My Husband has no “Drawers” in his Drawers….(A Confession)
….and something’s gotta give!
I hope the title of this post got your attention. I know it got my husbands as I left the draft opened on my laptop. lol After I explained to him why I chose the title, he was OK with me letting the world know that he has no clean undies in his drawer. 😉
Okay, so………I’ve tried writing this post a few times already and I had a really hard time putting my thoughts into words but I will try.
Get ready for the ultimate confession.
Blogging and my time on the computer has consumed me. My laundry is out of control (and that is probably the understatement of the year). My kids feel like they aren’t important. My relationship with God and my family has suffered. It’s time for a change. FINALLY.
God has been speaking to my heart for such a long, long time regarding this matter. I shared with my contributors in an email recently and with my dear friend, Dawn, that I’ve made blogging, this blog, blog surfing, blog envy, social media, etc. an idol. My blog stats have stressed me out. Wondering why my numbers (pageviews) have dropped has had me cranky and frustrated. My poor husband literally has not had clean “drawers” in his dresser drawers in months. I rummage through clean baskets of laundry every.single.day so that he, me and the kids have something clean to wear. THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE!
And my husband, he has been SO patient with me. He knows how important my blog, having time to do something for “me” is but I can’t keep on like this. I’m constantly feeling like I live in chaos. Always rushing out to get my kids to school on time (most days by the skin of my teeth) because what am I doing? Checking Facebook, my email, my blog, etc. My family needs to know and FEEL how important THEY are to me. The other day my oldest daughter (who has been acting out something fierce lately) starts crying and says “You never play with us. All you care about is your blog. You’re always on the computer”. Thankfully God had already been working on my heart and preparing me for what I’m going to say next so I was able to admit to her that she was right and that I was going to do something about it.
I’m taking a break. It’s going to be more like a fast. I need to do this. I’m shooting for 40 days. During that time I will not be checking Facebook or Twitter and I will not be blogging. I am disabling my Twitter and Facebook apps on my phone as well as my emails. I can’t stay offline completely due to other obligations but I will be limiting those times to after bedtime or nap time.
I recently read a post on blog etiquette and it got me thinking of all these bloggers who have turned their blogs into a full time business. And while I’ve made money blogging and it’s come in handy many times, I often thought that I just don’t think I could do this full time. Not now anyway. My kids are still small. They still need my time and attention. I know how time consuming blogging and posting and taking photos of each step so you can share a tutorial is and I often wonder “something has to be suffering in these peoples lives”. All of us bloggers paint this perfect picture many times of our lives and our kids and our homes and I’m wondering what the reality really is? I mean, I don’t know any other creative bloggers personally. I’m the oddball creative blogger who lives in NY, remember? lol I have no idea what their family lives are like….whether or not their families are suffering too. I only know that blogging takes it’s toll and at the end of the day, what’s going to matter most? That we shared our creative talent with the world or that we took care of our families? I don’t want my kids to look back at their childhood and remember a mom who was cranky and short-fused and always on her computer. I want them to remember a mom who put them first, who raised them up in the Lord, who loved on them and spent time with them. Right now I’m doing a really crappy job but that’s going to change!
A few weeks ago I started doing a Bible Study with the women at my church. We are doing Beth Moore’s James: Mercy Triumphs. {Amazing Study!} I am getting SO MUCH out if it and I keep on getting confirmation from God that this is what I’m to be doing. One other issue I have (aside from not being a good housekeeper lol) is my mouth. In my frustration with blogging, etc. I have often said things to my children that I shouldn’t. I’ve gotten annoyed and angry even when I was “busy” and they get “bugging “ me. Even before kids, my mouth used to get the better of me. During this time off I’m standing on these Bible verses and applying them to my life:
James 1: 19-21
“My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry. 20 for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. 21Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. “
So, I’m excited to be taking this time to work on me, in an unselfish way. I’m getting into the Word of God like I have not in AGES and it’s just what I needed. I’m asking God for wisdom and keeping my ears opened. I “plan” on coming back at the beginning of June and I will be really excited to share with you everything that has happened in my own life during this time off. I figure people take vacations from their job, right? Why can’t I take a vacation from blogging?
So, there you have it! I encourage you that if you’ve felt like me, then please, take a break. There is more to this world than blogging. Time away will give you the chance to reevaluate yourselves and your blog. It will help you put things into perspective and maybe even give you some new direction and purpose. 🙂
Thanks for reading this through! See you in June!
3-2-1…..disconnect!
XOXO
Diana
www.thegirlcreative.com
right on!! enjoy the time with the people you love (and with your washing machine!). i’ll miss your creative posts… but, honestly, it will give me a bit more time to disconnect from reading in the blogosphere as well. 🙂
I can relate to this very well I’m afraid. It’s one of the reasons I’ve been slack about posting recently. I need to get things into perspective as well. We’ll all be here when you come back! (and you’ll come back. eventually. it’s too hard to stay away!)
You will surely be missed, but having felt the same way you do – I find it refreshing to hear it spoken by another blogger who has a pretty BIG blog! Take your time, be with your children and your family, reconnect with the lord! The stress of it all does get to you! My blog is reletively small and I am able limit my blogging to those times I am not taking away from them! I commend what you are doing and will be here when you decide to come back!
Good for you! I’ll be praying that your efforts will be blessed. When we put God first, He makes it all work out.
Totally excited for you. God will meet you and your family! Don’t hurry back allow God to complete His sweet work in you. Much care.
Good for you! I’m actually feeling a lot the same. I’m scaling back my blogging BIG TIME and see if that is enough. I wish you all the best in your “fast”.
Thanks. I feel the same way too! How do some of these people do it all? I made a commitment that family and housework come first, Blogging is second. Since I have done this. Things have worked out much better. I am even getting more hits on my blog. I have decided to stress less.
Amy @ Pounds4Pennies
I love your blog. But family comes first. Always. I think it’s hard to find that balance. I’m still trying. Thank you for this post, it makes the rest of us realize that we’re not the only ones who feel this way. (((hugs)))
I am so impressed with your decision!! God will truly bless you for your decision. Thanks for sharing this with us. It spurs me on to good works. Barb
This is so wonderful for you to share. I am a new blogger and I too have little children that need my attention. This will help me in the future if this takes up a lot of my time. I will think back to this post, most definitely. I too am a christian woman and I feel the same way you do. Sometimes life can be difficult, but God is right there beside you always, guiding you along in life. He will make sure you make the right choices and apparently he has done just that. Good luck and I look forward to future posts in 40 days!!!
As much as I love the world of blogging, it can get overwhelming & take over you life. I have taken a much needed break in the past when blogland was just to much and it did help. I too once again have a large mountain of laundry and a messy house. I have started to let it consume me and know I need to breath and slow down. We can’t miss out on our children as they wont always be little and certainly wont always want us around. There has to be a balance somewhere and I am working on that myself. Breathe deep, relax, and enjoy life for awhile mama!
As much as I love the world of blogging, it can get overwhelming & take over you life. I have taken a much needed break in the past when blogland was just to much and it did help. I too once again have a large mountain of laundry and a messy house. I have started to let it consume me and know I need to breath and slow down. We can’t miss out on our children as they wont always be little and certainly wont always want us around. There has to be a balance somewhere and I am working on that myself. Breathe deep, relax, and enjoy life for awhile mama!
I took a few months off to reevaluate and regroup. I was overwhelmed with blogging and take over. I love the direction I am going in now but still find i have a HUGE mountain of laundry and a messy house. Just last night my husband asked “Do I have any clean underwear?” 🙂 I do try to work when the kids are napping/sleeping at night/or quietly playing. It still have taken over a bit and I to am working on finding a better balance. There has to be better balance right? What is most important? Our children wont always be little nor will they always want us around. Breathe deep, relax, & enjoy your time off mama! FYI…Im from Central NY!
I guess I am lucky enough to have an older child who at 13 has shown me that their childhood FLIES by at the speed light which keeps me from getting as bogged down as you have. I hope you enjoy your time and find your balance. Melody Ross of Brave Girls has spoken of her internet obsession. While she doesn’t specifically speak of it in terms of religion she shares a very spiritual journey if you are interested.
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This is the first time I’m visiting your blog and this post is the best thing I’ve ever read. I just started blogging but I’ve been very careful to protect my time with my family. I only post twice a week and I’m ok with that. This is confirmation. I love Beth Moore’s studies. Awesome women of God. I hope your fast only strengthens you. Blessings.
This is great. I totally understand this! I don’t have kids, but I know how much time I’ve devoted to my computer lately. I tried to take a step back and have my time with the Lord, but I got distracted. Thank you sooooo much for this reminder. It really is showing me just how much time I’m blogging, when I could be reading my Bible, praying, etc… I’m going to start getting a hold of my blog and getting it organized, so I can spend more time with my family and the Lord. I’m not ready to take a large break from my blog, with lots of big things coming up, but I now know that I can definitely make God my first priority and blogging after that. Thanks again for this!
Wonderful decision! Enjoy your time to refocus! Whatever you decide, we’ll support and understand!
I don’t even know you and am not sure how i came onto this page, but let me give you a hearty AMEN to your decision! Whatever claims our time and energy and emotion apart from our first priorities NEEDS to be examined, and I love that you have listened to God’s voice on this, and your family is really going to love it!! 🙂
Take it from a friend who is a lot further down the road, your family and the time with them goes so fast, and all of our dreams for them are being formed right now, during these days that they are in your home.
So good going!
Blessings to you and your family.
Sonja
PRAISE THE LORD!!!!
It is way to easy to let so many things consume our time and we forget our “true purpose”….to know God and make Him known!!!! Bravo to you for choosing to walk away from the idol and put your focus back on your kids, home and relationship with the Lord. You won’t be sorry and I believe you will be blessed! Let it be a reminder to all of us to keep it simple saints – KISS principle!!!!
Blessings,
Linda