Time for what's most important

I just read this on a friend's blog and really liked it:

"Loving relationships develop best as fathers take time to play, laugh, work, read, pray, talk, walk, and engage in other wholesome family activities with their children. Parents often must plan and schedule these activities; they likely will not happen very often by coincidence. In fact, children grow up so quickly that if parents do not look for opportunities to change and adapt, to spend time with their children, precious opportunities may be missed" (Jerry Harris, "Becoming an Influential Father" Ensign February 2010).

My Highest Priority as a Mother

I have been thinking a lot lately about what I need to do and how I should approach being a mother, wife and homemaker. I sat down one night and read through The Family: A Proclamation to the World from the prophet and apostles of the LDS Church, outlining line-by-line the principles and responsibilities found therein. I've read and learned about this document many times but it really stuck out to me that I do not need to feel so torn in my mothering and other responsibilities. It is quite clear that a mother's primary responsibility is to NURTURE:

"By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners. Disability, death, or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation. Extended families should lend support when needed" (excerpt from The Family Proclamation).

I also love how sensitive it is to individual adaptation based on family needs. As husbands and wives, mothers and fathers, we need to support each other in these responsibilities and though our specific roles may be a bit different, all are necessary for a happy, fulfilled home and family.

good reminders

I am trying to find a balance with when and how much time to spend on the computer, especially on google reader. The problem is I really do see some benefits to the time I spend on there--I find great deals on grocery and other purchases (I'm constantly amazed how much money we have saved as I have changed how I approached planning and shopping) as well as fabulous parenting, personal and marriage ideas that really are helping me think and approach life differently and change the way I think about things. Here are a few recent blog posts that have really got me thinking:

- Being more present
- spending time and energy on what matters most (it really is always a choice between good, better and best)
- slow down and involve my boys in whatever I am doing around the house, including cooking
- feeling fulfilled in my chosen "profession" as a mother
- being creative in teaching children a variety of skills and values

So now I am left even more to determine how to approach my life! Seeing that we are all sick right now things are a bit different the last few days. But I am really hoping to start getting up early to exercise, read my scriptures; limit internet time to a set amount/particular time during the day; get to bed at an earlier hour, etc. And keep trying to balance, better spend time and focus more on my cute boys!