ME CHALLENGE - 1 WEEK MILESTONE!

....so here's my thought for today:

 

21 until a habit is formed right? 

Already, I am excited about my next new habit! LOL I feel like doing this, sticking with something, is an excellent way for Josh to understand that when Mommy says she is going to do something, she does it. It's important for me to back up my words with ACTIONS.

SO, had a super-awesome weekend at the campground. Went to the racetrack (Oaklane QuarterMidget track) I think it was a little sad for DH Stephen since Lauren retired last year. BUT, I know he's totally psyched about Josh wanting to race. When I tell you that boy is a natural behind a wheel, I mean, man, he's like some kinda child prodigy or something.... he can steer just about anything he jumps into; quad, racecar, tractor, and nothing is FAST enough for him. He keeps trying to push it in a higher gear. LOL  And, you should see him REVERSE! It's a HOOT! He's not yet 2 1/2. Good thing they start QuarterMidgets at 4. LOL

Well, I guess it is just in the blood... his sister raced cars, his dad raced 4-wheelers (was a champion!), and his great - grand daddy was a professional racer as well....

<sigh> I should just accept it... but it's just that they go so, so, so FAST!

Lauren raced for 8 years, but she didn't have the "bug" like Josh seems to. She liked to go to the track to race, sure, but she also liked hangin' out with her track friends more.

Josh, he just wants to race. You can see it in him at the track. He's glued to the cars, like it's a movie or something. We had to drag him away on Saturday, and even then, had to bribe him to get him outta there! "Let's go Josh, you can ride your quad when we get to the campground."

Which he did, over and over until the battery finally died.

Ya know, it's so funny. We didn't push anything on him when it came to racing. We just went along with things that interested him. It's just interesting he gravitated towards racing...

Well, I should be happy. The racing is, believe it or not, a total family sport. EVERY weekend, from April - Nov (longer if you race indoors) you are with your child. And, the track is a very family oriented place. We are members at Oaklane:

http://home.jtan.com/~joe/oaklane/index.htm

Stephen thought we should stay involved in case Josh did want to race. And, it's a good thing he didn't sell any of Lauren's cars, b/c it looks like we'll need them! LOL

Well, on to the ME Challenge info!

A few tips that have helped me this past week:

**When I set my timer for dinner, I use that time to get other things done, laundry, dishes, minor cleaning, etc

**I hired a cleaner!

**I have been using www.Flylady.net, it really does help keep me on some kind of schedule.

**I DEFINITELY have been delegating more this past week.

**I use the CROCKPOT! check out:

http://southernfood.about.com/library/crock/blcpidx.htm and here

http://crockpot.cdkitchen.com/ and here

http://www.recipegoldmine.com/crockpot/crockpot.html

That should give you ideas to last until X-mas! LOL

ALSO got a little inspiration from a motivational thinking site that I read about trying to help stay at home moms feeling more empowered... lol However, I did get some really good advice from there!

DON'T LET NEGATIVE THINKING GET IN THE WAY!

It's easy to think things like, "Nobody else can do what I do."

Once upon a time, you couldn't "do what you do". You had to learn the skills you have now. (I mean, hamburger helper does not just pop up outta my pan and say, "Look, I'm cooked!") And if you were able to learn them, undoubtedly somebody else  (like DH or even kids?) can learn them too.

Tonight, we had 3 of Stephen's buddies over for dinner. They're helping put on a new roof soon, so there's a lot of guy-excitement going on.  Made a big chicken n dumplin's dinner and then told the boys jokingly, "You helped eat it dinner, you can help pick the rest it up!" They all helped (including Josh) and the table was cleared, dishes done and put away in NO time!! LOL

Little things mean a lot. Seemingly small tasks can eat big holes in your time.

Or how about this one:

"If I don't do it myself, it won't get done right." (Ick, I hear my mom talking. lol) It's often true that the first time someone attempts something new, it's not perfect. But (1) everything doesn't have to be perfect, and (2) with practice, people generally perform a given task better, if not perfect. Okay, so maybe the room you asked your 2 year old to "pick up" isn't perfect, at least he tried. LOL

and finally,

"I can't afford help." Few of us are in a position to have every distasteful chore done by somebody else while we command from on high. Pity really, but most of us have to prioritize and make do. That does not mean that you put yourself last on your list of priorities.

Time is money. How much is your time worth to yourself....your family? Remember, all the time that you spend on on a task that you either don't want or don't need to do, it's costing you. When you look at it this way, maybe you'll decide you can't afford not to get help.  Previously, when I read this, I knew it made sense. But I worried what it would look like, even to me! LOL Was it selfish to hire a cleaner when my mother and grandmother cleaned their homes and all my friends clean their own houses... etc etc etc... The only person I was being selfish to...was Josh, the person I want to be the most selfless.

So, after my house was cleaned today, I came home from a dr.s appt after a morning spent gettin my exercise running between the washer, the line and the rooms where the clothes belonged..... I realized that it was priceless to come home to a house smelling clean and fresh.  AND best of all, I didn't have to do it! LOL

Find ways to make time for yourself. Whose life is it, anyway?

Comments

[Robyn]

Yay for you on the cleaners. How funny...I was going to blog about that today. (Give me some time, I've got laundry to put away first.)

I love your last paragraph!!! I think I need to do something with that and hang it up on my desk.

[Denean]

It's my life! And thanks to you I'm doing something with it!!
Love the recipes! YUM!!!