Secrets Of Success

It doesn't get any better than this:

• Lounging on the couch;
• My fuzzy pajamas from Mrs. Smith;
• Waiting for my dinner to be delivered;
• Holding the worlds sweetest baby (since the last one I had);
• And on top of all that, he says he "loves" his momma! See? Just look at his t-shirt!

My son has good taste in clothing :-)







































And lest you think I can only think new-baby-boy thoughts, I will let you in on a little secret I learned in this last week:

• If I put aside my own personal aspirations for great creative outlet, and am willing to be content doing so, I can be truly available for my children.

I have known for a while that in this baby-raisin' season of my life, I really need to be content to shelve my own creative ventures.
I am not suggesting that I will put my pencil, scrapbook, or sewing machine in the closet for the next however-many-years ahead (not sure I could follow through with that if I wanted to!).

If my heart and mind are not fully engaged in being a mother; in training; in laughing; in sharing; in teaching; in ENJOYING my precious children every minute...
I find myself always looking to check my "duties" off my list so I can get to my OWN projects.

When that happens I don't do either one well, and am often hurrying my children in things that need my time and patience.

This last week I have accomplished more with my children than usual - even while sitting on the couch.

For starters, I decided to focus only on Math and Reading this Winter, which requires little more than reading, reading, reading; listening to my boys read, read, read; and then fielding questions as they work through their Math workbooks.
I can do all those things from the comfort of the living room couch while I hold or nurse baby.

I must have resolved to BE on that couch, because there I was, available to read instructions, to answer questions, to cuddle, to read books to the girls.

You know what I found? I wasn't in an all-fired hurry and they enjoyed me!
I can dictate chores from the couch, and oversee follow-through too. The house has remained relatively serene.

I look forward to jumping into some drawing projects before long, and making a couple Christmas stockings for a couple little Bugs, but I sure am enjoying this new found "thing that works for me" and I believe it is worth continuing to perfect.

So that's my little secret: Shelving my own agenda, and relaxing to be available for the children.
It seems to work!