The Things I Want to Do Today

The Things I Want to Do Today

Here’s a list of all the things I have to do today…
I have to pick up my kids from camp, even though it’s so hot.
I have to prepare lunch for my kids, even though I’d rather read a book on the sofa instead.
I have to clean up after my kids are in bed, even though I’d rather do anything but.

At this year’s Binyan Shalem conference, though, life coach and mother of 8 Tamar Nizri suggested a different way of approaching our to-do lists: CHOOSING to do the things we do. Because we WANT to do them, not because we HAVE to do them.

Why, for example, would I choose and want to do the things on my to-do list above?

Here’s why…

Truth is, it’s hot, but I actually do like and want to pick up my kids from camp myself. Being available at 1:15 for pick-up time is a luxury most moms today don’t have and I like being there to give them an igloo-pop and hear about what they did today in camp.

And truth is, I want to be the one who prepares my kids’ lunch. I’d rather they eat something homemade and not bowls of cornflakes (although they eat lots of those too) or take-out.

And truth is, I want to clean up when the kids go to bed, since I’d rather not have a cleaning lady underfoot crashing my long-awaited alone time at the end of the day and also my cleaning time is when I listen to all the classes I’m quoting all the time. For me, if I don’t clean, I don’t learn.

So let’s try that again…

Here’s a list of all the things I WANT to do today…

I want to pick up my kids from camp.
I want to prepare them lunch.
I want to clean up after they are in bed.

Ahh…that feels so much better:)

10 comments

  1. H’ sent me to read your post right now- thank-you so much Chana Jenny 🙂

    • JewishMom

      I actually had been looking over all the things I had learned at binyan shalem and wondering what to do write about, what mothers need to hear today. And with Hashem’s help (obviously) chose this for you:)

  2. Thank you for this!

  3. Thank you for sharing all that hizouk you receive; for me who feels a bit stuck home with little ones and no keitanot this year (but barouh Hashem a great swimming pool e nearby) you send me fresh air and resourcement!!

  4. Oh awesome!! Love this post. Today as usual I had my two kvetchiest kids at home, it’s the age. I took out my journal and did some soul searching and got myself in a better mood. I even wrote for myself: Thank you!! This is the life I want, and I love it!! Now, hours later, I read this!!

    • JewishMom

      wow ,I need a journal like that! or maybe jewishmom.com is my journal…

  5. Love it! I had heard this approach when i was in university for final tests….so tireying! And we were encourage to think “i do want to study” instead “i have to….”
    Will try it again this long vacation
    Thanks!!😘
    Have a good shabbos

  6. Touche, Chana Jenny (I don’t know how to make the little French squiggle on the E)

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