Finding Time....

I came up with a really great thought for another post, but was too tired to write last night. Then today I had totally forgotten what it was that I wanted to remember. Thankfully (I think), my memory was jogged by a quick perusal of my journaling- so hopefully this was the topic. ;-p

I've been thinking about each one of my kids lately and trying to figure out what it is that they need that they have to get from me personally. Things like quality time. With 5 kids, a reno still in progress and homeschooling all going on- I wonder where I'm supposed to find the time to do all things for all kids.

Like for #2. He wants to know what his 'talent' is- the thing that God gave him to make him special that will likely form part of who he is/what he does when he gets older. I believe God gave me something for #1, but I haven't gotten anything for #2. So I was thinking/praying about it while journaling last night and really felt that I was supposed to spend time with him, teaching him how to hear from God- in order for him to discover it for himself.

Then I thought about how I should be teaching ALL my children to hear from God like that too.

Then I thought about how I need to be reading with ALL my children every day.

Then I thought about how I needed to spend 'alone time' will ALL my children every day.

Then I thought about how I need to be teaching my children their schooling every day.

Then I wondered how the house was going to get cleaned, the laundry done and meals prepared every day.

And, and, and.... and I wondered how I would find the time to do all those things without ALL the other children going crazy because they weren't being closely supervised while I was occupied with their sibling.

And I was overwhelmed.

I know that I waste a LOT of time on the internet- so I'm trying to cut back (probably need to go cold turkey! although it doesn't help that I'm on here now!?!?!?). Not to mention the poor food choices are leaving me feeling sluggish/tired because it's messing with my sleep (as well as a spike in crazy dreams lately- but that's another story) and vice versa, so that when I finally fall asleep I'm in no hurry to get up and deal with the day. So I feel like I'm short of hours in the day.

But then I realized that just because God told me to do something with one child at a particular time doesn't mean that I have to then do that with ALL of the children. God's into personalization- not mass production/cookie cutter approaches. That's not to say that if the opportunity presents itself that I can't do it, just that once I get something I'm not supposed to automatically do it for all of them.

Lately all of the kids seem to NEED me, in a very personal 'alone time' kind of way. They are asking for cuddles/snuggles. They're asking for talks and doing things with me. I feel torn about how to give them all this time... but I guess I just have to remember that while they're asking for my time- they're also giving me their time as well. It won't be that much longer and they might not be so free with that offering, especially if I don't take advantage of it now.

Better food/exercise choices must be made to  have the energy to live with less sleep so that I can get my chores done when they're asleep and computer/TV time is going to have to be significantly reduced so that I can find the time to give it to my children. To invest in their future and ultimately the future of my descendants as a result of how I raise the children God has entrusted to me.

Maybe then, too, they won't fight me as much when I say it's time for school....