My mom tells a story about coming home from school when she was a teenager and seeing her mom (a mother of 12--yeah, you read it right) lying on the couch reading a book, with a pile of laundry next to her on the floor.
"Never do anything while your kids are asleep that you can do while they are awake," is my grandmother's advice.
Just so no one gets all "I'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep" on me, I would like to clarify that I am 100% all for rocking babies and playing with babies for hours on end. But at this point in my life, disorder in my house results in disorder in my brain, and there are plenty of windows of time in my day for doing household chores with the baby underfoot, nearby, or participating. Most days--unless the place is a complete disaster by naptime--I prefer this method of housekeeping over sustaining my energy all day long without a single break.
Granted pretty much every household chore takes about 5 times longer with a small child involved.
So every time my son goes down for a nap and the place is quiet, I get the urge to do something like unload the dishwasher or sweep the patio or organize the linen closet.
However, I try to remind myself of Grandma's advice and proceed to read a book or blog instead...usually with some sort of chocolatey treat within arm's reach. Better yet, lie down and take a nap myself. Ahhhhhh. The dishes can definitely wait.
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4 comments:
I stand by this advice - it has kept me sane!!
(You can apply it when you have grandkids over for extended periods.)
And rocking and snuggling babies is a joy - something you want to enjoy when the other kids are asleep!
I have to disagree with this advice once your children are older. I think you can reap the blessings of grandma's advice when you have 2 or maybe 3 young children that are only at home, (not in school or all its activities) or to do it occasionally, but if I were to lay down to read or nap every time one of my children was asleep now, my house, yard, church calling and job would fall apart. And when they are falling apart, I am heading toward insanity. What keeps me sane is going to bed early and getting up early.
I have often passed Grandma's advice on to others. That doesn't mean that I am very good at taking it myself!
On that note, I am going to take Bonny's advice and go to bed.
That is the best advice and I've never heard it. I normally end up doing that and feel guilty about it, but now I'm going to embrace my "quiet time." I just had to stifle an urge to put wet clothes in to the dryer. I'm feeling liberated already.
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