Happy New Year, friends! I hope you all had a wonderful holiday and are entering 2013 energized. I’ve missed this blog so much and I’m so happy to be back!
As much as I’d like to smile and tell you that life has been perfect around here…well, I’d be lying. Adjusting to life with four children has been very different than I expected. I was prepared for the sleepless nights, the extra laundry and even the colic. It was all the rest that threw me for a big loop.
For awhile, I struggled with the idea that I was just a big, huge failure. My house was full of clutter. I was doing the bare minimum with homeschooling (certainly no extra fun stuff!). I was behind on chores. I wasn’t losing any weight and my clothes were all too tight. My kids were watching too much TV. We ate out way too much.
To summarize: handling a newborn was a piece of cake. Juggling everything else? Failure with a capital F.
I’m almost embarrassed to admit that it took about three months for me to learn to give myself some grace. Instead of constantly beating myself up for being inadequate, I ‘ve started to celebrate the small victories of every day. It really was a Christmas miracle, since I’m definitely my own worst critic! And while I’m still nowhere near “Super Mom” status, I feel like I’m back on track. I feel like I’m closer to being the kind of mom I know I can be.
This time in my life has taught me a valuable lesson: if you really want something, you have to work for it. This can be for everything from making dinner, to desiring an organized home, to starting a new business. You have to prioritize the time, money and resources. You have to commit. Instead of living in a cloud of “somedays” and “maybes”, you have to dig deep and follow through.
That’s what I want for 2013: to live an intentional life. I want to be intentional with my family, my home and my dreams. I plan on using this space here on the Big White Farmhouse to document this new adventure. I hope you’ll come along!
Here’s to a new year of being more of who God created us to be.
hey! I feel like our posts today are very sympatico 🙂 I can totally relate with the realization that I am just not Supermom. Oh well. 🙂
Wow, four children and homeschooling! I couldn't do it myself. I agree with work everyday. I started a photography business a few years ago. I've literally dedicated the last 5yrs of my life to it. Reading, studying and practicing. Lots of ppl ask me what camera I use so they can buy one and get pictures to look like mine. If only it was that easy!
It's doing what has to be done when you don't feel like. It's staying up way past the kids bedtime to organize a messy closet, but boy does it feel good when it's done! Best of luck to you this new year 🙂
Don't worry Ashley, I think all this is something every mom learns eventually. Its good to think that there are going to be times of more organization and productivity-or at least that's what I keep telling myself! Plus, who wants to be super-mom anyways?! You're much more interesting than Super Mom!
Glad you are back!! And, I'm right there with you!! Life swept me away last year, and with all the changes I had to roll along with it, but was not happy with the lack of intentional living. I hope to see more from you since I too am trying to live intentionally this year. It is hard work, but I feel so GOOD already! I think we have to try to be more generous to ourselves given all that we have to accomplish. For me, it all starts with working out and making that a priority. When that is completed, my energy and focus just come right behind it. So hopefully I can continue working out! Let us know how you do 🙂