I came across Bloggy Moms a few months ago, but haven’t had much time to check out the site and many fun things they have over there. They have a list of writing prompts, which I love because some days it’s hard to think of more than “Eat breakfast” or “No, that’s addition, not subtraction.” So I’m jumping in with the Writing Prompt for today, February 29th. (Also, I feel compelled to wish you a Happy Leap Day.)
Today’s prompt is “I am my own worst enemy…”
I am my own worst enemy…
When it comes to making To-Do lists.
Which is why I didn’t write to yesterday’s blog prompt of “My Life’s Agenda”.
To me, that reads as “My Life’s To-Do List”
And I don’t make To-Do Lists.
I make “Have Done” Lists.
I gave up To-Do lists, with only a few exceptions. The only times I usually make To-Do lists are when I’m planning a major house cleaning, and then I go room by room and make checklists of all that I want to get done in those rooms. However, I never actually get it all done, despite my lists. So I don’t even do that too often. I mean, look around, we can all see what needs cleaned, right? So if I don’t make a list, then I have succeeded at what I did get done, and I did not fail at completing my list.
I also make To-Do lists for those days that are so hectic that it matters *when* you breathe. You can’t breathe at the wrong moment because there’s literally not time in that moment. Ok, so I’m exaggerating just a little. You have those days, too, right? RIGHT? They’re pretty rare here, but they do happen. On those days I jot down the important things that absolutely must get done, appointments we have to get to, etc., so that I don’t forget something. ‘Cause at any given moment, one kid may or may not be dressed, one may have forgotten to brush teeth despite a few reminders, one may be engrossed in a book and forget to pick up the backpack. You know how that goes. So I make the list to remind myself of where I’m supposed to go and what I’m supposed to do, so I don’t forget something important.
But, in general, I don’t make To-Do lists. Instead, I make Have-Done lists on occasion.
Do you get to the end of certain days and wonder, “What on Earth did I do today?” Yeah, me too. Those days frustrate me. I find myself feeling like a big, gigantic failure because my mental To-Do list (you know you have one, too) didn’t get accomplished.
I mean, I home school three kids, shuttle one to and from therapies - and the other 2 come along because, well, that’s how it works out in our home. Additionally, there are meals to cook, laundry to be done, piano practice (times 2 come the fall!), all sorts of correspondence with teachers and family and friends, writing projects, church activities and responsibilities, various appointments.
So at the end of those days - those crazy, frustrating days, I make Have-Done lists.
And -
I. Count. Everything.
Every little thing I can remember, goes on the list for that day.
So my Have-Done list might look like this:
*drink coffee
*make breakfast x4
*clean up dishes
*start schoolwork
*get kids to online classes
*put in laundry
*finish eating my breakfast
*make snacks x3
*monitor free time
*return 3 emails
*get boys back to schoolwork
*read with daughter
*answer email from teacher
*text Hubby for something I forgot at store
*keep an ear on the online class while preparing lunch
*prepare lunch x4
And that’s only up to lunch time.
And that list reflects the REAL productivity in my day, rather than making a list of 10 items and only crossing off 3 of them.
Because, when I make To-Do lists and only get them partway done, I feel like I was a failure for not getting it all done. But when I make a Have-Done list, I can take pride in my accomplishments, no matter how big or small.
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Sometimes we wonder why things happen - hard things, that we didn’t wish for and would rather not have happen to us. We wonder why God allows pain in our lives and what good might ever come of it. We all have stories like that, but I wanted to share a particular one with you.I’ve shared this story with some before, but not with the addition that will probably be Part 2 of this post. It’s a beautiful story with Part 1 here, recounting the tough stuff. In Part 2, you’ll read about the beauty that only God can orchestrate to remind me how much He loves me, and how wonderful life is.
