Intentional

Be intentional. Don’t leave things to chance. Yeah, it seems obvious. But when you’re a parent (which equals being exhausted and frustrated a lot), it can be easy to just go with the flow. Just try to get through the day. Keep your head above water. Pray that you can hold out until bedtime. And yes, there are days when that is all we may manage to do. Nothing wrong with that. We all have those days. Or weeks. But lately I’m learning the importance of being intentional.

It first came to my attention when I started attending a weekly mom’s group a few weeks ago. It was so refreshing to be around so many moms who are very intentional about the way they are raising their children and the kind of home environment they are creating. It doesn’t happen by chance. Good things rarely do. It takes making a decision. It takes setting up routines that support your goal. Yes, it takes effort. And that may seem overwhelming. After all, we have to feed these kids. (For some reason, they want to eat two and sometimes 3 times a day even!) We have to pay bills, do endless laundry, somehow get ourselves presentable, deal with their squabbles, take care of the dog, etc. etc. Be intentional? Seriously? 

But being intentional can sometimes mean making small changes to support our goal. For example, one thing I've started doing is getting my older son's lunch made the night before so that I can just sit with him while he eats breakfast in the mornings. Yes. Just sit. In the dark, quiet kitchen. No piddling in the kitchen, cleaning dishes or finishing his lunch. Just sitting with him. There aren't many opportunities to do this without little Micah running through like a tornado. It takes a little effort, but it's nice to just sit there. Most of the time we don't even talk. But I'm there. And sometimes that's enough. 

Another one is having a "quiet time". Granted, I've been slacker with this lately. But I always intend to have a "quiet time" with God and it rarely happens. Since realizing that this needs to be a priority, I've started using the window of time when the house is quiet - after Elias leaves for school and while Micah is still sleeping. It's about 6:45 a.m. and yes I'd love to go back to sleep. But I tell myself,  "Just spend 15 or 20 minutes and then go back to bed." I spend the time praying for my kids, family or reading. Or maybe just being quiet. It's a small effort, but it's worth it. 

I've been floating around aimlessly for too long. Just trying to keep my head above water. Sometimes you have to be intentional. It makes a difference. 

Now if I can just be intentional about staying off Facebook and getting a little more sleep.