3 Ways To Slow Down Time
I have recently been in a major rut.
Because of some difficult circumstances, time can't go by fast enough. But then there are those sweet moments: holding your sleeping baby close to your chest and watching your other kids play nice together. The sun is shining, you made dinner, and all the stars are aligned. In those moments, I want time to stop, breathe deep, and remember everything about that moment, from the smell of my baby's hair to the looks of joy on my kids' faces.As moms, we always say the days are SO long but the years are short. Our baby turns one and we think, "Where in the world did that year go!?" But then, in the middle of the crazy, we wish for bed time, the next nap, or the next free second we have to ourselves. We can't wait to have some alone time and not serve anyone, break up fights, wipe butts, or make food. We can't wait to pour ourselves that glass of wine, turn on Netflix, and just zone out.We're so ready for peace and quiet and NO talking. And in my case, I never know which kid is going to wake up in the middle of the night so I feel like I always have to be ready to pop out of bed. I hate that feeling and wish my kids would just sleep through the dang night! That's another story, though.
So the question is, how do we balance this?
How do we slow down time and really embrace the season we're in? Messes, schedules, craziness, fights, appointments, dinners, sickness, everything? How do we wake up and choose to enjoy these moments in their entirety? If I'm honest, I fail at this almost daily because my emotions get the best of me. I need to be more disciplined and not waver when it comes to the beautiful mess that is my life. But, on the days where I'm feeling good, these are the three things that help me slow down, be more present, and make for a better day. One where I'm not done by 9am and racing to bedtime.
- Put technology away - Don't get me wrong. I am a firm believer in sporadic TV time for my kids, Instagram for me, and Netflix at night. BUT...the days that I put all that stuff away are the days that I am forced to make-believe, build a lego house, dig in the dirt, and play games. To be honest, I would get burnt out if I actually did that all day, every day. Plus, we are mothers, not playmates 100% of the time. We clearly have other things to tend to. But, if you need a day to really pour into your kids, put all screen time and technology on hold and get your hands dirty. Make slime, build a fort, and just be present.
- Pray before meals, bedtime, and through out the day - Every time I come before the Lord, I pause. Think. Breathe. I take time to thank Him. I remember what He's doing. The big picture is clear. I feel strengthened. I become more grace-filled. Talking throughout the day to Jesus helps your kids to understand that God is always near and always available. He always has time for us, unlike most people these days. He's reliable. He's present and He's ready to listen. I can't tell you how many times I've dropped to my knees in the middle of my house. I ask the Holy Spirit to fill my home, to give me strength, or for something I'm in need of. It's ok to look weak in front of your kids, especially when the person you're surrendering to is Jesus. So, take those moments with your kids to pray, even if it's for a few seconds because it will slow you down.
- Journal/Blog/Take Videos and Photos - I'm not saying you have to document every hour of your day or start a blog. But I am suggesting you take a few minutes out of your week to capture on paper or on your phone the sweet things about your kids and life. Right now, I blog but I also have childhood journals for each of my kids and take tons of photos and videos. Those are the things I cherish the MOST throughout the year. They are the things that make me want to be around my kids again when they bother me :) When I document, I'm able to remember what God has done and what He is doing in each of my kids' lives and in our family as a whole. Sometimes in motherhood, it is SO HARD to pull ourselves out of a rut. Once you start looking through photos or reading what you wrote about this time last year, you start to see more clearly. Your heart becomes more grateful, praise is on your lips, and you get that overwhelming "I love my kids so much" feeling. That feeling makes you want 5 more kids...maybe that's just me, haha. When we're old, we're going to appreciate all of those little 5-second videos and the thousands of photos we took.
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