It's already almost 3pm on a Wednesday, which means this day, this week, is almost over. I quit wishing for the weekend years ago. I don't remember the defining moment, but I remember the feeling. I'm an optimist, I look forward to everything, even the painful stuff because I know when it's over I'll be stronger and I can sigh a sigh of relief. All that to say, some days I still want to wish the motherhood moments away until I can crawl into bed with my husband and binge watch stupid television until I fall asleep. Those days are hard. They're the days where the toddler challenges you constantly with "why" and "I don't want to" and runs away from you in public so you have to sprint with the baby on one hand and the stroller in the other while looking like the mother who has nothing under control. Cue the stares. But, every night when I tuck those sweet girls into bed I make a mental note that I have one night less left with them.
I'm also a working mom. I'm currently on a super long maternity leave. I am blessed to be able to decompress from all our life changes and focus on my family for five months. It's been my goal to reconnect with my family and say "no" so that I can say "yes." Family over things and events and commitments has been my vision and goal.
Nearly a year ago I sat down in a professional development where we were challenged to write a personal vision statement for our classrooms. I have mine hung in a little corner barely above the filing cabinet where only I can see it, but where I go each day to update our objectives and goals. It's a daily reminder to me of why I do this job. It gives me a vision to look past the daily struggle.
A few months back, right after I gave birth to my second daughter, I was listening to one of our pastors speak about our vision in life. It made me think about how it is so easy to wish life away and go through the motions without really living. I thought about that vision statement hanging in my classroom and if I have one for my teaching, why wouldn't I have one for my mothering, marriage, and friendships? How easy is it to have a bad attitude, think about our temporary discomforts and struggles, and be distracted from all the blessings?
Thats when she challenged us to write vision statements for different areas of our lives. Being an overwhelmed new mom of two with a husband who was still traveling quite a bit, I knew I needed a vision to not just "get me through," but get me through while being a happy, focused, loving mom. My vision statement is purely a vision. There are some days where my vision is extremely blurred and I fail completely. Days where I have to go out for 30 minutes before I lose my sanity. There are days where I don't look at it and remind myself of those words I wrote for my girls. But it's always there in the back of my mind- my purpose and my vision.
It's not necessarily the most ground breaking or beautifully written statement, but it's one that focuses me towards my personal goals for my sweet girls.
"As the mother of the children God has blessed me with and entrusted to my care, I am committed to pointing them back to Him. I will be purposeful in teaching them about their value by showing them patience, using a soft tone, listening to them, laughing with them, and showing them how valuable they are through praying for them fervently and giving them undivided attention as often as possible."
Throughout the week, I try to read it every morning during my quiet time and make a couple mental notes for how I plan to do it- whether it's a trip to the pool or just playing bubbles. I will often (not always) set designated "down time" for my phone. I select apps and they are blacked out. Only consciously entering a password will let me use those apps. This helps filter the distractions and allows me to be a more present mother.
Of course, this is how I envision every day starting- quiet time, vision statement, mental goals, and a run through the "to-do" list. Realistically, it doesn't always happen. My perspective is, if I set a goal to do it all the time, and do it most of the time, then I'm doing a great job of doing it more than I would if I didn't set the goal.
Can I challenge you to write vision statements, too?
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