The Trouble With Routine

I am told having a schedule is a good thing.  I have written about my distaste for making lists before, but I think having a schedule is even worse.  At least in this house.  I do not equate having a schedule with being organized....I take pride in my organization skillz with my household, my closets, my life in general.  I take care not to put too much on my plate so that I am available if needed at a drop of a hat for whatever reason.  I can do this because most of my kids are young.  My oldest chose not to do any sports this past summer which was also a great break, and an eyeopener for him that if he didn't commit to something twice a week, he had more options of doing something else.

That's my boy, teaching him young to think before committing to anything.

I think most of us are guilty of making a schedule, and then the use of it slowly peters out as the year moves on.  Although there are others who can not survive without lists upon lists and that's a good thing too.  That's just not me, and I am not ashamed of it.

At the beginning of the school year, I would make up the daily routine, with every intention of sticking to the plan hour by hour.  And then babies came along...and the plan was usually messed up because of my attention demanded elsewhere.  After I weaned my last baby, I thought this would make sticking to the plan easier.

Nope.

I don't have an answer for making my work load lighter.  In fact, despite my unwillingness to commit to outside activities it seems my days fly by and I'm not sure what I've done.  I would like to look back and feel a sense of accomplishment, but instead I look back and I'm thankful I survived.

Thus, my reluctant pursuit of a schedule.

I am down to writing out one or two things on my calendar, goals for each day when I wake up.

If I keep my expectations low, I know I will be pleasantly surprised and encouraged if I surpass them that day.

I'm learning to have low expectations of myself.

I'm learning to have low expectations of others.

That way, when the routine of life isn't going the way I want it too, I can relax and not worry.

God is the one holding the reigns and steering the carriage.

All we have to do is make sure the wheels are oiled.