Tag: feeling fulfilled fridays

It’s feeling fulfilled Friday on MamaBlogga! Here’s how it works:

1. Make a list of things that make you feel accomplished (but aren’t so huge that they take more than a day or a week)
2. During the week, try to focus on those things that help us feel accomplished
3. Report on feeling fulfilled Friday

I didn’t work as hard focusing on my list this week, but I did get to knock a few things off the list. Inspired by my friend Shannon, I too put finishing a good book on my list, and I finished two this week: Cold As Ice by Stephanie Black (author of Methods of Madness) and The Spy Who Came in From the Cold by John LeCarré. I’ve also taken all three kids out almost every day this week.

On the other hand, Rachel has been so fussy the last couple days that I feel like I haven’t gotten anything done. It feels like my life and especially my kids go spiraling out of control fairly regularly. (Like the day we found Hayden had cut up the title to our new van.) (And scattered two boxes of staples all over the floor, which I seem to only be able to find with my feet.)

Back on the plus side, I’ve exercised twice this week, and it’s getting to be less arduous 😉 . I’ve also worked very hard to be patient (some days) (and some nights, like when Rachel and Rebecca tag-teamed me from 3 to 4 AM). Sometimes it feels very gratifying (and sometimes just more frustrating!). But patience paid off in at least one way this week: Hayden went to his room for time out on his own for the very first time. (It’s only taken six months of trying 😀 .)

It’s nice to be able to look back at the end of the day and the end of the week and see that I’ve accomplished something—especially something we’ve been working on for months!

Are you ready to jump in?

It’s the first week of feeling fulfilled Friday on MamaBlogga! Here’s how it works:

1. Make a list of things that make you feel accomplished (but aren’t so huge that they take more than a day or a week)
2. During the week, try to focus on those things that help us feel accomplished
3. Report on feeling fulfilled Friday

This week had definite ups and downs. Over the weekend, I came up with 13 things that make me feel “super accomplished.” On Monday, I managed to hit several—I turned off the television for hours. I read scriptures with the kids, played with the kids, helped them learn something new and even exercised.

On Tuesday, I did the laundry. I wasn’t as patient as I should be (when am I ever?). It’s always frustrating to send literally, physically drag Hayden to his room as discipline, but it wasn’t until Rachel spent the entire afternoon fussing that I really started to lose it. I finally had to put her down in my room so I could make dinner without hearing her screaming. So I’m chained to the kitchen, making dinner, Rachel’s screaming nonstop for an hour, and Hayden and Rebecca choose this time to play with water in the bathroom. Tears ensued, and I thought my whole week was shot.

Wednesday, the kids lost my keys (I found them after being inspired to look in a cardboard box they like to hide things in). Several times during Tuesday and Wednesday, I was so overwhelmed that I turned on the television and planted myself in front of the computer for completely (or mostly) unproductive surfing. Thursday morning it looked like I was going to have to make do with less than five hours of sleep again. I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to write this post today.

But you know what? It didn’t end up all bad. I got more sleep Thursday, and was careful not to get on the computer. Yeah, we still spent most of the day in front of the TV, but I was more engaged with the kids, and they got into less trouble and needed less disciplining.

And that feels good.

What makes you feel accomplished? How did you feel fulfilled this week?