When I started this 5-minute timer to write, I started on a different track. Forty-five seconds into this, Bea informed me that It is very hart to pee in a princess dress!
Stop timer. Hold princess dress while daughter pees, all the while thinking, I just want 5 minutes!!
I think that’s the anthem of moms everywhere – I just want 5 minutes! Think of all I could do with 5 interrupted minutes!
A friend and I were talking about blogging and she started to paint an image of me writing, alone, crafting each post. I laughed and said, It’s rare when I’m alone. I’m so used to writing with Bea next to me and Elle underfoot, it’s almost harder to write when I have peace and quiet. (Almost. I’ll still take the peace and quiet if someone’s offering.)
Even though I think I want more solitude and time to pursue my own interests, I do appreciate that modeling is so important for my girls. Modeling not only the chores of laundry and cleaning (occasionally) and dinner prep but also how to fit in those life-giving activities of reading and writing and going to work.
I’m trying to reframe my want for perfect, quiet, blissful time to myself into a bigger picture – one of activities I hope my girls see and respond to. I hope that they learn the importance of finding activities they love.
Time management. If you had uninterrupted time, what would you do? Do you think you’d be as productive?
Linked with Kate Motaung’s Five Minute Friday, a time to write (uninterrupted?) without editing. Today’s prompt is “want.”
Annie Rim 
Great post, and very thought-provoking.
Though most of my interruptions are caused by illness, I can relate. I used to be much more productive, but as endurance and strength have faded to almost nothing I can accomplish very little.
Which is OK, as perhaps the bigger and more important accomplishment is to learn to live in the moment.
31 at FMF this week.
http://blessed-are-the-pure-of-heart.blogspot.com/2016/06/your-dying-spouse-166-all-i-want-fmf.html
Thanks, Andrew! It’s hard when productivity is taken for granted. Living in the moment is sweet, but I still have something at the back of my mind, making me wonder if I should do it more efficiently.
I swear my kids have ruined me for productivity. I still try to be efficient but I so rarely get free time that if I don’t have a plan, I tend to fritter it away and then have nothing to show for it. Seriously though, some things like writing, paying bills or other concentrated tasks, are definitely easier without constant interruptions. (During today’s FMF I was trying to make oatmeal for my four year old, spoon feed my eight month old, drink my coffee and eat some breakfast while also taking continuing breakfast orders from my four year old and seven year old. It’s amazing I was able to for a complete thought).
I definitely need a plan. Why do I spent precious free-time checking Facebook?!?! Not good! I wonder if I should even bother sometimes, but even in the chaos, writing (or whatever I’m trying to multitask) wouldn’t happen otherwise, so I keep on going…
Loved your post. Even though my children are teens, I can relate. Life, for me, is a constant interruption. As we draw closer to the time when ours will leave, I try to remind myself not to get aggravated at them for interrupting. In less than 5 years, I imagine I’ll be yearning for exactly that.
Oh gosh… I thought teenage years were magical productive times. (Ha!!) I guess it’s always about living in the moment, right? Perhaps that’s why littles are so intense – we need to keep these lessons close, even as they grow up.
I still have days like that and there aren’t even children in sight! You’re wise to give them the attention they need or is it want? 😉
Ha! I wonder how much of it is truly the girls and how much of it I’m just blaming them for my own ADD… 😉
I had such a similar experience when I sat down to write, and was challenged by my own response as well! Love it 🙂 (at #9 this week)
I hesitated writing such an “in the moment” post, but I figured other moms would get it. 😉 Thanks for stopping by!
This is life isn’t it? Pray you get five minutes at least once in awhile. I’m in the #8 spot. Thanks for the reply to my email. 🙂
Thanks! 🙂 Snatching 5 minutes here and there these days – but it’s good… Hope to see you soon!