A few weeks ago I sent out my email newsletter with a confession in it: I do not always have “traditional morning prayers” with my family in front of the icon corner. Instead, we will often pray in the car on the way to school. Though perhaps not ideal, it works for us and helps us make time for prayer in the midst of a busy morning.
I was blow away by the response to this confession! Many people wrote back that it was freeing to read this. To know that other moms don’t always “have it all together.” That you’re not alone.
And so, I thought I would make a list of other things that I just don’t do. Things that would perhaps make me a “bad mom.” These are things that I have deliberately chosen not to do.
Because, you see, we can’t do everything. We are only human. We have 24 hours in a day. And so, we need to choose how we will use those 24 hours.
We need to ask ourselves, “What really matters to me right now? To my family?” And, then we need to give ourselves the freedom to say no to everything else. Guilt-free. No stigma attached. No self-accusations of being a bad mom.
Here are:
All of the Things I Don’t Do
(Please note that none of these things are bad things! You may do all of them, and that is wonderful. There are probably things that I do that you would scratch your head at. These are just things that I–or my husband and I–have chosen not to prioritize in this season of life. That’s all.)
-Craft projects with my children
-Multiple after school or extra curricular activities for each child
-Homeschooling
-Fold my laundry each week
-Cook meals with more than a few ingredients
-Clean the sink, or the bathroom, etc. every day
-Chaperone field trips
-Join the PTA or other committees
-Be the “head cleaner” in my family (i.e. the one who is expected to do the bulk of the cleaning)
-Morning Prayers in front of the icon corner each day
-Entertain my children
-Attend every birthday party or play date we are invited to
-Pack beautiful lunches
-Cook every meal
Now, some of these things still get done–just not by me. Delegation is a beautiful thing! My husband cooks several meals each week. My husband and children have their own cleaning responsibilities. My children pack their own lunches.
Other things on this list just don’t get done at all. After all, it costs nothing to lower your standards. So, we don’t do any craft projects. My clean laundry quite often sits in the basket all week. And, my kids know that because of our work schedules, we won’t be on their field trips.
Next month I will write about the things that I have chosen to do. The things that I prioritize in my life right now.
I share this with you for one simple reason: To help you let go of guilt. To try to ease a little weight off of your shoulders. To encourage you to pause and intentionally evaluate which things matter to you.
If this topic interests you, you may want to check out a few articles I’ve written on the subject.
One Work Outside the Home Mom’s Schedule: Or, How I Don’t Do Everything
Our Super Simple Fasting Meal Plan
How Being a Mother Did Not Change Me
May your day be filled with the peace of Christ, from whom every good and perfect gift flows.
P.S. If you want to receive my e-mail newsletter, you can sign up here. You will receive biweekly e-mails from me with additional articles, a peek into our family life, etc.
