I’m in the middle of getting ready for a blog tour for Finding Emma and a lot of my posts are dealing with childhood memories. Almost daily I’m getting hit with reminders that I need to slow down and really take a look at my children.
I have three girls who are all so very different. It’s amazing how they stretch me in so many ways – and it’s not always a comfortable stretch either. I’m a woman who needs ‘me’ time and while I’m home daily where I work as a virtual assistant (and my multiple bosses are all in different time zones – so its like I’m always on the computer) and write – there never seems to be time for ‘me’. And when I don’t have that time for ‘me’ I tend to forget that my children also need that ‘me’ time – with me.
I don’t know about you – but I have a tendency to get lost in the every day life – the little things. The emails. The writing. The work. The cooking…but not the cleaning – I should get lost in the cleaning I think. But I get lost in it so much that I often forget to stop. Just stop. Do you know what I mean?
I recently found this blog and Facebook page – The Hands Free Revolution.
WOW. Another heart hitting message that I needed to hear. I read this post on what a Hands Free Summer Looks Like. And I was challenged. At the bottom of that post are 10 things kids say they wish their parents would do with them. I almost cried because I’m so guilty. But that’s going to change. This summer I’m actually going to be home with my kids. It’s the first summer in a long time and I’m excited about it. Yes, it will mean less work hours and possibly less writing time – but in the end – it’s going to be worth it. I’m going to work with my kids on creating a list of summer things we can do this year. Like going to the Farmer’s Market, the outdoor pool, the beach, biking to get ice cream, camping … and I’m going to make an effort to be hands free during those times.
This summer – my goal is to be a better mom to my kids. What about you? Do you have goals when it comes to your kids? Did you check out the Hands Free Revolution site? You should. And let me know your thoughts on it. Maybe it’s something we can aim to do together.
Steena Holmes on Google+
May 23, 2012 - 6:42 am
I was fortunate enough to be able to stay at home with my girls. Now that they are all grown up and married, we still manage to see each other for coffee a couple times a week. I cherish every second of those times. (Even when we get in a screaming hollering arguement over something trivial. *grin*) Our children are a blessing and their hearts and ours need time together.
May 20, 2012 - 6:28 pm
Louise is so right. You won’t ever regret making good memories with your kids. I was a stay at home mom too until my boys were in high school and don’t regret a moment of those years. I felt fortunate to have the privilege of making that choice. Now I try to do the same thing with my grandchildren whenever I’m with them. I don’t believe there is anything more important. Good for you!
May 19, 2012 - 11:27 pm
What a good plan, Steena. I was a stay at home mom until I went to university when my kids were 7, 9 and 11. I chose not to work over the summers – I stayed home and decompressed and mothered my kids again. They all talk about our summers together – swimming lessons, water fights in the back yard, long walks and fun. My 40 yo daughter just mentioned that she’s going to take some time from work this summer and just hang out with her girls. the best compliment ever – she’s going to recreate some of those summers we had when she was little.
I promise, you own’t regret it.