June: Robots and Routines and My Weakest Link

I’ve been looking forward to writing this post ever since Emily’s invitation to join her in documenting what we learned in June. I had really good intentions of recording my learning throughout the month. I planned to write the little things, the big things, and some funny things too. But like most of my good intentions lately, I didn’t write one thing down! 

Sitting here now, it’s really the big things that stand out, so forgive me for writing a post that isn’t as light as I would’ve liked but it’s definitely real.

What  I learned in June

 

I’m not a Robot.

Okay, so I’ve known this: when I say yes to one thing, I’m also saying no to another. But this June, I’ve learned it in a whole new way. May was busy and overwhelming and full of a lot of yeses — and nos. In June, I paid for it.

Call it burn-out? Call it fatigue? I’m not sure what it is exactly, but my body and my emotions and my mind have gone on strike and just aren’t cooperating the way I’d like them to. This mutiny has tripped me up and slowed me down but has also forced me to reevaluate how I’m living and the decisions I’m making. As frustrating and discouraging and powerless as June has felt, the rebellion has been a gift, helping me to move closer to the life God has called me to live.

How I Treat Myself

I have a lot more wrestling to do with the topic of self-care for Moms. I know I need it, just trying to figure out how. {I really do want to hear from you!}

We Need Routine

In high school, my friends and I frequently joked about the “P” word. Spontaneity ruled, and we laughed in the face of a “plan.” Now I laugh at my naiveté and how much I actually crave a plan! I still love flexibility, but the controlling side of me likes to at least have a general idea of what’s coming around the bend.

Because of my husband’s work schedule, which changes from week to week, our schedule at home is also very fluid. This has its pros and its cons, but I’ve discovered that what we really need is a good healthy rhythm, and including our summer fun pages in our summer mornings has been such a helpful addition to our mornings. I first feared that adding work (even as play) into our summer mornings would feel too rigid and mean but it has been so helpful for each one of us — the kids and me! I can’t believe we didn’t start this sooner.

#34

A year or two ago, I took the Strengthsfinder test. {Have I talked about that here? If not, you may read more about it in the future — I seem to talk about it in real life all the time because it’s been so helpful for me.}

I’ve known my top 5 strengths since I took the test, but this June, I received access to the whole list — all 34. That means, this June I learned which areas I am least gifted.

I can barely remember the latter part of the list because all that stood out to me was #34. Want to know my biggest weakness? It’s the thing I feel most called to do, apart from the ministry God has given me to my family. I realize I’m being vague, but I’m still working through the surprise and praying about what that means. Maybe I’ll write about it soon. Maybe not. We’ll see.

Questions for You:

So what about you? What is one thing you learned in June?

Linking up with Emily!