Avoiding the Rush

I've been finding it helpful to sketch a plan out for my day.
Little tip that works for me: Plan the day backwards.

I start with what time I want to be having dinner, and then work towards the morning. I have found that doing this helps me be realistic with what I can accomplish. When I see what I want to do, and then lay it out in an order of time, it helps guide my day.

I have been trying to minimize my list of things to do so that I am not rushed, and have time to enjoy things with my kids. I have also learned that it's okay not to accomplish everything I've planned. I am not a slave to a list! The list is for my convenience. I hold my plans loosely, so that if an opportunity arises that I didn't see coming, but I think would be good to do, I can enjoy doing that...no guilt.

Yesterday was a good example. I made a list that morning. I knew what I wanted to accomplish. The kids and I were about to head off to the library and then the grocery store to get a few things. But then Grandma showed up. Oh, how we love Grandma! Because I had already thought about the day, I knew what I could switch around, and what I could let go of. I asked her if she'd like to try a new coffee place we'd found, go to this cute shop to look for a picture frame, and then go to the store. She said yes, and we had so much fun...especially at the grocery store!

Grandma with the kids

This grocery store, which we don't usually go to, has miniature carts. The kids just love this! I've never taken all of them there, and let them each have a cart. But we weren't in a hurry...and Grandma was with us. They just so happened to be passing out samples everywhere that day. It was like a carnival.

Anyways, it was so much fun. We enjoyed spending extra time with Grandma. And we wouldn't have been able to do this, or at least enjoy doing it, if we had been rushed!