Finding Time for Yourself.

I don't know about you, but the weekends just seem to fly by.  I mean, it's the weekend!  Time to relax, take some time to read a book, go on a long walk or run, play outside with the kids.....but somehow, the weekends always fly by.  This weekend especially.   Not only do we have our usual baseball game on Saturday, but we also had dance dress rehearsal and dance concert AND on top of all of that, I'm also on worship team this weekend which means a long morning at church BEFORE the dance recital. 

Last night I went with a small group of girls to see the movie "Mom's Night Out."  If you haven't seen it, I highly recommend it.  It was funny, but also had a very touching moment in it as well.  There was a point when the main character just felt like she had given all she had to give and tried to help everyone, but she just wasn't ever good enough.  The character she was talking to just asked her, "Good enough for who?"  The point was that we don't have to be good enough for anyway because we are good enough for God.  He gave us these kids and this life we're living.  If he gave them to us, than we must be enough for them.  As I watched that scene unfold, it reminded me that life is chaotic.  It always will be (at least for awhile) and that's okay.  I need to find joy in the chaos.  I need to find time for myself to get away so that I can refresh.  I need to let some things go. 

Now that's all easy to say, right?  BUT, in real life what does that look like?  Well, I think for me, it looks like this.......My daughter has her dance recital tomorrow.  This year she is in Mommy & Me, which YES, means that I am dancing with her.  Not my favorite thing in the world, but maybe I can learn to appreciate being with her during this dance recital.   I won't always be allowed to be backstage with her and helping her get her hair and all of that ready.  This is her FIRST dance recital.  I need to remember that and savor that moment, even in the chaos of all the glitter and hairspray and bobby pins tomorrow. ;)   My son has a lot of exciting things going on right now; baseball, end of school, field trips, etc.  He has a very difficult time dealing with excitement of things and calming himself down.  Structure is his friend.  I very easily get frustrated with him in his excitement as he typically disobeys during these times.  Instead, maybe I can learn to appreciate his joy and see the smile and laughter that he brings during these times.  He may not always be thrilled to have me accompany his field trips, but for now, he loves it! 

It doesn't mean that I will always have a smile on my face or that I will be loving every minute of the chaos.  What it does mean is that maybe I need to slow down, find joy in the small things and stop myself when I'm reaching my "paralyzed by stress" mode.  

I realize that I kind of got away from my topic here of trying to find time for yourself.  Part of finding time for yourself though I think, is realizing that even in the midst of the chaos when it seems that your joy has been stripped away, its important to stop and realize that you are ENOUGH.  God designed you and He loves you!  Take a small walk, ask a friend to coffee after the kids go to bed, watch your favorite movie, take a bubble bath.  Yes, I know, there are dishes in the sink and noodles stuck to the stove and more dirt on the floor than you care to express, but you know what?  Your kids won't notice that.  They will notice that you are more refreshed and you have taken care of YOURSELF so you can take care of them. 

Find some time for yourself today.  What will you do?  What refreshes you?