Don’t let August be the hardest, time to refresh and reset!
Ummmm do you realize it is AUGUST????? Seriously?? Where has the year gone? And what is even crazier, I just added all the football, cross country, soccer, and music schedules to our calendar…..And well..see ya later 2022! LOL! I am happy that my children can have a balance of farm work, sports, school, and whatever else is thrown their way. But what it creates is an exhausting schedule and mom.
So what do I do? Tell my kids no? Even though saying no would make my life easier, (And I do in some cases) that would not be the best decision for everyone. I’m a firm believer that it takes a village to raise a child and I enjoy watching my children work with their coach to learn a new sport, being a team player, and having fun! Let’s face it; I’m not raising the next generation of professional athletes, but my goal is to raise well-rounded individuals.
When school starts, you are so busy you subconsciously become a survivor of the fall semester! No one deserves to JUST survive. We, moms, are juggling working our own job, house duties, school schedules, practices, games, celebrations, and the almighty unexpected! So what do I do to keep my sanity?
Keep a planner! On Sunday afternoons, I brain dump everything that has to get done for the week. The list can contain appointments, farm stuff, house organization, …As much as I can predict! Then Sundays after dinner we have a family meeting. I know this sounds over the top, but just hear me out. We talk about schedules, kids bring up any projects that need to finish, and I bring my list. We discuss as a family how we are going to complete the tasks for the week. If this seems daunting to you, start simply with, as a family, discussing a plan for meals that week. Our home motto is it takes all six of us to keep this farm and house running. And if you want clean underwear you need to pitch in. :-)
Meal prep….ugh! This is a tough one for me too. I want my family to eat healthier, but prepackaged items are SO much more convenient. But prepackaged means more preservatives, salts, and simply not knowing what is in our food. Twice a month I work to make a few of my kids' favorite breakfast items because in our house breakfast has the least thought on health. It's a pop tart and milk and on thier way. Here are a few of my favorites to prep for breakfast for my family! I hope these recipes can help you! And if you want more recipes, comment below and I would be happy to share! I have tons of shortcuts and 30-minute meals to share. The few I shared are recipes that I know my kids will eat and are simple and do not suck a bunch of time.
Take some time to reflect. It is literally a countdown to Christmas! YIKES! And August-December is like a wrecking ball of emotions! For me, it is the twin's last year of elementary school. I have already notified them both that I will be emotional at their last of everything this year! But it is also the first and last year of having all four kids in the same school. Add on farm life, sports, other organizations I’m part of, birthdays, etc! With the days getting shorter, find time to reflect on how you are. And if you want to really concentrate on this, journal it! Something about putting pen to paper really makes ideas concrete and more tangible.
Sometimes dressing up in my favorite dress and going out with my husband and friends is the type of reflecting I need. Everyone’s needs are different. Find your happiness!
Meal prep does not have to be hard it could simply be washing and cutting up all the fruits and veggies for the week. These small tasks can give you more time during the week to relax!
These three tasks truly keep my sanity from week to week. There is less gray area of what is expected. Such as who is picking up who from practice, the million dollar question…what’s for dinner?... Is the uniform clean for game time? Also If you have an off week and do not get to meal prep, or plan the weekly schedule…It is ok! Try to be better the next week. It happens… Believe me! I have more weeks unplanned than I would like to admit. And those weeks I feel like I’m running around like a chicken with its head chopped off…. Try to make good habits, make time for yourself to reflect, and try some of my easy recipes to help save time and give a better option for your whole family!
Hope this inspires you!
Carrie