A Moment To Breathe

or...What the Heck Happened to Pinterest Projects Week #2?

Okay, first of all I have to say I am completely sorry that I did not post the last three days of the Pinterest Projects week.  I had every intention to complete the week, and then...(cue blinking lights font) I GOT A NEW TEACHING JOB!

I know, reader, you are thinking, "Doesn't she already teach private lessons?"  And, yes, you are right, I do teach private lessons.  But this is a vocal music teacher position in a school - the same school the Ladybugs attend to be specific.  And when did I find out?  Tuesday.  Yes, reader, one week before the start of the school year.  I have been waiting ALL summer, and I actually had just finished my Fall household schedule a day before.

To be fair, I actually made the pasta this evening...

From Espresso & Cream - link

and it was pretty darn good.  We omitted the corn and added red pepper flakes, but all in all it was a very successful dinner.  So I suppose I did MOST of the week of Pinterest Projects.

What Happens Now?
Well I had to redo my private teaching schedule - I eliminated my Friday afternoon/evening students, I kept my Monday evenings and Tuesday afternoons/evenings and Saturday mornings/early afternoons.  However, with teaching two days at the school I will be more than overwhelmed with stuff.  Therefore, Friday was the day I eliminated.

I am diligently wrapping my brain around the fact I will be responsible for classrooms of students - which is a lot different than one-on-one lessons.  Regardless, forgive my inability to focus more on the blogs this week.

I Peter Bible Study - Weekly Update
Believe it or not, I did not complete the study this week.  However, like everything else, I was able to get through 3 days worth.  One of my favorite parts was the scripture what starts at 1 Peter 1:24:

"All men are like grass,

and all their glory is like the flowers

of the field; 

the grass withers and the flower fall, 

but the word of the Lord stand

forever."

I just love the imagery from this verse.  It is poetic and very truthful at the same time.  It moved me.

Another moving verse is found in 1 Peter 3:8:

"Finally, all of you live in harmony with one another; 

be sympathetic, love as brothers, 

be compassionate and humble."

As a musician, I love the parallels of harmony found in music and in nature.  Some of you know that my forearm tattoo says HARMONY in kanji.  I believe in order for us to survive we need to live together in harmony.  It seems like such a simple thought, but still so much hatred exists.  I have definitely been challenged with Hello Mornings, but I am confident once school starts this week I'll be able to achieve the success I need.

The Name Game
I have been Miss Michelle as a teacher for close to 20 years.  However, this school is a Christian school and children are expected to address the teachers as Mr or Miss/Mrs. So-and-so.  So now I have to use my last name.  Not my legal last name, mind you, which has a hyphen in it.  Just my Mommy last name: Martin.  I have become an adult (at least in the school setting).  I am officially Mrs. Martin.  I have this feeling a kid will call me the name and I won't respond.  We'll see how THAT goes.

Wish me luck!

Reclaiming My Mornings

A Declaration to Myself

Today I began a new chapter in my life - Reclaiming My Mornings.

What does this mean to me?

• Taking time to walk at least 2 miles per day
• Spending time with God
• Planning out the day (including dinner)

I have also decided to incorporate making healthy choices for meals and snacks, and no after dinner snacking (unless it is a very small healthy choice).  I will also wake at 6am and go to bed by 11pm.  I also must wear my mouth guard 5 out of 7 days in order to help my teeth cope with the grinding.

I sincerely hope this public declaration will encourage me to continue with my progress.

Get Your Priorities in Order

I recently signed up to start the HelloMornings Challenge on Monday, August the 20th.

Part of the process is to go through the Inspired to Action's Maximize Your Mornings handbook.  It is a program that focuses on reclaiming your mornings.  As moms we tend to focus on the house and the children and the meal planning, but what if we could spend time in the morning BEFORE the children awoke?  What if that time included exercise, daily planning, and time with the Lord?  Sounds too perfect to be true, at least with my experience of getting startled awake at 6am with a little finger poking at (or up) my nose.

At the same time I've been perusing the handbook, I received an email from The Power of Moms.  The Power of Moms is a group I'm friends with on Facebook as well.

The email had an article attachment called, "Seven Questions for Clarifying Our Top Priorities."  And I began to wonder, what would my friends answer to the question:

What Are Your Top Priorities?

I KNEW the answer of #1 SHOULD be God. But I was super impressed with what my friends answered. We are all so unique that their answers completely reflect their individuality. Here are some answers:

Karen: Supposed to put God first - but I have a tough time with that. Usually ends up being kids/job first - then husband/house, then me, then God. If I ever figure a way to turn that upside down I'll probably be a happier person. 

Amanda: I think by putting your family/husband first you are in fact putting god first....leading a christ like life to me means giving of yourself to those who need you like jesus would...thus putting god first. That's how I think of it anyways....I think being pro active about gods word is about getting out there and making a difference...would god want me studying scripture all day or out in the world sharing his love...just how I feel 

Jennifer: My kids, my husband, my family, my career/students... 

Jahna: My family, depending on who needs me when, friends, my fur babies, the communities I serve online as well as my non profit organization.. 

Kelly: Right now I am putting me first.. been a long time coming. Otherwise my partner/family then career. 

Casey: Family...Work...Friends...and last but not least ME. ;-) 

David: work,house,food, of course,with kids,they get the first extra.

The Way They Fall

So I suppose you are wondering what my priorities are (they way they CURRENTLY fall in my world).

1. MY LITTLE FAMILY: with kids USUALLY taking the front seat, but I am doing my best lately to put hubby first at least 50% of the time.

2.  MY HOME: Doing daily/weekly maintenance: Getting dishes done, laundry done, cleaning done, beds made, food on the table, etc., as well as yearly maintenance: painting, upgrades, etc.

3. MY EXTENDED FAMILY: which includes blood relations and fictive kin (click here for definition)

4. MY CAREER: teaching, writing, etc.

5. MY SPIRITUAL, EMOTIONAL, and PHYSICAL NEEDS: This is a sad but true reality.  I'm hoping that reclaiming my mornings will push this up to number 3 at least.  My fingers are crossed.

So what are your current priorities?  What do you wish were your priorities?  How can you change this?

It is Official: I have Mommy Burnout

After reading this article last week: 10 Ways to Achieve Mommy Burnout, from the website THE POWER OF MOMS, I realized my recent mood and frustration was validated.  I cannot deny it, I have Mommy Burnout - plain and simple.  Here are the 10 ways, as listed in the article.  I have decided to comment on them - to share why I have connected so deeply with the article.

1. Neglect Your Body
Oh how I hate to admit it, but it is very true.  My body is a sloppy, floppy mess.  Sure, I'm still working on perfecting my skin regime and testing out a supplement (Biotin blog to follow) to stop my recent hair loss, but my body is still a blimp.  And, the thing is: it is depressing.  VERY depressing.

2. Starve Your Spirit
How saddened I was to read this.  However, it only reaffirms the fact that my desire to participate in HelloMornings could not be more appropriate.  I need to regain my motivation for early wake-ups, and time to myself away from the fighting and bickering of two dramatic and opinionated Ladybugs.

3. Forget Fun
To be perfectly honest, I am currently suffering from anxieties that make me very reluctant to spend time with people.  I tend to fall prey to social anxiety - which is always fun when it acts up.  I was at a graduation party on Saturday evening.  My dear friend, Jill, was celebrating her prestigious achievement of a doctorate.  I knew very few people at the party, and began to chat with another guest who came alone.  She was not friends with anyone else at the party, so we seemed to be each other's company for awhile.  I told her about how I had read an article about Mommy Burnout, and that a light bulb came on above my head as I was reading it.  She made the point of suggesting that I am probably starved for adult conversation this summer.  She is correct.  However, as a teacher of young students I don't usually have a lot of adult conversation throughout the school year either.  I suppose it has more to do with the "fun" factor and my lack of desire to have any.

4. Keep to Yourself
I think I already addressed this in the last number.

5. Practice Negative Self Talk
I have a very difficult time with this.  I always have.  Logically I am well aware that it takes 7 positive statements to combat 1 negative.  I am an interesting person I suppose.  To others I can appear VERY positive, but I have an inner dialogue that can be quite dark and quirky.  For instance, when I pass homes I always look in the yards (front and back).  If there is a lot of stuff sitting out (toys, junk, etc.) I start projecting what the inside looks like.  Or how disorganized things must be, if THAT is the external representation.  Or when we are watching an old movie, I tell Jim who is dead and who is still alive (if any).

6. Expect Perfection
I don't necessarily expect perfection when it comes to my children or husband.  However, I do like to have a clean, organized and orderly home.  I do put pressure on myself to keep the house in order, and I suppose you could say that it is unnecessary.  No one else puts this kind of pressure on me...just me.  I think it has more to do with my upbringing.  Please know that I do not BLAME my parents nor my grandparents for instilling these virtues into my life.  It is simply that my mother did it all - she kept a clean house, she made our clothing, she worked outside the home...etc.  I hold myself to those same ideals.

7. Say Yes to Everything
This is the one number on the list I can clearly say I do not do.  Okay, I might agree to a few things that I don't necessarily WANT to, but in all truthfulness I do not say yes to everything.  I was asked to be a part of the school board, I declined.  I was asked to chair a few events at our school (after I did too good of a job chairing the fall fund raiser/dinner), and I said no.  So at least I'm not victim to all of the list.  :)

8. Shun All Outside Help
I cannot say it any more clearly then Ms. Reynolds, the author of the article, "Only wimpy whiners ask for help, and no one can do it as well as you anyway."  Yeah, I have a very difficult time asking for help. I don't want to rely on others to do what I SHOULD be able to do myself.  I do find weakness in having to ask...I really do.

9. Avoid Being the Moment
I have to admit that I am trying to live in the moment.  The last two times I put the Ladybugs to bed we had deep laughter over silly stories these are wonderful moments that I will cherish forever.  Having that time with them is wonderful.  However, I don't ALWAYS live in the moment...but at least admitting I'm a control freak is a step in the right direction.

10. Miss the Big Picture Entirely
I have definitely been neglectful this summer.  Very neglectful.  I have spent more time putting out fires (fighting children) than missing the big picture of the fact that I am blessed to get to stay home EVERY day with my Ladybugs.  Not many women can say they can watch their children grow.  My oldest Ladybug has grown in her reading skills this summer - it has been amazing.  And my youngest has developed her music skills beyond what I had imagined.  So yes, there is a bigger picture here...I just have to see it.

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