Let's Get Out Of The Rat Race!
I know that new mothers cannot imagine that in the blink
of an eye, their babies will be old enough to get married and spread their wings and fly on their own, and that's ok. New
mothers really do need some understanding--none of us are probably too old to remember the times we cried because our babies
wouldn't stop crying. But really, this isn't the point.
It's
just amazing, and I don't really think in a good way, at all of the things that clutter our lives, many with the disguise
of convenience flashing before our eyes. It's almost like we've been invaded and mesmerized by aliens!!!
Cell phones, ipods, computers, internet surfing, pagers...what else am I forgetting?
Cell phones are wonderful, especially for knowing our children
are safe, or in case of a car accident where 911 needs to be called-I've seen this scenario myself. Ipods are nice company,
especially when exercising or cleaning, computers help in many areas, and pagers are good too. But they've taken over!!!
My husband made a good point a few months ago that I'd like
to share...
It would be one thing if just a few men had laptops that they took home
and worked on. They would be the exception-they would be the ones who got ahead. But the problem is-everyone has laptops, computers
at home, cell phones, etc. So what that means is, nobody is getting ahead because everyone is doing it. Basically, we've
just allowed work to fill our entire lives. Business calls on the cell phone any time of day or night, computer work
that needs caught up, etc. etc.
My heart is just sad at the breakdown of the family-and the
neglect of togetherness that so many gadgets bring.
No one in their right mind is going to lay on their death
bed and say, "You know, I wish I would have spent more time texting my friends stupid messages." "I wish
I would have worked 85 hours a week instead of 70." "I wish I would have played on the computer more than
I played with my kids."
I've been guilty myself, and strive to do better.
I love my family, and want them to feel that they are most important. Something
as simple as sitting around playing games can be so bonding-we play a dice game called Greed-we just leave the dice on top
of the microwave and can grab them so easily, and we often do-we just need pen and paper too.
I just want to encourage everyone to leave the rat race-who likes rats anyways? I know we can't just quit our
jobs, but how about we pay off debt so we don't have to work so much? How about we turn the cell phone off when we get
home? How about we hug our kids more and put their needs ahead of the needs of a demanding life all around us? Don't
get me wrong-I think everyone knows what I mean. There are times when I don't feel like sitting down and playing a game,
but I do anyway because my children need my attention, and I don't go to bed with the guilty feelings of wishing I had taken
the time, because I did take the time.
Even if you are parents to very small children, and you cannot
imagine when you don't have to buy diapers anymore, and that the day will come when you get to sleep the entire night thru
again, make wiser decisions than some of us did when we were younger-stay out of debt, don't try to keep up with the Joneses.
The day will come when you will be glad that you were able to be with your children-and our children don't care about
stuff anyway-they really want us and our attention.
One thing I've been thankful for is that I've only worked
part time while my children are growing up. My own mother worked full time and then some--I've felt very blessed that
I haven't had to. It's meant a lot to me that I can be home a lot, and I wish the same for you.
