Lent is coming, tomorrow!
I never really "nested" in my first pregnancy. I had hoped to be one of those women I hear about who suddenly gets superhuman energy and scrubs every surface in sight. I did get oddly obsessed with organizing our 'library'; I did bake a quadruple batch of pancakes with dried cranberries in them, in hopes they would keep us fed after our baby's birth (one wonders why I didn't make casseroles or meatballs or something more... substantial... but I couldn't be reasoned with!); I did cut out fabric to make our baby a quilt, which never materialized, of course, because I realized I have no idea how to quilt!
But get down on my hands and knees and SCRUB things? That simply never happened. I rationalized myself out of intense housework because, after all, I was pregnant so that should exempt me, right? (That, and the intense back pain that carrying a baby gives me... Thank God we found a chiropractor for me this time!)
Then I used the same logic when after Noah was born : why I didn't get much done but laundry, cooking and dishes -- all, you'll notice, are necessities. And so I have continued in my rather slovenly ways since.
It's not that I'm proud of this, or enjoy living in a messy or cluttered home. It's not even that I think housework is beneath me, because honestly, when I am actually motivated or not otherwise distracted, it's so invigorating, and the end result, ahhhh, pure bliss.
But alas. I am easily distracted. I don't multi-task well, and as much as I detest this word, I know I would be lying not to admit that I am lazy.
So this Lent, I decided that I'd better not wait until I start nesting. It might not ever happen, and poor Baby Appleseed will come home to a house that is far too messy and disorganized.
Instead, I am taking up the discipline of housework this Lent. I know that probably sounds ridiculous, and believe me, I actually do housework, but not thoroughly, not start-to-finish and not with any sort of 'plan' in mind.
Taking a cue from this blog, I divided our house into various 'zones' and designated a cleaning task a day from now until Easter. Many are rather small jobs, but I am certain that once I set about doing just one task, I'll see it's not that much harder to do another. Even if that doesn't prove to be the case, by following my schedule, I'll still have a perfectly tidy house by Easter (assuming we don't throw it apart as I go...).
Also, since I will be going through each closet and storage box thoroughly to wash and organize, I'm certain I will come across more than enough clutter. So I've decided to rid our home of forty garbage bags of stuff during Lent. This could be garbage or give-aways to the Salvation Army (or occasionally actually returning things that we borrowed from someone else). I actually began this already, even though Lent hasn't started yet, and I have already gotten rid of seven GIANT garbage bags of stuff, stuffed to the brim.
This is part of my observance of Lent. Since Lent is about prayer, fasting and almsgiving, this is my sort-of almsgiving for this season (I will give actually money to charity, but blogging about that seems inappropriate somehow?).
I am also re-committing myself to prayer. I pray throughout the day, but tend to be very slack when it comes to designating a specific time of day to pray. I know there are loads of moms who get up and have their morning prayer time before their kids awake, and while that seems admirable, I simply seem to need more sleep than that allows for! If I am up, dressed and have made the bed before Noah wakes up, I consider it a good start to my day.
So I got the idea to set my prayer time for as soon as Noah goes to bed. I often tend to gravitate towards the computer, or a book, at this time, but I know dedicating this time to God will set me in much better stead. It will be a challenge, of course, just as the housework will be, to follow through with my commitment every day. But that's the beauty of Lent. Whenever my minuscule penances start to challenge me, I remember why I do this, and for Whom.
Lastly, I have decided to give up tea and sweets/junk food for Lent. I tend to drink tea more than water during the day, which isn't a good thing for me or my Baby Appleseed, and I also use tea (and sweets!) as an escape mechanism. As in, "it's Tea Time, so now I get to sit down and think about nothing for 10 minutes."
A glass of water is much better for me, sets a better example for Noah (who already regularly requests 'tea'!) and yes, is a penance because a hot cup of tea is comfort food for me. And sweets and treats, well, of course they are comfort food. I am especially prone to baking cookies or muffins* when I'm feeling listless, then eating way too many. So this Lent, I obviously won't give up snacking, as I need to eat when I am hungry to feed me and my Baby, but I in giving up sweets, I will have to be more thoughtful about what I choose instead for a snack.
As a family we will sing the Stabat Mater together at night prayer. Noah loves to sing, or be sung to, and this is one of my favourite Lenten hymns. We wanted to observe Lent somehow with him but he is simply too young to understand or do much about it. Simply having a song he associates with the season might help to remind him what's happening next year, too.
I know this Lent will challenge me. I hope that I will follow through with these commitments, but I know that from previous Lents, I have not managed to be totally faithful in my plans. Often this discourages me and I give up before Lent has really begun. But I want to pick up right where I left off if and when I falter this year, remembering Christ fell too on His Way of the Cross.
I hope and pray you all have blessed Lent! Pray for me, too!
* Of course, muffins can and SHOULD be healthy. But we all know, and nutritionists wag their fingers at us, that most muffins are basically cake. Since I am making them myself, I am abundantly aware that the recipes I am using are rather cakey. (I do have some healthier ones, and if you have a favourite, let me know!)
But get down on my hands and knees and SCRUB things? That simply never happened. I rationalized myself out of intense housework because, after all, I was pregnant so that should exempt me, right? (That, and the intense back pain that carrying a baby gives me... Thank God we found a chiropractor for me this time!)
Then I used the same logic when after Noah was born : why I didn't get much done but laundry, cooking and dishes -- all, you'll notice, are necessities. And so I have continued in my rather slovenly ways since.
It's not that I'm proud of this, or enjoy living in a messy or cluttered home. It's not even that I think housework is beneath me, because honestly, when I am actually motivated or not otherwise distracted, it's so invigorating, and the end result, ahhhh, pure bliss.
But alas. I am easily distracted. I don't multi-task well, and as much as I detest this word, I know I would be lying not to admit that I am lazy.
So this Lent, I decided that I'd better not wait until I start nesting. It might not ever happen, and poor Baby Appleseed will come home to a house that is far too messy and disorganized.
Instead, I am taking up the discipline of housework this Lent. I know that probably sounds ridiculous, and believe me, I actually do housework, but not thoroughly, not start-to-finish and not with any sort of 'plan' in mind.
Taking a cue from this blog, I divided our house into various 'zones' and designated a cleaning task a day from now until Easter. Many are rather small jobs, but I am certain that once I set about doing just one task, I'll see it's not that much harder to do another. Even if that doesn't prove to be the case, by following my schedule, I'll still have a perfectly tidy house by Easter (assuming we don't throw it apart as I go...).
Also, since I will be going through each closet and storage box thoroughly to wash and organize, I'm certain I will come across more than enough clutter. So I've decided to rid our home of forty garbage bags of stuff during Lent. This could be garbage or give-aways to the Salvation Army (or occasionally actually returning things that we borrowed from someone else). I actually began this already, even though Lent hasn't started yet, and I have already gotten rid of seven GIANT garbage bags of stuff, stuffed to the brim.
This is part of my observance of Lent. Since Lent is about prayer, fasting and almsgiving, this is my sort-of almsgiving for this season (I will give actually money to charity, but blogging about that seems inappropriate somehow?).
I am also re-committing myself to prayer. I pray throughout the day, but tend to be very slack when it comes to designating a specific time of day to pray. I know there are loads of moms who get up and have their morning prayer time before their kids awake, and while that seems admirable, I simply seem to need more sleep than that allows for! If I am up, dressed and have made the bed before Noah wakes up, I consider it a good start to my day.
So I got the idea to set my prayer time for as soon as Noah goes to bed. I often tend to gravitate towards the computer, or a book, at this time, but I know dedicating this time to God will set me in much better stead. It will be a challenge, of course, just as the housework will be, to follow through with my commitment every day. But that's the beauty of Lent. Whenever my minuscule penances start to challenge me, I remember why I do this, and for Whom.
Lastly, I have decided to give up tea and sweets/junk food for Lent. I tend to drink tea more than water during the day, which isn't a good thing for me or my Baby Appleseed, and I also use tea (and sweets!) as an escape mechanism. As in, "it's Tea Time, so now I get to sit down and think about nothing for 10 minutes."
A glass of water is much better for me, sets a better example for Noah (who already regularly requests 'tea'!) and yes, is a penance because a hot cup of tea is comfort food for me. And sweets and treats, well, of course they are comfort food. I am especially prone to baking cookies or muffins* when I'm feeling listless, then eating way too many. So this Lent, I obviously won't give up snacking, as I need to eat when I am hungry to feed me and my Baby, but I in giving up sweets, I will have to be more thoughtful about what I choose instead for a snack.
As a family we will sing the Stabat Mater together at night prayer. Noah loves to sing, or be sung to, and this is one of my favourite Lenten hymns. We wanted to observe Lent somehow with him but he is simply too young to understand or do much about it. Simply having a song he associates with the season might help to remind him what's happening next year, too.
I know this Lent will challenge me. I hope that I will follow through with these commitments, but I know that from previous Lents, I have not managed to be totally faithful in my plans. Often this discourages me and I give up before Lent has really begun. But I want to pick up right where I left off if and when I falter this year, remembering Christ fell too on His Way of the Cross.
I hope and pray you all have blessed Lent! Pray for me, too!
* Of course, muffins can and SHOULD be healthy. But we all know, and nutritionists wag their fingers at us, that most muffins are basically cake. Since I am making them myself, I am abundantly aware that the recipes I am using are rather cakey. (I do have some healthier ones, and if you have a favourite, let me know!)
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