Friday, January 15, 2010

Back in Full Swing

I thought this time of year was going to be less busy. Boy, was I wrong? I've left home at 8am the last 2 mornings and arrived back home between 9:30 and 10:30pm!

I'm having serious guilt about not being home with Sarah more. She's so little and time goes by so quickly. On Wednesday I saw her for about 30 minutes maximum the entire day. Yesterday, I did have a couple of free hours in the afternoon so I picked her up early from the sitters and spent a little bit of time playing outside.

I need to change something. It seems I have gotten involved in too much. I own a business!, work at the town office, work as a temp at the post office, run the fitness group and scrapbooking class (which I love), sit on the committee for the VOBB (Voice of Bonne Bay) Radio station and the Tourism Sustainability Accord, teach Sunday school every few weeks, am booked for a teleconference for community gardening, have a fitness session being held for the family resource center, am helping set up meetings with a Climate Change Adaptation group who are studying our community, as well as training sessions for Council. Um....how can one adequately be a mommy with all of this going on?

And the thing is, I would love to do more...I'm in the process of writing up a proposal to get some financial assistance for seniors to be more involved in community activities linked to social participaction (games, exercising, etc)...and I am trying to figure out a "Youth Movie Day" where I could transform our town recreation building into a theatre for a day/weekend and host new releases, complete with popcorn and hotdog vendors, etc.

So, it's my own fault...I really want to be involved in my community. But I am seeing that, unfortunately, it's the same people over and over again who volunteer for things and then get burnt out from lack of help. I am already getting burnt out. I see now that I need to quickly re-prioritize and hold onto only the things I LOVE, and regretfully say "No" to the things I don't.

Ever felt this way? How did you get back on track to spend more time with your family and get your priorities straight?

I need a nap just thinking about it...

5 comments:

Sandy aka Doris the Great said...

Yep! I've been in your situation. There's so much we want to be involved in, and all good things. But I had to begin slowing down when I began to notice my aging process (a couple of years ago). Then one year ago, I CHOOSE to step down from almost everything I was involved in to rest and reassess my life. And it's been sooooo good to have so much time on my hands.

Have I been bored? No way! I'm learning the enjoyment of sitting and doing nothing. And the things that I am involved in now are things I really want to do and enjoy.

You know, you can leave the dragon slaying to someone else every now and then!!

vicki said...

Wow, i thought my life was busy!! So proud of you for being involved in the community like that!

Maybe make a weekly schedule starting with 1)work, 2)time with family, time for yourself and then your other activities. That's what i do.

Photo Quilts said...

I know how you feel, I'm currently working about 30 hours a week, I have four volunteer positions, I'm still taking orders and making quilts and my kids have many activities that they beg me to be there for. I'm always stressing about finding time to do the things I can't say no to. Ahhhhh! My kids are growing up way too fast, and it seems to be passing me by. Maybe we all need to re-assess our lives and make time for the little things.

Christa said...

Okay as I'm reading your post I'm thinking that's so coll I want to do that....lol.
And here I am with a 4 month old & can't even get out to do shopping with my Christmas money :)

Tara said...

Hey Girl....I SO hear you! I WAS you before...NO more! When I read your post, it reminded me of a post I just read on a blog I follow called (In)Courage! - it's an inspiring blog made up of a bunch of Christian women.

I (in)courage you to read the article....it's very worth it!

http://www.incourage.me/2010/01/take-a-risk.html

Prayers for you girl, that God will help guide your way to finding the right balance.

Hugs
Tara