Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Zipping through my day...pausing at the stop sign

Remember the Roadrunner from Looney Tunes? I'm the suburban mom version of that speedy bird as I zoom through the tasks of my day.

My mom used to tell me to slow down all the time. If I needed to get something done, I would go into turbo mode. Even when I worked as a teenage salesgirl/cashier, I would get into an accelerated pace when things got busy. I think that's why I like to multitask. There is something in me that thrives on juggling through many demands on my time and energy. My kids laugh as they watch me speedily straighten up just before company comes to the house. That's my calorie burning time, I guess.

You would think that my house would stay perfect with my straightening all the time. We definitely have too much stuff that falls this way and that with all these kids.

Lately, I find myself slowing down more and enjoying down time with my family. It's nice to pause and relax even if my to-do list is growing. I'm learning to be a little less roadrunner and a little more tortoise in my approach to the day. The zoom of me isn't going anywhere, but I like putting up my own stop signs once in a while. I need a rest stop to refresh my spirit.

One more thing. At this time of year, most people are trying to avoid calories. I've decided to become an amateur baker. Cookie and cake recipes are dancing around my mind right now. I better be careful with this new hobby. I'm no good with dessert temptation :)

27 comments:

Valerie said...

I was always on the go but lately have noticed that I've slowed down... rather a lot. I take time out to be myself which I could never do when I worked myself to a frazzle. Good luck with the baking. That's a creative art I never mastered...lol.

Wendy said...

you would make a great nurse! i too need to slow down and forget the tasks that can wait later and just enjoy my children. good luck with the baking!

Wendy said...

you would make a great nurse! i too need to slow down and forget the tasks that can wait later and just enjoy my children. good luck with the baking!

Diane said...

I usually find that what I make, I don't want to eat. I'm happier to give it away and see other's happy faces. Crazy I know! :O)

glnroz said...

I can "see" the "zooomy-i-ness" that you mentioned...lol Stopping and reflecting is good,,,but you wont't stay still for long,, reckon? lol

Sabrina said...

I am not so strong around soft cookies...

shabby girl said...

Glad to hear you're enjoying down time with your family. I imagine that you squeeze in a bunch of roadrunner as well!
I hope you post pictures of your baking quests and maybe the recipes of your faves!
BTW, I really love those pictures on your side bar.

bel said...

I'd love to hear about your baking adventures! I bake when I'm bored. Which is great when we're running low on bread but not so much when I'm in the mood for brownies, brownies, and more brownies!

RHYTHM AND RHYME said...

It does one good to slow down for a while, perhaps to think where we've come from and where we're heading.
Good luck with the baking.

Yvonne.

Paul C said...

From road runner to tortoise...how about palomino? I can identify with your thoughts here.

T Rex Mom said...

I think it's part of the mama mantle - going 100 mph and rarely stopping. I know I often find myself feeling ill just to realize it's past noon and I still haven't had breakfast because the morning took all my efforts.

We, as mom, need to take a moment to enjoy our families and also to take care of ourselves. I am as guilty as the next so I guess I need to work on this more.

Let us know what recipes you try - it might inspire me, too!

WordsPoeticallyWorth said...

To pick up your pace in a chaotic place - as the kitchen can seem sometimes, it is nice to take a bite to eat, and rest your feet, and then greet the feat with a replenished sweet frame of mind to reciprocrate in kind! HA.

Lovelove, Andyou. SLY...

Sank U.

Penny said...

I love that you've decided to be an amateur baker! That's awesome!! =)

Angel Ginger Jasper said...

I can relate so much to that. I get called road nrunner all the time and told " slow down ". Dont know how to make it happen though. Hugs GJ xx

Unknown said...

This post could be on my blog written by me. I do too much way too fast. I have slowed down some since baby girl came along. She is my stop sign. When you bake, make sure you bring enough for all of us :-)

Caroline said...

Oh how I get that. Just today I was zooming...lot's of projects to juggle. But it was on my terms and I loved it (good background music always helps!). Hope you are having a great start to 2011!

#1Nana said...

It is much easier to slow down once the kids are grown. The house won't always need to be tidied and the scissors will always be where you put them, not where a child left them.

I wish you lived across the road; I'd drop by for a baked treat!

Gerri said...

That is awesome you are slowing down and enjoying family more! Good for you. ;)
Thanks also for the compliments my friend. :)

Michelle said...

I know what you mean about slowing down. The book I just read (Take the Cake) espoused that for oh so many reasons (along with a number of other things). It's hard to remember to slow down and live in the moment sometimes, but oh so necessary. Good luck with it!

Robyn Campbell said...

I zip around too fast, also. "Stop and smell the roses." That's what I hear from DH. But there is SO much to do that I feel I need to go fast to get it all finished.

Kelly, cookies and pie and cake. YIKES. I put on the pounds during Thanksgiving and Christmas. And Christopher's birthday is Monday, so there shall be plenty of stuff to eat over the weekend. I love excuses. :) Happy New Year, bff. I love you. :)

sol said...

love the analogies! I know the feeling of the roadrunner type...somewhere and somehow, I'm the tortoise type now and I love it! I can think of a few reasons why the change in this lifestyle. but there will still be days of mad rushing through errands and such.

I took up traveling as my hobby, I just wish I had more money to afford more of my hobby ;)

xo

lislynn said...

I hear ya! One of my New Year resolutions this year is to spend more time just simply enjoying my kids...

Mandy said...

Good for you - stopping to take time to slow down. Remember that I post a lot of baking recipes on my site, even some lightened up, healthier stuff too! :-) Hope you're having a good 2011 so far!

Mandy

Ken Devine said...

A speedy bird,eh! Actually, I bet you still are AS WELL AS spending quality time with the family.

Susan Fobes said...

It must be the weather Kelly because I have been craving sweets too-we are on our second batch of brownies and already finished homemade candy and a chocolate cake!

Jenners said...

You are playing with fire with that baking!!!!! : )

And I like the idea of putting up stop signs to make me slow down ... though Mr. Jenners would argue I have too many up already.

Betty Manousos said...

Love that you decided to be an amateur baker!

B xx