A Matter of Mathematics

Ever get feeling like you are a bit ...dare I say...craZy?  At times there is so much to accomplish.  To much, on the to do list.  You feel like you can't take it any longer.  

How can it be that the dishes are never actually done?  Laundry?  Don't start me on that one.  I could do, and do...and keep going...and going, and somehow never-never actually be done with "stuff."  There's house work.  There's school work.  There's cooking (3x's per day) This is not even mentioning the more important things like, spending quality time with my husband, or kids, family or friends.  

You may think this is a "laundry" list of complaints--post.  It's not.  Here's a tid bit you might never know about me now- being married and with four kids- but, I once was a clean, clean, very clean-perfectionist.  At least for as much as I was able in any situation.  Much of this precedent I had to let go of--so that i wouldn't actually go crazy.  So . . back to crazy. Ever been there?  How can you work so hard and never 100% finish.  

One day not to long ago I started calculating.  Yes, I enjoy math.  Actually ...i do!  I know it's weird.  An interesting realization came to me through just a bit of easy multiplication.  My family = 6 people.  

Laundry alone:

• 42 pairs of socks per week (84 pieces)
• 42 shirts per week
• 42 pairs of pants...hopefully 24 if they are jeans - and the kids remember to wear them twice! (long as were not at the zoo..or Sam's club..or, haha you get the picture..
• 42 pieces of underwear (it's not a pair..there is only one) per week
• 15 Sweaters (approx.) per week
• 42-84 pajama tops and bottoms 

This is leaving out numbers on:

Towels
Sheets
Work clothes
Etc.

Realization hit me.  I'm not crazy.  Those Numbers are what is crazy!!  Over 200 things to wash, then fold, then put away each week.   That is merely one of many things that need to be done.  

Those number gave me more peace. 

 It's not a matter of being tired or lazy.  It's not less energy cause from getting older.  It's crazy numbers.  It's just life.

Never could I hope to keep up on my home as I'd like  to during this season of my life.  And that's okay.  Often, reminding myself:  "The day my house will be perfectly clean, chores done, no dishes in the sink . . . my kids will be gone."  So it is necessary to decide where my focus is.  Do things need to be perfect?  Or do my kids need my time.  Hard to look at it so black and white, yet so often I am reminding myself of that very thought.  My boy won't forever ask me to play risk with him. . . especially if I keep telling him "no,"  or, "later."  My daughter won't always say "wait, wait" as I walk out of her room when she goes to bed.  Especially if I don't respond to the "wait."

My husband may not look forward to coming home if I ignore him - to busy doing dishes- ...and Need to finish before greeting him.  Or simply asking, "How was your day?"

I hope you find peace in the numbers as I did, just knowing-yes the work is never ending, but we can do it with a joyful spirit.  We don't have to have things perfect.  If they always are - we could be wasting valuable time.  Feeling overwhelmed is a normal thing, but we can find rest in God's words and asking Him to take our anxious thoughts.  Pray for wisdom and understanding, so that  you will have the discernment on when to put the towel down and open your ears to the one who may need them.  

Do something really craZy...like sit on the floor when your kids expect you to just walk by.  You might get goofy looks at first, but they will be delighted.