Get A Good Habit Challenge

Yesterday was "one of those days." It started out lovely but didn't quite end that way. My father, who had spent the weekend with us, got my children going in the morning. It was a nice bonus of his visit! They were already eating breakfast by the time that I rolled out of bed. We had a nice drop-off at preschool, and Papa Jack got to meet Ella's teacher and see her classroom. Then afterward, he treated me to breakfast out AND a Danish pastry. It was such a luxury for me!

However, around the time that he left, the tide began to turn. Grumpy toddler napped too early and therefore got up too early. Sassy preschooler threw two too many tantrums. Time-outs. A disaster of a house. Tried to plan and get organized only to be interrupted by the toddler who kept saying repeatedly that she was hungry. Said toddler proceeded to reject anything that she was offered to eat. Continual interruptions (and whining) as I tried to clean the house, do laundry and cook dinner. Needless to say, I was ready to pull out my hair and/or cry by dinnertime. I felt as if I had not succeeded in accomplishing anything worthwhile or in enjoying my kids during the day. That's just not how I want to live my life.

It got me thinking that I've got to do something differently. Then I happened to read my sister Jessica's "Get A Good Habit Going Challenge" post at LifeAsMom.

"Ever find yourself a day late and a dollar short? Ever wake up one morning to realize that bad habits have infiltrated the comfort of your home and life? Ever find that life is passing you by because you're not on top of things like you wish you were? Yeah, me too."

And "Me three!"

Jessica went on to challenge her readers to consider developing a new and good habit this month -- "just a little something that will improve your life and the lives of those you love." She suggested some lovely habits that I would like to pursue like establish a cleaning schedule, begin an exercise regime (um, I tried that briefly earlier this year), giving myself regular pedicures and manicures but I know that I can't do all those. I need to start with just ONE and be consistent. And right now, I think that I need a schedule.

Once upon a time, I lived a rather scheduled life and things seemed to go more smoothly. Granted, this was before children, but I've been thinking that perhaps I need to embrace a more scheduled life for me and my girls. Maybe a schedule could eliminate some of the chaos. Plus, many nights out of the week I'm "single mom-ing it" as my hubby has work and church-related commitments. Sticking to a schedule with them and my household just might help me keep my sanity and enjoy my life more. What will my schedule look like? I'm not quite sure but hopefully I'll figure it out soon.