Back in college, I used to get in these moods where I felt totally and completely overwhelmed by all my schoolwork, commitments, jobs, and other obligations. It happened most often around the time of finals or when I had a big project due, or when I was working on a major event for sorority. I would long to curl up with a book I wanted to read, as opposed to whichever one I was supposed to reading, and to just do nothing for awhile.
In graduate school in particular, I distinctly remember thinking I could not wait until I finished my degree so I could just work. I anticipated the days when I would do my job, then go home and do whatever I wanted to do, without worrying about research, classes, or exams.
For the most part, I really did enjoy all the free time I had after finishing school. Jeremy and I were already married when I completed my master's degree, and I had recently moved into my current job, which was a lot slower-paced and with much more normal hours than my previous one had been. It felt so good to just be able to relax and enjoy the evenings and weekends, without anything hanging over my head. (And I remember SO many weekends early on in our marriage when we both slept until nearly lunchtime, then might take a long afternoon nap, accomplishing absolutely nothing for the day. The beauty of being a young adult with few responsibilities, right?)
I have done well keeping my promise to myself to remember how stressed I get when I am over-committed, and I have kept a pretty low-key schedule for the most part. Sure, there have been times when I got a little too busy with one thing or another, or we had weeks when it felt like every moment was packed full. Once, just a few weeks after the girls were born, I was convinced I was going to have to give up teaching because I just couldn't handle it on top of managing newborns. (See--that "do nothing but work" phase did not entirely last...within a year or so of beginning my current job, I also started teaching part time at a local community college.) Naturally, I settled into the routine better after a few weeks, managed to finish the semester, and am still teaching today.
In the last month or so, I have realized that I have been letting my commitments and obligations stack up again. Addison & Mackenzie (and Jeremy!) are the first priority, as always, but I am also juggling my regular job, two online college courses (which I do still enjoy and plan to keep), serving on a local board, teaching Sunday School and working with youth at church, among other projects and everyday things. I let a project fall through the cracks this month, and for the first time in a long time, I feel like I really failed at something I said I would do. It's not a good feeling at all.
Still, at least I am aware enough to realize why it happened and to put a stop to the underlying issue right now. I am still the same type of person I have always been: when my day is done, I want to retreat with a book or tv (or a sewing or craft project), and let everything else go. I don't want to spend the hours between the girls' bedtime and my own working on something I don't even really want to be doing. Some commitments bring me joy, for the most part--teaching my online classes, working with youth, blogging and reviewing books--but my plate is full with all those things. For now, I need to face the fact that I can't add anything else, and focus on those activities I truly enjoy.
After all, I am an adult now; I get to pick and choose what I want to do with my time. I have learned that I function best somewhere between a jam-packed
schedule and a wide-open life of leisure, and I just have to move it
back into balance at times. I am getting back to being a little more picky about what I choose to do, and learning to say no a little more often.
Do you ever feel over-obligated? Have you learned your limits and when to say 'no'? Do you like to be busy or have lots of free time, or somewhere in between like me?
Showing posts with label youth. Show all posts
Showing posts with label youth. Show all posts
3.07.2012
2.18.2010
We're In!
Just over two months after packing up and moving out of the house we brought our babies home to, we are finally in our new home. It feels so good to be able to settle in and know that we are going to be here for a (very) long time! Things are coming along pretty well. We were able to contain the girls long enough to get a lot of work done this weekend, though it took some creative measures at times.
The house is pretty well in order, with the exception of the kitchen. It's coming along slowly, but that's a job I have to do myself to get things just the way I want them. Decorating is another story altogether. We've got some things done, but there's a lot left to do. I will have some pictures soon, and I may even ask for some input, as I am home-decor-challenged. : ) I have a particularly hard time with curtains, but I have some ideas that I hope to get some time to work on soon.
Addison and Mackenzie are adjusting fairly well to their new room. Mackenzie has not been sleeping as well as she normally does, but hopefully things are improving. After sleeping through the night with very few exceptions over the last roughly 7 1/2 months, getting up to rock a baby multiple times a night gets rough! Isn't it funny how quickly we forget how to survive on minimal sleep? Ten months ago, just being up once or twice a night sounded heavenly.
I was afraid her sleep issues might be related to teething or an ear infection, but I've seen no other signs related to either one. Now I'm thinking maybe it's separation anxiety. The pediatrician warned us that we might see anxiety begin to set in, and I've read that it happens frequently around 9 months--which is the babies' current adjusted age. (Never mind that we are now in our third house in two months...) Mackenzie is especially sensitive to where I am even while she's playing, and she fusses when I leave the room. This new development is oddly sweet in some ways--she knows where I am and she wants ME specifically, awww--but it's also exhausting, and I could definitely do without the middle-of-the-night screaming. Has anyone else dealt with separation anxiety at night? I know she will grow out of it eventually, but if you have any tips, I'd love to hear them!
The house is pretty well in order, with the exception of the kitchen. It's coming along slowly, but that's a job I have to do myself to get things just the way I want them. Decorating is another story altogether. We've got some things done, but there's a lot left to do. I will have some pictures soon, and I may even ask for some input, as I am home-decor-challenged. : ) I have a particularly hard time with curtains, but I have some ideas that I hope to get some time to work on soon.
Addison and Mackenzie are adjusting fairly well to their new room. Mackenzie has not been sleeping as well as she normally does, but hopefully things are improving. After sleeping through the night with very few exceptions over the last roughly 7 1/2 months, getting up to rock a baby multiple times a night gets rough! Isn't it funny how quickly we forget how to survive on minimal sleep? Ten months ago, just being up once or twice a night sounded heavenly.
I was afraid her sleep issues might be related to teething or an ear infection, but I've seen no other signs related to either one. Now I'm thinking maybe it's separation anxiety. The pediatrician warned us that we might see anxiety begin to set in, and I've read that it happens frequently around 9 months--which is the babies' current adjusted age. (Never mind that we are now in our third house in two months...) Mackenzie is especially sensitive to where I am even while she's playing, and she fusses when I leave the room. This new development is oddly sweet in some ways--she knows where I am and she wants ME specifically, awww--but it's also exhausting, and I could definitely do without the middle-of-the-night screaming. Has anyone else dealt with separation anxiety at night? I know she will grow out of it eventually, but if you have any tips, I'd love to hear them!
Watching Baby Einstein from their new favorite seat.
I might be having a little separation anxiety myself...I will be chaperoning our youth group to a conference on Saturday, and the babies will be spending the whole day with their daddy for the first time. He is excited about spending 2-on-1 time with them, and I know they will have a good day hanging out together. If I had to guess, I would say there will probably be a Reese's Blizzard from Dairy Queen involved at some point...which they definitely don't get when they spend the day with me! I will miss the little bitties like crazy, since I will leave before they wake up and get home long after they go to bed. And I will be spending the day with about 15 teenagers, so I am sure that getting back home to my sweet girls will be a relief--at least they don't have that teenage girl drama yet!! (Oh, how I do NOT look forward to the early teen years with two girls...)
Happy Friday, everyone!!
7.31.2008
Random Thoughts
Some things we've been up to lately...
1. I saw Mamma Mia! last weekend. I didn't have a lot of expectations for it after reading some of the reviews, so I was not disappointed. It was silly at times, strange at other times, but overall an enjoyable movie. I'm sure it was better in the theater than it will be at home, so I'm glad I saw it. Someone described it to me as being "like a two-hour vacation," and that's completely true. But who doesn't need that every once in awhile?
2. My husband shaved his head yesterday! He's been wanting to for awhile, but was nervous about how it would turn out. I encouraged it; I've wondered what he might look like if he loses his hair one day, so it's like a sneak peak. I haven't really seen it yet...I was asleep when he got home last night and he was asleep when I left this morning, so I couldn't get a good look. His head is pretty white though, so a little sun might help!
3. My sister has been home for a little over a week, but she leaves tomorrow going back to Mobile. It's been nice having her around, even though we haven't done much. I'm hoping to get to go down there to visit before too long. Mobile is really starting to grow on me too! Jeremy and I will definitely go visit when we go down for my work conference in October, but maybe I can squeeze in a weekend before then.
4. We've had some drama in the youth group in the last week or so. Those kids continue to surprise me! Along those lines, though, our new pastor is awesome. He and his family have already livened up the church, and they are fitting in very well. I think he is going to challenge us like we've never experienced before, but we need that to continue to grow...even if it's hard sometimes.
5. We had to make an unexpected purchase this week, but it turned out okay. The lawnmower quit on Monday, and it was going to cost at least a few hundred dollars to repair it. Jeremy has been dying for a new mower, and it actually made more sense to go buy one, rather than put money into an old one and have something else go wrong next month. The one we had was old, but we got more than our money's worth out of it over the last couple of years. So, on Monday night, we made the trip to Lowe's and purchased a brand-new bright green John Deere. We were able to finance it with zero interest for a year, which was nice. That will allow us to pay for it over the next couple of months when Jeremy goes back to his part-time job at the high school. (That allows us a lot of flex money during the school year!) I did learn that just asking for zero percent interest rates when making a major purchase usually works...good to know for the future!
That's really about it at the moment. We have an anniversary coming up in less than two weeks, but we have no major plans for that yet. Money is a little tight until we go back to our respective second jobs, and we aren't really big on gifts anyway. We'll most likely have a nice dinner out and maybe actually go to a movie or something, which is a rarity with our schedules. Whatever we do, I'm excited to be celebrating our two years of marriage!
1. I saw Mamma Mia! last weekend. I didn't have a lot of expectations for it after reading some of the reviews, so I was not disappointed. It was silly at times, strange at other times, but overall an enjoyable movie. I'm sure it was better in the theater than it will be at home, so I'm glad I saw it. Someone described it to me as being "like a two-hour vacation," and that's completely true. But who doesn't need that every once in awhile?
2. My husband shaved his head yesterday! He's been wanting to for awhile, but was nervous about how it would turn out. I encouraged it; I've wondered what he might look like if he loses his hair one day, so it's like a sneak peak. I haven't really seen it yet...I was asleep when he got home last night and he was asleep when I left this morning, so I couldn't get a good look. His head is pretty white though, so a little sun might help!
3. My sister has been home for a little over a week, but she leaves tomorrow going back to Mobile. It's been nice having her around, even though we haven't done much. I'm hoping to get to go down there to visit before too long. Mobile is really starting to grow on me too! Jeremy and I will definitely go visit when we go down for my work conference in October, but maybe I can squeeze in a weekend before then.
4. We've had some drama in the youth group in the last week or so. Those kids continue to surprise me! Along those lines, though, our new pastor is awesome. He and his family have already livened up the church, and they are fitting in very well. I think he is going to challenge us like we've never experienced before, but we need that to continue to grow...even if it's hard sometimes.
5. We had to make an unexpected purchase this week, but it turned out okay. The lawnmower quit on Monday, and it was going to cost at least a few hundred dollars to repair it. Jeremy has been dying for a new mower, and it actually made more sense to go buy one, rather than put money into an old one and have something else go wrong next month. The one we had was old, but we got more than our money's worth out of it over the last couple of years. So, on Monday night, we made the trip to Lowe's and purchased a brand-new bright green John Deere. We were able to finance it with zero interest for a year, which was nice. That will allow us to pay for it over the next couple of months when Jeremy goes back to his part-time job at the high school. (That allows us a lot of flex money during the school year!) I did learn that just asking for zero percent interest rates when making a major purchase usually works...good to know for the future!
That's really about it at the moment. We have an anniversary coming up in less than two weeks, but we have no major plans for that yet. Money is a little tight until we go back to our respective second jobs, and we aren't really big on gifts anyway. We'll most likely have a nice dinner out and maybe actually go to a movie or something, which is a rarity with our schedules. Whatever we do, I'm excited to be celebrating our two years of marriage!
3.28.2008
Just the Usual
I realize I have not been using this blog to its full potential...and I still haven't even told anyone where to find it, but maybe one day I will find some blog friends! As for now, I will keep trying to write when the urge strikes, with the comfort that I don't have to edit my thoughts too much. Life is still extremely busy for both Jeremy and me. We are both working extra jobs- his at the high school on Wednesdays and my teaching. I guess people think we are struggling for money and are forced to work two jobs to make ends meet, but that's not really the case at all. I think we are just so accustomed to being busy all the time, we find productive ways to use our extra time. As for me, teaching college is something I have wanted to do pretty much since I entered college myself. I do have to admit, though, the extra income is welcome, and it is nice to be able to do the things we want without having to struggle. I was a little apprehensive about that aspect when we bought the house in September, but it's actually working out nicely.
Speaking of teaching, the semester is on the downhill side now. Spring break has come and gone. It was nice to have a break, but it's still shocking to remember that spring break means nothing outside the education environment. The office was relatively quiet last week, though, which was a welcome change. There is just over a month remaining until I give my first final exam, which is kind of exciting. I have enjoyed this first semester for the most part, but I am truly ready for the end right now. It has been an adjustment period for me, and I have been trying to learn how the system works and figure out exactly how I want to run my class. Beginning with the summer class, I intend to implement a few changes and truly make the class mine. Also, for the summer and fall at least, I am only teaching American Government. Someone else is going to teach the State and Local course, which is great because I didn't care much for it! I am going to try online instruction in the fall, so I will be offering one American Government course online and one on campus. Teaching has been a bit of a challenge this first semester, but overall, I think it is something I will enjoy. The good thing about adjunct instruction is that I am only contracted semester to semester. When it is not fun anymore, I will just find something new to do....maybe with a little better pay next time!
I guess the thing I am most excited about right now is my youth group. Three of our girls are beginning confirmation classes this Sunday, and in about four weeks they will be baptized and become church members! I am thrilled with how receptive the girls were to the idea, and I have to admit, it feels like a little validation for me as an instructor. I feel like maybe we've actually gotten through to some of them and we're making a difference in their lives. Those kids, particularly the girls, need something to hold onto through all they have to deal with, and I hope they can find it in the church. God is good, and I know He is using us all the time, even in ways we can't see!
Speaking of teaching, the semester is on the downhill side now. Spring break has come and gone. It was nice to have a break, but it's still shocking to remember that spring break means nothing outside the education environment. The office was relatively quiet last week, though, which was a welcome change. There is just over a month remaining until I give my first final exam, which is kind of exciting. I have enjoyed this first semester for the most part, but I am truly ready for the end right now. It has been an adjustment period for me, and I have been trying to learn how the system works and figure out exactly how I want to run my class. Beginning with the summer class, I intend to implement a few changes and truly make the class mine. Also, for the summer and fall at least, I am only teaching American Government. Someone else is going to teach the State and Local course, which is great because I didn't care much for it! I am going to try online instruction in the fall, so I will be offering one American Government course online and one on campus. Teaching has been a bit of a challenge this first semester, but overall, I think it is something I will enjoy. The good thing about adjunct instruction is that I am only contracted semester to semester. When it is not fun anymore, I will just find something new to do....maybe with a little better pay next time!
I guess the thing I am most excited about right now is my youth group. Three of our girls are beginning confirmation classes this Sunday, and in about four weeks they will be baptized and become church members! I am thrilled with how receptive the girls were to the idea, and I have to admit, it feels like a little validation for me as an instructor. I feel like maybe we've actually gotten through to some of them and we're making a difference in their lives. Those kids, particularly the girls, need something to hold onto through all they have to deal with, and I hope they can find it in the church. God is good, and I know He is using us all the time, even in ways we can't see!
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