The gift

The kids and I are all set for a day of fun in the sun. We have swimming lessons this morning and then we are heading to Wellington Point for a play in the water with some gorgeous friends of ours J Such a beautiful way to spend a sunny day J

Often when we have social outings planned during the week, I worry about all the things I am not getting done at home (errands and chores mainly). Sometimes I worry so much that I cancel or delay the outing just so I can get the things done that I think “need” to be done. Then yesterday I heard some words spoken that have changed my perspective entirely…

“Ask yourself if what you are doing is a gift to your children or is it to satisfy yourself?” This is not a direct quote but rather some paraphrasing from an episode of Dr Phil (love my Dr Phil when I get the opportunity to watch it!!!) Basically, what I am taking from this is that I need to consider if what I have planned for the day is a gift to my children, their development and their happiness, or is it just to satisfy myself. Granted, I know there are days where totally boring but necessary chores and errands must be completed and that’s OK. It is also OK if I am feeling totally exhausted and choose to have a day of doing very little. But on the whole, I need to consider if what I am doing is a gift to my children. Is it a gift to enhance their happiness? Their development? Their wellbeing? Is it a gift to facilitate the development of skills that will prepare them for the next stage of life? After all, that is our role as parents: to prepare our children for the next stage of life with the overall goal of ensuring they become functioning and contributing members of society. And of course to make sure they are happy and loved!  So asking yourself this simple phrase can really put things in perspective.

A little footnote: I know many of my beautiful blog followers are not yet Mums so I wanted to add a little bit on how to apply this theory to your stage of life. Ask yourself when presented with an opportunity or a request “Is this a gift towards my future?” Ask yourself at the beginning of each day if what you are doing is a gift to the future you. Set goals and make decisions based on reaching those goals. It will help keep things in perspective and keep your life progressing to where you want it to be J

Happy hump day xox