Setting Goals

Being a stay-at-home mommy, I find it is ever so important to set goals to keep both myself and my children on track.  We set goals and establish routines when it comes to housekeeping, meal-planning, homeschooling, you name it, we have a plan of action!

However, every once in awhile, I decide that making lists and plans is annoying, and I stop. Slowly but surely, my brain gets what I call "fogged up", with ideas and plans, lists and things-to-do, and things-I-forgot-to-do-because-it-wasn't-on-a-list!  I start hearing things from my kids like, "Mom, I said it 3 times already, why do I have to keep repeating myself?  You said you would listen that time!"  Ouch.  Yup, I did say I would listen, but my foggy brain got in the way.  It can keep me from focusing on the precious children God has given me.  I never want the tasks I must complete in order to care for them, to get in the way of showing them I how much I care about them!

Writing things down helps me feel more organized.  Yes, sometimes the never-ending-list can also make me feel overwhelmed, but having it all written down at least gets it out of my head.  Years ago (and yes, sometimes I can even say last week) I would look at those lists and all the things that hadn't been checked off, and I would feel like a total failure.  I'm praying and asking God to help me be thankful for what I CAN accomplish in a day, rather than attacking myself for what I didn't.  Setting goals and organizing tasks on paper helps me be more efficient, makes it easier to see where I might be able to enlist the help of my children or sweet husband, and also gives me a sense of accomplishment when something has been completed.

Not long ago, I found a beautiful and inspiring planner as a free downloadable here.  If you visit her website, and use this tool, please be sure to thank her for providing it!  I am printing several out for myself today.

I am especially in need of this tool as we plan to make a few repairs on our home, clear out the 8 years of clutter we've accumulated, put it up for sale, and (God-willing) pack it all up and move!  All of this has to be done while continuing with the "normal things" like homeschooling, meal-planning, driving to baseball practice, raising a teenager, etc. etc. Do you see my need for a plan?

I must remind myself, very often, that my plans are just a way to keep myself on track.  I try not to put a lot of stock in them, and as I grow older I am less and less disappointed when things don't go my way.  This is mostly because I firmly believe that I am not in control.  God says in Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know the plans I have for you", declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you, and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."  I take deep breaths as I write out my plans, and remind myself that God has me right where He wants me.  I ask Him to remove all my perfectionist ways of thinking and help me to remember that what I accomplish, I do so because of His grace.  I thank Him in the midst of all the crazy, busy, wonderful tasks that fill my days because I am blessed to be a wife and mother.



Do you set goals in your home?  Are you like me with spreadsheets and lists everywhere that both you and the kids refer to daily?  Do your kids roll their eyes at you and ask why you like everything so "perfect"?  Hee hee . . .  I'd love to hear from you!

I'm linking to:  Far Above Rubies, Growing Home, Time-Warp Wife