Checking it Twice

It's been awhile since I got back to this blog. I've been busy multi-tasking - something all moms are familiar with. It made me think back when I was a young mom and trying to juggle lots of things with kids and church and being a good friend. So to my random thought for this week.
I was the leader of the women's organization at church and got a call from a lady in California and asked to check on her sister who had a 19 month old and was expecting triplets. I visited her before and after the babies were born and needless to say with 4 children under 2 she was overwelmed. Thus came my year of mothering triplets one day a week. (A whole other story for the future)
(Let me just say. the first advice I gave this young mom was to not worry about daily baths for every baby - I'm pretty sure that going 2 or 3 days without a bath doesn't hurt any baby.)
Back to my story. I had a very good friend who lived down the street. She was an amazing morning person (which I'm not). By the time I was up and moving (or actually making conversation) she had been up several hours, cleaned her house, scrubbed her floor and done all the dishes (I don't always get all that done with no one making messes here but me)
Anyway, because I had triplets at my house every Tuesday I got lots of visitors to help hold babies. Cathy came over most days and usually lamented that she felt like she never accomplished anything. Now that's an easy way to feel when you have little ones who can mess things up as fast as you can clean them, but I was amazed that she felt that way because I saw her as incredible at getting things done.
I have always made lists. Not fancy lists - just lists in a small notebook. Sometimes, even still, when I accomplish something and it's not on my list I add it so I can check it off - thus the title checking it twice. There's something fulfilling about being able to check off what you've gotten done. That's the advice I shared with Cathy and would pass along now. If you are not a list maker, start now. It doesn't have to be quite as detailed as my husbands or as long term as his. He calls it goal setting (he has a 6 month, one year, 5 year plan) Setting goals is good too but I'm talking about everyday - things you do over and over - new things to accomplish kind of list. Maybe you just need to photocopy things you do every day but the idea is that you can see what you've accomplished. Then KEEP THE LISTS - maybe not forever but at least for a few weeks or months. Maybe make yourself a file folder - MY LISTS.
I still find JOY when I look back over my "checked off lists". A mom needs to see that she is making progress, that she's actually getting some things done. Another benefit is that when your husband comes home from work and you are having your first sit down rest of the day (that's almost always when he comes in) and asks what you have been doing all day, you can just hand him the list. :)
Recognize that you are amazing and accomplishing the most important thing on your list - loving your children like no one else can! That is the ultimate JOY!