Relax

Relax....
That's what I did today.
Well, if you consider 2 loads of laundry, one driveway shoveled, 4 beds made, 5 pages of math homework, 2 book-in-a-bags, 3 meals, one BSF lesson complete, 3 books read, 7 puzzles done, one floor swept, and the sheets on one bed changed, etc. relaxing...well, then, that's what I did today.

But really, I relaxed today in one area.
This morning, while getting dressed and ready for the day at 7:30 as usual, I decided that I would skip fixing my hair and putting on any amount of make-up. This is a big deal for me, since I don't remember the last time that I skipped either of those steps in the morning. It's literally been years, like maybe since Brady was a baby or something.
Amazingly enough, I felt ok about my decision all day long, and I am thinking about repeating that decision some day soon.

My relaxed morning today made me think of some other areas in my day that could also use some relaxing. I am not sure if I am ready to take a leap or not yet in these other areas, though, since I always fear not having enough time to complete my tasks, or simply not getting to them at all--I just wouldn't be ok with that.

Here is where I struggle:

I cannot walk out of a room in the morning unless the blinds have been opened and the beds have been made (this includes my own room, unless Peter happens to still be asleep or if I simply can't afford the time because the bus will be coming soon).

I have a hard time allowing any of my boys to go down the stairs until their teeth and hair have been brushed, they are dressed in the clothes that were placed on their dressers (by me, of course), and their dirty clothes are in the hamper.

I, myself, can rarely go down the stairs in the morning without either a hamper of dirty clothes in hand or a garbage can that could use a little emptying.

After making sure that Brady is safely on the school bus each morning, I have a strong obsession with jumping straight into the kitchen to empty the dishwasher, wipe down every counter top and the kitchen table, and sweep the entire kitchen floor (I follow a similar routine after lunch and dinner, but not quite to the same extreme as after breakfast).

Before I can feel comfortable with Logan playing in the basement, I feel like he has to get some homework done or some new words learned. Did you know that Kindergartners get a lot of homework? Logan has about twice as much homework as Brady, some days even more than that!

While Marshall naps each afternoon, I have about 2 1/2 hours to myself each day. This is wonderful! Some days I am able to completely relax and enjoy the time, but most days I can't. Before I can relax at all, I find myself making sure that dinner is in order for later, the bills are paid, clothes are out for the next day, my BSF lesson is done or getting done, e-mails are caught up, laundry is folded, or toys get cleaned up from the basement or living room.

This carries on even into my evenings unfortunately. Once Peter is home, I find myself hurrying once again. This time it's tackling any homework that hasn't been done yet, getting the boys in pjs and their teeth brushed, baths, sports, you name it.
Once the boys are in bed, I usually find time for a quick bath or shower, but then it's onto making Brady's lunch for school, ironing Peter's work shirts, making a grocery list, etc.

I am crazy and I know it!

Please tell me to RELAX a little! Either that, or tell me that I am not as crazy as I think I am.
Thanks.