SURVIVAL MODE

Lately I've been struggling to find direction in my life. One of the dangers of the single parent lifestyle is allowing yourself to get into survival mode. There is so much to do and so little time, that you end up treading water in the other areas of your life. I have to admit that I've been doing that quite a bit the last 5 1/2 years. So lately I've been taking a hard look at those areas of my life that have been neglected.

I've tried to take this process seriously. I've been reading and listening to motivational programs. I've tried to find ways I could be more efficient and squeeze a little more out of each day. I've tried waking up earlier to actually add more time to each day. The result has been more frustration and even busier days. Then I read Christine Kane's latest blog and the light came on. It's not that I am not doing enough...it's that I'm doing too much!!! One man was never meant to take on all these responsibilities and wear this many hats.

When I was a kid I learned how to juggle. I got pretty good juggling 3 balls. But if I tried to juggle 6 balls I would just end up looking like a fool. Throw 10 balls at me and I would probably cover up in the fetal position. It's just not possible. But I still try...and so I still end up in survival mode. My focus really needs to be finding those things that I can delegate. Finding those things that someone else can do that will free up more of my time for the things I enjoy and do well.

Hopefully I can find ways to accomplish this in my professional life, because there are very few areas of my parenting life I would want to give up. For example I just got home from watching my daughter play volleyball. She is a junior and there is a senior setter that will be graduating next year. So tonight was the first time she was put in the game as a setter. She was so excited and nervous, but she did a great job and I wouldn't have wanted to miss that for anything. I also enjoy the routine parts of being a parent. Tucking kids in bed, riding bikes to the park, watching a DVD together and all the other little things that make parenting such a rewarding job.

So I guess we'll see how this all works out. I'll either find ways to successfully delegate or I'll learn how to effectively juggle 10 balls! Either way I'm moving forward!!! :-)