Our Time and Our Busyness

I start every school year vowing to keep our schedule simple and clutter free. And yet by every November, everyday has somethings to do that requires me to leave my home. By February, I am tired and by March my kids are sick of the break neck pace to keep up with all we do.

Why do I do this to myself and my family??? Well, I want my kids to have opportunities, friendships, hobbies, field trips, special classes and lessons, etc. etc. etc... But what if the one thing my kids need the most-me-is too busy to really be available. Then to what good is everything else I have offered them?.?

So my goal for this summer is to really take stock of our goals as a family, my husband's goals, my goals personally, and goals for each of my kids. Then I plan to schedule the outside world around us and not the other way around. This may mean that we "miss" out on some opportunities and activities. But my kids will be out of the nest sooner that it seems possible and I want to make sure that their memories and lessons from the nest were profitable, lasting, loving, and Godly.

I love what Elizabeth George calls this dilema "good, better, best." Often times the good is the enemy of the best because we are too busy with the good and the better and do not plan for or leave time for the best. And that is how I am going to measure my time next school year. Am I doing the best with my time and energy and with the limited time I have with my kids? No more good at the expense of the best!!!