Wednesday, February 10, 2010

turner13andrea said…

I feel the same way! I always feel like I have the whole weekend to spend with my husband and kids, and then we go to the gym and do the laundry and other chores, take naps, and make meals...and then it seems the whole day is gone. Any advice for squeezing in fun things while still making sure the house doesn't fall apart?

In response…
This much abbreviated space longs for far more than two days could possibly allow.
I’m mentally coming off a long demanding schedule, so the first thing I need to do is make a healthy transition to my down time; to switch gears so that my manic mind can realign with my desires. Though I am drained come Friday night, it signals the shift from workweek to weekend. Scheduling something different--a movie, dinner with friends, a picnic in the park--anything that defines the break, leaves me more refreshed than if I had planted my worn out being on the couch. It extends my time off.
If I hope to walk away from my weekend feeling revived, I need to be realistic about what I take on. I have learned to say ‘no’, and to reach out when I need help. You can only fit so many birthday parties and soccer games into a two-day stretch! Learn to limit and to carpool.
I also honor what is important to me, time at the gym, reading, a long hike, or a warm bubble bath, and make it a priority rather than a wish list. I set the framework for how my children will parent and so I teach them balance from the onset.
Most importantly, I am gentle with my expectations. I enjoy the spontaneity of letting go, remembering that the shift in schedule is as much a gift as my time off.

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Author Biography

Erin Rose Donnegan, with twenty-six years experience in her childcare business, continues to raise strong children and coach parents. She also guides teens through life transitions and volunteers as a hospice caregiver, providing comfort during the last moments of life. Erin has six beautiful grandchildren and is currently working on her next book about raising responsible children. She lives in Denver, Colorado.