A new strategy to try this week!

After yet another busy day, mum rushed from work to pick up the two children, 3 and 6, from childcare. Once home they flew into the house with hungry bellies waiting to be fed.

For 10 minutes kids were frantically doing their chores, food was flying around the kitchen so fast even Jamie Oliver would be impressed and with an exhausted yell, “Dinner’s ready” everyone sits down to eat.

Mum heaves a sigh of relief that doesn’t go unnoticed.

Out of the mouth of babes…

“Mummy,” says her 6 year old son, “why are we always rushing and living for the future? You’re always saying what we have to do next, what we’re working for and rushing. Why can’t we enjoy where we are now, here with each other?”

Mum stopped in her tracks on hearing this. When her husband came home from work that weekend, she shared it with him too. They both took stock of their lives and really listened to the words of wisdom their son had uttered.

Since that hectic week, life has slowed down for this family.

They re-prioritised, rejigged and moved some goal posts to be able to spend more quality time with each other, right now.

So here is a strategy to try for the week:

If you’re feeling busy and rushed, stop and ask, “What am I rushing for?” (What’s the goal?).

This mum was working hard to be able to afford holidays and quality things for her children, but she realised the cost was quality time with them now.

So often we work for the “I’ll be happy when…” things instead of maximising what we already have.

Spend some time this week making the most of what is already present in your life that is precious to you.

Have you ever stopped and thought ‘why am I always rushing’? SHARE in the comments below.

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25 Comments

- - meedee said
  - 08 Apr 2022
    8:50 am
I do think that kids need down time just to sort themselves out also. Time where they need to decide for themselves what to do.

- - mom81879 said
  - 30 Sep 2015
    4:32 pm
What a very insightful young man! He notices a lot for just 6. I think he will grow into a beautiful human being

- - tinakraja said
  - 03 Sep 2015
    9:23 pm
i often have to sit back and realize im snapping at my kids just to get them out the door so we can go out and spend time together and then snap at them to go play alone so i can have a break when in reality if we didn’t rush,they would feel less anxious, id need less of a break and they would probably go play alone so i can have 5 minutes peace.

- - mom152736 said
  - 31 Aug 2015
    10:35 pm
This is such an importnat thought for all of us…. thanks for putting this up

- - mom150983 said
  - 12 Aug 2015
    7:38 am
Slowing down and living in the Here and Now is the best advice especially when you have children that grow way to quickly

- - mom113055 said
  - 07 Aug 2015
    5:05 pm
they look like their having so much fun

- - mom113055 said
  - 28 Jul 2015
    11:11 pm
family is very important

- - Danae Jo said
  - 27 Jul 2015
    10:37 am
Definitely agree with this article. I do need to live in the moment more and stop stressing about future things and times all the time.

- - mom113055 said
  - 23 Jul 2015
    8:01 pm
just great

- - deb_gs said
  - 19 Jul 2015
    9:22 pm
I often wonder why I am rushing. For some things, but an extra 5 minutes doesn’t actually make a difference. I have to remind myself to spend a good quality moment or moments with my children. Ferris Bueller was right that every now and then you have to stop to smell the roses or life will pass you by.

- - caland10 said
  - 08 Jul 2015
    9:08 pm
Great advice thanks Roxy. We all should spend so much more time in the ‘now’ and and a whole lot less in our tomorrows. Not that it’s easy to do of course!!!

- - crystalangela said
  - 08 Jul 2015
    4:42 pm
So true.
I am trying to be more happy in the now. I used to be a “I’ll be happy when…” kind of person.

- - mom72550 said
  - 08 Jul 2015
    1:37 pm
I love this. I think we need a reality check from time to time. Our kids are here with us now, lets make the most of it.

- - rovermum said
  - 08 Jul 2015
    1:10 pm
Absolutely. And I have taken steps to remove the stress and to slow things down so I have time to prepare and cook a meal, time to sit with my son, time to sit on my own. Out of the mouths of babes, hey. It’s a very honest question and one that makes us stop and think and re-evaluate.

- - ella12 said
  - 08 Jul 2015
    12:53 pm
It is important to be grateful for what we have.

- - mom94125 said
  - 08 Jul 2015
    12:08 pm
yes i think that kids grow too fast! enjoy them!

- - lepumpkinhead said
  - 08 Jul 2015
    11:08 am
Sometimes when we have dance commitments, two working parents and have to organise dinner we do rush around. This is why I try to put dinner in a slow cooker every morning so I can relax when I get home, dinner is ready, we eat, spend some time together its much better.

- - cherz said
  - 07 Jul 2015
    9:17 pm
Hubby and myself are retired, so life is always at a relaxed pace.

- - BellaB said
  - 07 Jul 2015
    7:05 pm
Good point, though that story doesn’t sound credible.
- Bare Hands replied
  
  08 Jul 2015 , 7:27 am
  Hi Bellab,
  
  You have my word the story is real, straight from one of my mums I saw in clinic.
  
  Roxy
- - mom74640 said
  - 07 Jul 2015
    2:39 pm
Lke it