Traci and I are homeschool moms. We’ve often wondered if we should start another blog for non-food related posts. I believe that doing so would add to our stress. And since this is our blog we can say how we want to use it. That means that if we feel impressed to speak on a topic or have something that could help someone else, not related to healthy eating, we will post that here on Traci’s Transformational Kitchen. So much of what we do as Mothers happens in the kitchen. It is the nurturing of hearts, the feeding of the soul, and the building of character which matters most to me.
The thing that is on my mind today is Time Management. I need it. A LOT. My family needs it. All homeschooling families that I know need it. So here is what I have found to help me currently.
President Spencer W. Kimball said: “Jesus … taught us how important it is to use our time wisely. This does not mean there can never be any leisure, for there must be time for contemplation and for renewal, but there must be no waste of time. How we manage time matters so very much, and we can be good managers of time without being frantic or officious. Time cannot be recycled. When a moment has gone, it is really gone. The tyranny of trivia consists of its driving out the people and moments that really matter. Minutia holds momentous things hostage, and we let the tyranny continue all too often. Wise time management is really the wise management of ourselves” (“Jesus: The Perfect Leader,” Ensign, Aug. 1979, p. 6). Emphasis added.
Below are some forms to help me evaluate how I am using my time and to help me manage or govern myself better. I will be taking some time off (me driving till the baby falls asleep in his carseat. Then parking in a quiet place to work till baby wakes up… then going home to deal with damage control with older children.) My goal, once I have done this for myself, is to also do this with each school aged child. Which will likely include a little treat in some form. My objective here is to inspire Self-Government. I want each of my children to feel empowered in how they use their life and talents.
These are the forms I created to help us discuss how we are using our time and to help us create a plan for ourselves: (Each pdf comes up in its own window with a link in small font.)
Below are some links I used to help me teach a family lesson on Time Management (I read through many of these articles, printed off a few, highlighted what struck me as most important, and then prayed with all my heart that they would get something from what I shared with them. We did this as a family. I feel that, from their bored expressions, that my good example will be the best teacher. They need to see healthy Time Management modeled for them.)
Setting Goals and Time Management
Exhaustion Is Not Prerequisite to Perfection
When My Husband Walks In the Door
Managing Time and Staying Balanced
I have not been able to read through everything I’ve listed here but now I know where to find the article for later. Also, the LDS.org website has countless more articles.
Should I put in a proviso that I know everyone who follows our blog is not a member or our faith? I think those who have good hearts, whichever faith you may follow, know I mean well and these references just happen to be within the sphere of my understanding. I pray for peace and cooperation for those of all faiths and that we can work together to uplift and inspire each other. We need to be on the same team. We need to know who the enemy really is. May we be inspired to use our time for what matters most today. God bless our efforts to be more organized, that we can be the example our children need us to be, and that we can lift and inspire our family and those we love to live a higher, more joyous life. May we be blessed with the enabling power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ to make up where we fall short and to carry us through when we feel we just can’t do it. With the Lord, all things are possible. May we be blessed with an eternal perspective, to make time for the things that matter most.
