The first month of this New Year has come and gone like a stiff west wind, fast and furious, and already the second, too, is almost done. It makes you want to stop and look at where you ended up.
We find that we forget very quickly what we had set out to do: keeping in touch with loved ones, more visits, more engagements and keeping all these commitments puts a strain on us. What should I do?
In the workplace, the supervisor who is in touch with his/her subordinates will often touch base to see how projects are moving along. My editor will not mind my saying so but an e-mail will be sent asking if I have an item for the next edition and nine times out of 10 I didn't prepare or got distracted and you can see the multiple excuses that will come up.
As the scope of work unfolds, we begin to learn how to prioritize and to put matters in some kind of order. We still may overlook or forget something along the way but that just shows you how much you actually have on your plate.
The personal engagements we have committed to are crucial in being met for any success and forward movement to happen. People are expecting that friendly phone call, they expect you for tea on Thursday afternoon, and they need pick-up for Friday's shopping and so on. As we continue in this mode of giving and caring, we begin to see that self-improvement has taken place. As we do these various tasks, we find we are doing this with a smile; we put ourselves aside for others.
Our precious little ones begin to see and recognize a pattern in the busy activities of home life. As they grow from infancy to toddlerhood to school age, things are going on. A sense of responsible behaviour is being explained and light duties are given: help your little brother/sister get dressed, hold his/her hand as you're walking to school, watch out for trucks and Ski-doos and Hondas and so on.
If any of these duties are overlooked or forgotten, what happens? There is yelling and blaming and pointing fingers at whomever. Perhaps we should have stopped to see why matters were forgotten or overlooked?
As a parent or parents, maybe we should have kept a closer eye on the situation. Maybe part of the circumstance is because we slept in as a result of a long night. We could have stopped and left the card game earlier, we could have made sure the clothing was folded or lined up for quick access. The list makes you want to stop and see how or why.
In my view, as adults, we learned a lot of the lessons mentioned as we were growing up and I think all we want to do is pass these on. Remember to do this with patience, understanding and knowing that the little ones are really trying hard. Be careful in projecting your woes on them, be careful and not blame them for what you should have done in preparation.
This is where, too, the planning and getting ready for the next trip or visit or outing has the little ones involved and included with their input. Having the sense of inclusion builds confidence and the willingness to be involved spontaneously.