Archives for December 2013

I want to offer you a more in-depth look at each of my mini-goals for January. I’ll do the same for each upcoming month, and update you on how things worked out (or not!)

I admit, giving specific examples of how to put each goal into practice really gave me a clearer understanding of what I’m actually supposed to do this month. I’m going to use an “Out with the old, in with the new” format so I can pray for specific help to free myself from old bad habits and replace them with new good ones.

1) Slow Down: Spend intentional time each day with each child to build a personal relationship with him; build connection.

OLD: Spending the whole day doing things for my children that they don’t ask me to do (but are eventually necessary, like laundry), and yet saying, “No” every time they ask to play with me.

NEW: Say “Yes!” It’s always a relief to sit, nurse and be “forced” to stop what I’m doing so I can put my feet up and nurse my 6 month old. Why not look at the few times the others ask me to play with them the same way? Maybe it is God’s way of speaking to me through my kids. “Erin, you need some fun. How about a game of hide-and-seek?”

2) Take a 15 minute mini-vacation every day!

OLD: My only breaks are the ones “forced” onto me from nursing, and I always have some form of media for company.

NEW: During one of the baby’s naps, I will either lock myself in our bedroom and stare out the window, or sit on the front/back porch, and just be QUIET. REST. FOR 15 MINUTES. No kids, no phone or laptop. I don’t even have to try to pray. Just breathe.

3) Keep Sunday a day of rest and family prayer time

OLD: We go to Mass, but that is the only thing different about Sunday.

NEW: Limit the use of media on Sunday, and pray the Family Rosary, for starters. I really think Sunday should be entirely media-free, but I got scared as I typed those words. Unfortunately, I’m afraid that means one thing: I am attached to media, and how can I “Honor the Lord’s Day” without at the same time offending Him by loving the “false god” of media. I think putting a strict limit on checking email, stats, blogs, etc. once a week will be a much needed rest. I’m going to start by only using my phone to call someone, find the recipe for dinner, pray the divine office, or listen to the Station of the Cross. I’ll start with me, and see if any other family members follow…

The only success recognized by God is Christ-likeness. The only way to become like Christ is to spend time with Him in prayer.

As a mom, your job is to bring Christ to your children and your husband. To do that, you have to be filled with Christ first. We can’t be nice and patient unless we sit with the Lord. – Fr. Brett Brennan. Quotes taken from “The Importance of Personal Prayer” by Rachel Balducci, printed in The Catholic Digest.

Those quotes highlight the focus for my 2014: Spend time with God daily, and progress towards becoming a patient, gentle mother. I’ve gathered some resources to help me attain four major goals:

1) Become a more gentle parent

2) Reduce causes of stress at home

3) Strengthen habits of Faith in our family life

4) Complete action items/projects on my home to-do list

Ok, so how do I expect to do this and become a more peaceful woman by the time 2015 comes around? I spent a few hours at the end of December breaking up the first three goals into manageable monthly habits.  It’s progress one step at a time, one month at a time.  I’ve felt God’s call to these goals.  I’ve planned and prepared.  Now, it’s time to pray every morning for His help, because I’ve experienced what it’s like to fumble through relying only on myself, and it ain’t pretty.

You can read my entire plan for 2014 here. So far, it’s been great to focus on only three things for January, and I get excited when I think about what’s in store for the rest of the year.

Resources used:

1) 12 Steps to Gentle Parenting (free)

2) Goodbye Chaos, Hello Peace 12 Essential Habits (free)

3) 10 Gifts of Wisdom (doing the first gift: Faith: creating hearts deeply centered on loving God and a life formed by habits of Faith)

God bless you during 2014!