Priorities

I have been thinking lately about my priorities.  I remember hearing Glenn Beck say that in our society, there is no longer such a thing as a balanced life, we have to live an integrated life.  I have found this to be increasingly true as I try to set aside time for each individual thing I want to pursue.  The integrated life is probably one that is familiar to moms anyway, as seen by the fact that we can help a child with their ABC's, one with math, switch the dishwasher, laundry and still cook dinner.  But often I think that in our efforts as moms to take care of everyone else's needs and managing to do so while maintaining a household, we still forget to somehow work our hobbies into our own lives. 

I have heard several times, and generally referring to physical health and long lives, that mom's just need to realize that they are doing the greatest service for their children in making sure that they themselves are happy.  The problem comes when happiness lies in different aspects and activities.  

I have recently discovered that eventhough I'm awake from 4:30 or 5:00 in the morning until 10:00 or so at night, I still can't find all the time in the day to do what is really important to me.  

I love hearing my kids read to me (each at their own level of "reading" of course) and I'm thrilled that Ellie can read almost all of her new favorite book, Eric Carle's ABC and Will has been reading Revolutionary War on Wednesday to me (which blows me away).  Then Ellie and Will both practice the piano, we eat dinner, do a load or two of laundry, maybe go on a walk or hit the park, then it's baths, homework and bed.  And 

frankly, by the time I get my kids in bed, I am usually tapped out. I would love to have that hour to read if I could just figure out how to stay awake...

I know that there is a time and a season for everything, but I do have to admit my jealousy when I hear of the other English teachers who get to go home and read for an hour or two.  But I don't want to not have that play time with my kids, so I wait to read.  I have started reading bits and pieces here and there while I'm cooking dinner, but after watching an enlightening episode of Good Eats last night I have since decided that I need to get my kids cooking with me when I cook.  Granted, Ellie already gets all kinds of experience by helping me make cookies at least once a week, but there is something to be said for kids helping make dinner to learn an appreciation for dinner.  Something I think I will be pondering over the next day or two.  

So I guess the point of this whole post wasn't just to ramble on for no reason at all, but to realize that I still haven't figured out how to integrate everything into my life and stay awake to do it all.  It's a battle for sure, and all up hill.