New Year’s Time

Another year has passed and one of my resolutions is to manage my time better. This is a never-ending, excruciatingly difficult thing to do. I often feel like I am running in place and though I am constantly busy with laundry and kitchen clean-up, with the re-mess-up immediately following, nothing ever seems to be done. Part of this feeling is our sense that the “things” we are supposed to do should already be done - that somehow if anyone witnesses us doing our “things” we are somehow disorganized, behind, not properly managing our time. Don’t you just love those commercials where mothers are reading a book while the washing machine is spinning quietly and the baby in the bouncy seat is sleeping? Where is the rest of the laundry? How about the ironing? Mending? Do people mend anymore? Where is the ream of paper from the elementary school? Is that baby in the bouncy seat actually sleeping? How much did they pay that baby to do that?

One of the best things about breastfeeding is the inescapable sit-your-bum-down-time. When our babies declare the need for some mama time, we must respond and relax and slow down, letting the little hand pat us, letting the little mouth smile at us, letting the Prolactin, or “mothering” hormone, wash over us and make us better mommies. This is a major component in the importance of the nursing relationship. Breastfeeding is much more than just providing nutrition. These are future people we are nurturing and when we stop the whirlwind of life to be with them it is as if we can stop time. Though trying to stop time is not an effective way to manage it, it is important to remember that life gives us many chances to slow things down and enjoy the moments but we have to pay attention to notice them. Life’s responsibilities are akin to running in place. You cannot get ahead because they are always there, waiting to be done. If you spend life believing that you can get ahead, you will miss the moments when time seems to stop. These are the moments when we actually accomplish something and we are truly making progress. When we gaze into our children’s eyes, giggle at their giggles, or get goosebumps from their wee cuddles we solidify their humanness, their conscience. By taking advantage of these moments it makes it all the easier to manage the whirlwind. Allowing yourself to revel in the nothingness of joy with your child, will give you all the gumption you need to tackle cleaning up the kitchen again.

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