Saturday, October 4, 2008

Free at Last, Free at Last!!

Ok, now, I love my husband. Really I do. But a little too much togetherness can put a strain on any relationship, right? Hello? It's been over a month of being off schedule now!

Today we are back to normal. Back to him being gone when I get up (my friend Mylinda would NEVER do that, excellent wife that she is!), and coming home around 4:30.

I feel like walking around the house singing! Does that sound horrible? I know - it does.

But I don't care!!

Now we can get back into our normal routine of schoolwork and chores and cooking and shopping. All of which is thrown off kilter when Hubby is home, as we just try to enjoy our time wiuth him to the fullest extent. He, while bordering on obsessive complusive disorder in many areas, has yet to learn the value of routine.

But over the course of the last few years, thanks in no small part to the help of FlyLady, I have learned the enourous value of routines in a home.

For instance, in our home, Thursday is shopping and cleaning day, Saturday is laundry day, etc. The kids know to rise, have breakfast, get dressed, do their chores and start their schoolwork by a certain time. I know to have dinner decided on and begin work on it by noon. We can count on Hubby coming in the door between 4:30 and 5. Dinner is around 6.

That routine makes every day go smoother and, consequently, makes everyone a happier camper. It's funny that my post today is titled "Free at Last" when I'm talking about the joys of having a routine. Many people would feel constrained by routine, desiring instead to just flow with whatever the day brings. There is a time and place for that. We all need to be open to the Lord's direction throughout the day.

But there is a quiet peace in knowing what the day ahead will bring. A sense of calm and purpose. Having a plan frees me from "the tyranny of the urgent" and allows me to focus on what my true priorities are - those things that I have purposefully determined in my heart ahead of time.

For years I struggled through the life of a homemaker who didn't have a plan, but just ran from place to place, putting out fires and trying to keep my head above water. Now, my days are busy, but calm. I have taken the time to decide what is truly important and have made the decision to focus on those things.

If you struggle with feeling like your life is out of control, I would encourage you to sit down and take some time to do some planning. This is well worth the time, I promise. Consider your priorities, then make a plan of how to focus on them. Schedules and routine, while sounding very dull and monotonous, can actually be very freeing.

Now, excuse me while I return to singing about the house.

6 comments:

Debbie Petras said...

I totally agree with you about having daily routines. I feel more at peace knowing that I don't have to think about what day will I do the laundry, etc. I also try to establish daily habits such as having a quiet time early in the morning and also getting exercise. I don't think about whether or not to do it...I just do it! And it helps me in my day.

tammi said...

I'm SO with you on this!!! For the last month, hubby's only been home each night long enough to catch between 4 and 6 hours of sleep, but how harvest is over. And he's home for supper every night. Which is nice, but I've gotten really attached to being able to do whatever I feel like doing to unwind after the girls are in bed. And that's over now. AAAAAARRRRRGHGHGHGHGHGH.

I like my routine, too, and I'm so used to having one that doesn't really include him (what with him being a trucker and all), that when he's around, I feel completely disoriented and frustrated. Isn't that awful?!

Nancy M. said...

I think too much togetherness can sometimes be a bad thing.

As hard as it is to say this, I think I may need to have a plan to do things. I usually just try to do whatever, but things aren't getting done. So, I may have to break down and make a schedule.

Claire said...

You are so right. I need a routine, yet I feel constrained when I do, like you said. I just got done reading "The Messies Manual" and that's helping me get my head around a routine, and a plan for keeping my house up. It's been 17 years of this mess...and I am soooo tired of it. It has gotten better since the kids have gotten older, but I did not instill the routine in them at a young age, and it's really hard now. So, all you with young kids, DO IT NOW. Give them chores early on, and teach them harder things as they get older.

Thanks for this post. It was quite timely. :-)

Traci said...

I have trouble with staying on a schedule. I'd do so much better if I would!

Stacey said...

i totally get ya! although we love them, sometimes those men can really mess up our routine!

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