stop already

I find that one of the biggest challenges I face as a human on this planet is over-scheduling.  I read articles and books about over-scheduled families and the havoc it wreaks on small children and can can hear it in my brain, "Oh, those horrid parents, don't they know children need down time?  Tsk, tsk."  Yet, I have (finally) come to realize I am one of those parents.

Nate and I are on the move everyday.  We have an appointment, an opportunity, a chance to connect, call it what you will- but we are out of the house and, many days, not back in our house for up to 12 hours at a time.  Right now that feels like some form of insanity.  If we were going to one place, like the beach.  Or the zoo.  Or a park.  And spending hours there, I may feel different.  But, unfortunately, we go to multiple places each day and spend a short amount of time doing each thing.

As an educator, I am appalled at myself.  No wonder Nate has no attention span, can't figure out what to do on his own after an hour at home, becomes 'bored' when faced with the unfamiliar for too long.  Yet, I look at my calendar for the week and I see 'must-dos.'   They are playdates with friends that we haven't seen in a long time, they are appointments that are time sensitive and need to be kept, they are errands for others that need to be done because they are unable to do them themselves.

I can get all philosophical and say there is no 'must-do' as important as just spending hours with your child doing whatever may come up, but I know that's largely philosophical bull crap.  Reality is, right now is just a busy time in our lives.  I've done a much better job of scheduling in some down time or making sure that we're home at least a few days a week but I'm not perfect.  I recognize that this is a time of transition as I move from working outside of the home to being fully 'at home' and that this transition will be hectic and I have to have some grace for myself. 

In the meantime, I can appreciate the time that we are together and the different opportunities that help us understand ourselves a little better in each new situation.  I can appreciate that there are rhythms and seasons to all things in life and that this is just one that we must ride out until a new cycle can begin.  I can be thankful for the many blessings in my life that fill up my time and pull me from my home- as I have much to be grateful for.  And I can have patience.  For myself and for my son.