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:)
H’ sent me to read your post right now- thank-you so much Chana Jenny 🙂
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:)
Thank you for this!
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!!
happy to hear!
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!!
wow ,I need a journal like that! or maybe jewishmom.com is my journal…
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
Touche, Chana Jenny (I don’t know how to make the little French squiggle on the E)
Love it too!!