Intention Words: 2011

My very first post here at Pearls & Blue Jeans was about my intention words for 2009. The intention word idea was important enough to me that I created an entire blog just to share them. (Nevermind that I didn't post again for over a year.) I didn't post mine for 2010 because, well, I was frankly too exhausted. My daughter was 3 months old at the turn of the new year. I didn't even know which end was up at that point, let alone think about my hopes and dreams for the coming year.

This year I have a little more time to focus on those hopes, dreams and priorities. I've given a lot of thought to my intention words this year and it all boiled down to one word: Simplify.

At Home: I had a perfectly laid out homekeeping plan when we made the decision for me to be a stay-at-home mom. Monday I would do this. Tuesday that. Wednesday something else and so on. That lasted approximately 14.2 minutes before I realized that I hadn't taken the time to factor a child into the equation. I promptly ditched that plan and have been flying by the seat of my pants ever since. I think I've done a fairly good job of keeping up with the housework in the year that I've been a full-time mom and my husband frequently commends me on my efforts. However, it's something I stress about constantly. I actually enjoy cleaning and organizing. Time management is the hard part. Looking at the big picture is overwhelming and I think this is the cause for my homekeeping stress. Simplifying my list by breaking everything down into daily, weekly, monthly and seasonal categories will help me accomplish more and stress less. I feel confident that I can keep the list more realistic and liveable this time around I have a year of stay-at-home-mommyhood under my belt.

In addition, I'd like to simplify our home in the most literal sense. I want to clear the physical clutter. It's going to be an ongoing task that lasts the whole year and possibly even later. I know doing so will be freeing. It will also help make homekeeping easier because the best way to keep up with "stuff" is by having less of it.

As a Wife: Now that we're parents, I think it's easy for my husband and I to put so much energy into parenting that we lose a little bit of ourselves as a couple. I love my daughter with everything I've got in me. I also love my husband with my whole heart and soul.  I want to have more date nights. I want to write him more love notes. I want to find a time when I can really listen to him rather than just hearing him talk and nodding while I'm cleaning the kitchen or wiping a snotty nose. I don't want to lose site of the things that made me fall, and stay, in love with him.

As a Mother: Whoever said "The days are long, but the years are short." in regards to being a mother really knew what they were talking about. My daughter turned one in October of 2010. It seemed like it happened in the blink of an eye. One minute I had made the recliner my permanent home to nurse her on demand and the next she had become her own little, somewhat independent person. I can't slow time, but I can savor it more. I want to spend more time doing nothing with her. I want to stop what I'm doing, sit on the floor and play with her for hours, even if the house isn't spotless and dinner won't be ready on time. I want to take the time to sit still and watch her. Really watch her. She's at the age where she's learning so much and discovering her own likes and dislikes. I want to take the time to do nothing more than to simply watch her be.

In my Faith: I thank God every single day that my husband and I found a church this year. It's a place where we're welcome, where God is obviously very near, where there's a big focus on youth and where we can grow as a couple. We've connected with many people at the church and have made friends quickly. We've found ourself invited to many activities, both church-sanctioned events and more social gatherings. I love all of these things and am excited about what is to come. This year, I want to bring my faith to a deeper personal level. Without giving up any of the amazing opportunities I have to share my faith with others, I also want to take more time by myself to simply do one thing...pray.

At Work:  I love my job with Weight Watchers. I care passionately about the people I'm helping, the people I work with and the mission of the company. I'm extremely blessed that my husband is able to provide 100% of what our family needs financially. I do this job because I want to and not because I have to. I don't want to lose sight of that. The flexible schedule is absolutely perfect for me given that my #1 priority right now is staying home with my little one. I'm currently working the perfect number of hours each week to be able to pursue what I love, but also spend the vast majority of my time with her. More hours are constantly being offered to me. I don't mind picking up some extra hours here and there to help someone out or cover a busy time period, but I don't want to overcommit myself out of a feeling of obligation. I want to keep this aspect of my life as simple and unstressful as possible so that I don't lose sight of why I'm there. I've never woken up, dreading going to work. I want it to stay that way. I'm there to help people. Plain and simple.

What are your intention words for 2011?