wife, sometimes my four year old wants to wear an outfit that clashes, and sometimes my house doesn't look like it belongs in a magazine. I am learning that getting back to basics involves getting my priorities in the proper order.
Is it more important that my four year old knows that his mommy loves him and spends time with him or that my house is immaculate? Is it more important for his outfits to look the best, or that he gets the joy of dressing himself? It is a struggle for me to let go of control and let things happen the way they happen.
Does this mean that I will stop my quest for going through and organizing my house? No, because that does still need to be done, it does mean that it might take a little longer than I would like, because I might have to take a break and play some LEGOS with a little boy.
