All of me, some of me, none of me

I read on a blog a while ago something about "all of me, some of me, none of me" It reference the attention you give your children. This is something I've struggled with since my boys were little and now it's even harder.

All of me is when you give the children your undivided attention. Some of me is when you could be doing something in the same room or with one child but not both, but they know they can get your attention when they need it. None of me is when they do their own thing and you do your own thing.

When the boys were little my none of me time was usually nap and bedtimes. As they got a little older I could squeeze in some during tv time occasionally. But now that I go to the gym I really enjoy my none of me time. I like to know they are taken care of and having fun and I can in essence escape into my own head. I can get a good sweat on and at the same time just be Lori. I am also working on getting them to give me time at home too. Today I had them playing outside while I mopped the floor. I wanted them to play together without me and knew if they saw I was "busy" they'd be a bit more willing. I will conitnue to work on this as our days cool down and we will soon be able to have the slider open between the porch and the house.

The some of me time is still challenging, but we are getting better at this too. This often again is me cleaning or making dinner. Today we didn't put the tv on after we got back from the gym. So they had some tv time in the morning but not the rest of the day. They found lots of other things to do together which always makes me happy. I love that they can play together and don't always need me to facilitate the play anymore.

All of me time has never been hard. It is always the trying to divide the all of me between both boys and giving each one some time alone with mommy. This will come more with time I know.

I like that as they get older it is so much easier to feel more "me". To know that I can be mommy and yet have moments that I know I'm Lori. To feel that I can do things with them and apart from them and not feel guilty one way or the other. I love my boys with all my heart, I'd move mountains for them, but I also need to keep in touch with who I am... who I can be.

I hope you find time each day to have a bit of "none of me" time... it is a salvation on those crazy days.

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Today's goals:
-- go to the Y [check... I tried a new class today (Basic Fitness a combo of cardio and weights) that I really enjoyed... going to have to add this to my list!]
-- go to the grocery store [check, the boys did a great job in the store today which made life so muchhhhh better]
-- bake cookies (Blake asked to do this) [check we made sugar cookies with Cars sprinkles]
-- play outside with the boys [I did go outside with them, but I didn't play with them I brought my book out while they played]
-- work on BJ's list [oops forgot to do this, but I'm not going tomorrow so I have time]
-- make quesadillas for dinner [check!]

Tomorrow's goals:

-- go to the Y for pilates and "Colby's class"

-- lots of laundry!

-- work on BJ's list?

-- go to the Hallmark store

-- enjoy some time with Colby