Doing Things in the Right Order After Years of Not

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I’m finding a new rhythm to my house life, mom life, wife life.

I’m finally doing things consciously in the right order.

It was 8:32pm. The three youngest are all asleep and as I crept past their rooms, checking on their night lights and blanket situations, I felt it. That siren call of my sewing machine. DO NOT GO DOWNSTAIRS. COME UP!

My husband slipped out the back door with our oldest for some night baseball hits at the local park. They waved and I doused them in bug spray on their way out. I had not answered my sewing machine’s call. I had trekked down the stairs, pausing to pick up ten thousand items of dirty clothing, two CDs whose scratches had deepened, and shutting off light switches here and everywhere.

I was determined to take the ten minutes of wiping counters and arranging dishes in the dishwasher before heading back up up to the machine and my luscious fabrics. It took twelve minutes, but the peace of mind I experienced with each soggy granola bowl rinsed and stacked was worth it.

You see, I’ve spent years indulging my blogging, sewing, writing, texting, scrolling, calling, and venting. All before doing what needs to be done.

I supposed the Sisyphean task of having small kids #forever meant for me if I stopped to do a dish, I would have to scrub the kitchen floor and I would NEVER GET A MOMENT FOR ME.

Instead I carved habit after habit, year after year, of saving up all the dishes and the work until the kids were awake and underfoot and rued it ruefully. Of course it’s harder to type, think, or stitch when they’re underfoot. But when their canvas of the kitchen or family room is tidy, they’re less likely to be underfoot now if I do need or want to peace out for a second or 140. The older kids migrate toward their audio stories. The younger ones play with their sewing machine and stacks of well-worn fabrics alongside me.

Right order. Saying yes so we can say no. Saying no so we can say yes. I’m writing this blog post guilt-free because that kitchen is ordered. I also already showered and figured out what’s for dinner tomorrow night. WHO AM I?

Maybe it’s because I’m not pregnant right now or maybe it’s because my baby is a year and a half or maybe it’s because a long look at my habits told me this wasn’t sustainable. Always rushed, always anxious, never sated. I’m learning I don’t have to do everything to do a few things right.

I wrote more on this for my devotion for Blessed is She today–ironically all these thoughts have been coming together for a while and now they’re really in the forefront of my mind!

How can you rightly order your life? What are your needs; what are your wants? Get those needs done first, then enjoy and savor the wants!

These knit dresses are so much fun to make! Subscribe to my Whole Parenting Goods newsletter to hear first the sizes & fabrics available for my sale a week from Monday. And get a discount, too!

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