Spring Cleaning the Mind
I love having a clean house. But, boy, do I hate cleaning. The thought of dusting makes me groan. Polishing hardwood floors on hands and knees makes me tense. Sudsing up dishes, scrubbing toilets, and vacuuming the rugs are arduous to me. The only time I ever gave my husband the cold shoulder was the day he suggested I clean the windows, as if I had nothing better to do. I think the reason I loathe cleaning so much is because it is never finished, especially since having kids. I feel like Sisyphus, stuck in an endless cycle of fruitless labor. Sometimes, it seems like so much work that…
Simplifying the Holidays: Prioritize Planning, Resting, and Quality Things
It’s that time of year… Time for festivities, family, fun, and feasts. Unfortunately, it also can be a time of overstimulation, overindulgence, and overwhelming stress for us and our children. As parents, we are gatekeepers; we ultimately determine the climate and culture of our home by what we allow in, both literally and figuratively. This time of year, it’s especially easy to get busy and distracted, meaning we may be compromising the well-being of ourselves and our family in the name of the Christmas Spirit. So many years, I’ve gotten all wrapped up in the doings of the season, that I’ve neglected the things I love most about it; the…
Self-Care: Another Form of Sabbath we’ve been Neglecting
There is nothing quite like the stillness of morning. When my babies were little, I did the wise thing and slept as long as they did, often trying to delay the arrival of morning by snuggling them close in bed and nursing them back to sleep as many times as they’d allow. But these days, I set an alarm for at least an hour before those little eyes will open. I’ve crept downstairs in the darkness, lit candles around my living room, stretched out on a yoga mat, and eased into the day. I’ve poured myself a hot cup of coffee, sweetening it with honey, and relished its sweet, earthy…
