Bad attitudes tend to rub off. Easily.
The other day, a friend told me about how one of her daughters had mocked something her little sister loved to do. Immediately, the little sister’s attitude started to change. She began to question the activity. Soon she decided she didn’t like it either.
Thankfully, her mother was wise and was able to see the problem and correct the attitudes.
To read the rest of the post, follow me over to Raising Mighty Arrows.
As you know, each month this year I’m focusing on one new habit that I want to become part of the fabric of my life. I’d love to have you join me! May is here and it’s time to tackle a new habit.
After tackling a difficult habit the past two months (limiting techy distractions), May’s habit will be fun: spend at least 15 minutes outside with the children each day.
In the early spring when the weather is mild, the birds are singing and the flowers bloom, spending time outside is easy. The warm spring air invites you outdoors with open arms.
As we head into May and the temperature keeps rising, it gets harder. Yesterday was swimming weather and today doesn’t look much cooler. Getting three little ones ready to play in the heat takes longer. The shade disappears sooner in the morning and I need to be more careful to protect sensitive from too much sun.
But it’s worth it. Not only are the munchkins much happier when they have time to play in the fresh air and run around in the sun, Mama is much happier too.
15 minutes isn’t very long, but it’s so manageable I’m confident we can make it into a habit. Plus, 15 minutes usually turns into an hour once we actually step outside!
What about you? Are you working on any new habits? Do you want to join me?
Instead of Grand Resolutions for 2012, this year I’ve been working on implementing new habits that will help me become a more disciplined woman. For the past two months, I’ve been working on establishing and following technological guidelines.
The more I’ve sought to wisely use my time online, the more I’ve realized that time management is not something I’m going to master once and never struggle with again.
I was specifically working on three aspects of online time management this month
Our morning rhythm has changed, again. Not only are we exercising and eating a sit-down breakfast (which takes more time to make and clean-up!) but little Meg switched to just an afternoon nap.
These changes have been good for the family. Life with little ones is constantly changing. They grow, their needs change and the routine needs to adapt. Again.
It’s so easy to get distracted rather than focusing on what I should be doing. Choosing to say “no” to the distractions makes the time online so much more productive. If I’m able to follow #2, it makes this last one much easier!
It’s easy to get discouraged. If this was the only habit I worked on for the entire year I doubt I’d have it completely conquered.
However, it is been encouraging to no longer feel “addicted” to the web.
Yes, the routine keeps changing. Some days I still spend too much time online.
This is an area I will have to keep on working on. An area that needs to continually come under Christ’s dominion.
How about you? Did you do better with your habit this month?
Linked up at Motivation Monday, Better Mom, Raising Arrows and Handful of Heart
As God weaves the threads of His story on this earth, He has given each of us a calling. He has entrusted women with a glorious, but daunting, calling: to build homes for His glory.
Sometimes making a home is grueling work. The path is strewn with endless laundry, sleepless nights, stretched faith and missing socks.
Sometimes the world derides homemaking, claiming that homemakers are burying their talents and wasting their lives.
This is far from true!
Follow me over to Raising Mighty Arrows to read the rest.
Linked up at Encourage One Another, Homemaking Linkup & Women Living Well
I seem to be running exactly one day behind this week. This was supposed to be yesterday’s “healthy living” post.
Modern conveniences have ushered in an era where sedentary lives are possible for the “common woman”. We no longer have to draw water from a well, grow all our own food, wash and ring our clothes by hand or walk wherever we need to go.
Cars, water faucets, refrigerators and washing machines make our lives easier. Unfortunately, they’ve also made exercise something we have to actively choose instead of just having it be part of life.
And, well, sometimes exercise feels like intentionally inflicting torture on yourself! As an unknown author put it, “Exercise is a dirty word. Every time I hear it, I wash my mouth out with chocolate.”
For years, I’ve chosen chocolate far more often than exercise.
The benefits of exercise have been pounded into us since we were little: Exercise helps prevent heart disease, stroke, diabetes, hypertension and other “diseases of affluence.” Exercise increases stamina. Exercise curbs weight gain.
However, when you’re young, feel healthy and don’t have difficulty with weight gain, exercise may not seem worth the trouble. For years I’ve exercised for a day or two and then quit for months.
After numerous failed attempts at exercising regularly, I realized…
If you have small children, finding time to exercise can be difficult, but it’s certainly possible!
My goal is to do the workout routine three times a week and exercise with the kids (usually either a long walk together or working in the garden) three days. Though my weeks rarely go entirely according to plan, fitting at least some exercise into my week has made a big difference.
What about you? How do you find time to exercise? (or do you?)
Linked up at Works for Me, Frugal Days, Sustainable Ways, Healthy 2Day, Proverbs 31, Natural Living Link Up & Simple Lives
(Full Disclosure: links to products in this post are my referral links.)
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