Peace-bringing Perspective

There are toooo many things to do. 

There are dishes.

There is laundry.

The floor needs swept.

The counters need wiped.

Dusting. Sweeping. Mopping.

The leaves need raked.

The porch needs swept.

We need groceries.

We need to visit the feed store.

I should lesson plan.

There is some paper work.

Bible class needs planned.

The girls church bags need reset for Sunday.

I should probably cook an actual meal sometime.

The girls clothes need played out for next week.

The dogs need baths.

The kids need baths.

The girls want to play. 

There are people I should reach out to.

There are situations I should try to resolve.

Should I go on? Im sure I could.

If I wanted to be stressed, I could be ... but I refuse to dwell there. 

I made progress on my lesson planning. 

I made copies.

I made great contacts with parents.

I played with the girls. 

A load of laundry only needs put away.

The bathrooms are wiped down.

Everyone is fed and happy. 

I have a wonderful support system that saw my girls and I through the week.

We have fun plans for the weekend.

In-between fun moments, I'll put away the dishes and wipe down the counters. The girls will help me dust. A trip to the feed store, we all enjoy. Groceries will be gotten. Laying out clothes only takes a few minutes.

Things will get done. A little at a time, in-between playing baby dolls and helping with art projects, in-between family moments, step by step. Some things will be done, and then need done again, like leaves and laundry and dishes ... And the. They will get done again. 

When I focus on the positives, when I focus on our joy and my priorities, the rest falls back into it's place. 

There is always something I "should" be doing. 

There is also always something that can wait. 

Perspective and priority = peace. Things aren't perfect, but there are near perfect things. 

Enjoy the weekend. Breath. Life is happy and good and blessed. 

It doesn't take away the to do list, but it does minimize the stress.

Be Where Your Feet Are

"Focus Kate" I told myself. "Be present". 

There was a decision that feels big circling round in my head, a couple of friends weighing on my heart, a new report card and way to import grades consuming my mind, at least 3 emails that desperately needed responses, a text from a fellow teacher with a question they were hoping I'd answer quickly, and 18 kids looking at me waiting for class to start.

Its moments like those that are hard ... When there are a million paperwork-y, secretarial, behind the scenes parts of teaching that need my attention ... And a classroom full of kids who need it more. 

So, I chose a student leader to kick off class with good news. While they finished, I fired off a text with a plan I hoped would get my teacher friend's problem solved enough she could keep going with her day. I picked up the read aloud book and walked to the carpet. I looked at my feet for a moment to ground myself,took a deep breath, and started read aloud time. 

You see, I read a book a whole back called "Be Where Your Feet Are". It's all about being focuses and present in the moment so that you can take care of the job at hand. And thank goodness it came to mind today. 

In teaching, but also in the world and life in general, there are usually a million and three things on our minds. We all have more jobs than we can count. But the most important one HAS to be the one at hand. For me, today, it was my classroom full of kids. 

The decision weighing on me? It's one my team and I will process and make together. The paper work,emails, and grading card changes? They patiently waited on my desk until lunch time and then again paused patiently until after school. But those kids in front of me? They needed their teachers full attention in the moment. And so that's where my focus needed to be. 

I like things to be done and decided and wrapped up in neat little bows. I can multitask with the best of them. But I've learned that most of the time the best way to get things done well is to tackle them one at a time - starting with what is right infront of me. 

"Be where your feet are" has become a mantra repeated in my head that helps keeps my priorities and my focus in check. It doesn't rule out all multitasking (mom and teacher means multitasking is a necessity to say the least). But it does help remind me that I can't take on everything at once. I have to move through things patiently and give each thing - especially the "things" that happen to be my personal and school kiddos - the focus and attention it deserves when I'm working on it even if that means other things have to simply wait. After all, they'll get their turn when they are the thing in front of me. 

It isnt always easy (today it was straight up hard), but once I've fought through the fog and found my focus, its always way less stressful (and things always work out better when I'm able) to truly be in the same place my feet are in. 

Even During A Week Like This

This week has been full of three of the Mondayest days ever. I don't know exacy how that's possible, but trust me, it is. It's been long, it's been real, it's been exhausting ... And the week isn't over yet.

Its days like these that make getting out at 7:00 in the evening HARD. And sometimes - ahem, tonight - it's tempting to just stay in.

But then I remeber: I've never been sorry I went to church.

I've been exhausted enough to think about not going. I've been stressed and busy enough to think of other ways to use the time. I've been plum "mmmooommmmyyyy-ed out" enough I'd rather put the girls to bed and have quiet time rather than wrangle them more...

But even on those hardest to get out the door evenings, I've never been sorry that we pushed through.

Many times I've left rejuvenated by a good lesson. Often I've left greatful for a bit of good conversation and extra love. Usually, I leave with my priorities rebalanced and my head a little clearer. Always I'm glad I was there. 

There is something about being with 'my people' and worshiping God together that is simply wonderful. There is no substitute for it - even during a week that has felt 18 weeks long. Especially on a week that has felt 18 weeks long. 

How thankful am I for a place to gather, people to learn, worship, and love with, the chance to visit with friends, and a midweek reminder of all the good surrounding me.

Some Dropped Balls Bounce

Today, I dropped the ball. I forgot it was show and telland therefore, L went to school show and tell less. 

We'd made a plan of what to take on the way home last night.i even knew right where the thing she wanted was. But as so often happens, we walked in the door, and life happened. It was snacks and jammies and bedtime, and show and tell flew right out of my brain. 

I say "I" dropped the ball, because even though I tell her things like "You'll have to put it in your backpack" and "It's your job to make sure...." I really mean "we" and "our" because this girl of mine is 5 and figuring out how to be a school age kiddo is a thing we're in together. 

And so, when I remembered towards the end of the day, I held my breath and thought "I hope she saves the meltdown for me and doesn't share it with her teacher". And then, after school, I saw her .... And she didn't even mention it.

Free pass? No such luck.

Later while playing Legos it came out:"Mom! You forgot show and tell. It's every Friday and you forgot." ...."Yes, we forgot" I corrected "We didn't get it put in your backpack this morning,did we. I'm sorry that happened."

She looked at me ... She added some more Legos to her creation ...and she sighed "Well, let's try to remeber next week okay? 'Cause I like show and tell."

And that was it. Not the first,most important thing she remembered from the day ... No scarring childhood drama ...just a mildly insulting moment with a little disappointment. 

Thank goodness this dropped ball seems to have been made out of rubber instead of glass. Thank goodness children are (mostly) understanding little people filled with grace. Thank goodness she is usually able to breath through and move on. Because goodness knows it won't be the last time I (or we) drop a ball. Goodness knows it won't be the last time she's disappointed. 

And though sometimes the fact that she's realizing Momma isn't perfect comes with comments like "Mom, Dad really drives the trick better than you do." and "Well *my teacher* says it this way...", I sure am glad that she's starting to grasp that she and I need each other I this wild ride of life. I have a feeling she's going to keep being an increasingly awesome chaos survival teammate.