Mom vs. the Dot: Making it COUNT!

                  (Here my family and I are on a nature walk together - my hubby took the picture) I have been looking forward to this week.  Our kids were all signed up to go to VBS at our former church, bursting at the seams with volunteers and children.  I was ready for a week of free mornings, doing whatever I felt like doing. Tra-la-la! And that's exactly what I've  had: mornings by myself. I've tried to accomplish a few things, but mostly I've had a lot of thinking time.  Not a common occurrence in the land of children.  It's a question-a-minute all day long here. The house was so quiet - it felt peaceful, but not right.  I began to wonder if this is the way moms feel when they've sent their last child off to the first day of school.  The house is suddenly empty. Sure, there are piles of laundry to be folded, mail to be sorted through and phone calls to make, but I missed the interruption...

Sometimes in life, despite our best efforts to plan and be prepared, life overruns us.  Plows us over, really. When the homeschool year began, I started out with high expectations.  I always do. Namely, I could teach our two girls and keep the house in ship shape. Eight weeks in to the school year, things have begun to go by the wayside.  I have given in to the "good enough" mentality. Current housekeeping list: Dishes:   Washed them yesterday.  Or two days ago.  Can wash them before dinner tonight.  Or maybe tomorrow.  Mental note: Use more paper plates!! (as if we could...we use them for all three meals some days!) Bathrooms:  There is sufficient t.p.  Can be cleaned next week, or the week after.  I'll just spray a layer of Lysol on everything.  It can wait.  Good enough. Vacuuming:   If I don't let the kids eat popcorn in the living room today, I think we could make it until next week wi...