‘The Invisible List’
Parent Edition Of To-Do’s That Aren’t Accounted For
Daisy’s water dish, her food ball, the dish soap, dishwasher pucks, wiping toothpaste off the faucet, making sure each bathroom has adequate levels of shampoo, lotion and hand soap and ensuring at least one extra roll of tickets is under the sink so that when number two happens, no one is up the creek without toilet paper.
Setting the coffee maker for the next morning, keeping an eye on the milk level, taking inventory of how many garbage bags are available, making sure school lunch snack levels are adequate, when is garbage day again?, laying out the daily multi’s, C’s, D’s and allocating drops, teaspoons and shots of other things.
Responding to school emails, computer paper is low, drying wet snow gloves, an indoor shoe is lost…shopping for more, finding creative ways to utilize left-overs so as not to waste perfectly good food, making sure the ever-emptying stock of AA and AAA batteries is topped up, class parties, thank you cards, remembering we are out of propane, birthday cards, taking down Christmas decorations, hitting up year end sales to save money for next year and checking on the stash of flossing sticks.
Between booking and going to necessary appointments, the rides to school, grocery shopping, taking Daisy for her daily walk, getting kids to activities, (helping) and running the business(es), prioritizing physical movement, logging daily financials, spending time together as spouses or partners or by self, cooking daily meals, cleanup and laundry…
Parents do stuff.
There is an endless ‘invisible life list’ when attempting to do our best with rearing children, being reasonable contributors to society, maintaining positive relationships and helping our fellow neighbours.
For me…to help mitigate the sometimes overwhelming amount of things to keep up on — even at bare minimum — a short daily walk outside is absolutely necessary.
As well, keeping up with fridge of what’s going bad and what I can use for meals because wasting food is a bane to my existence.
Drinking enough water, keeping my hygiene somewhat reasonable, staying on top of the ever growing new facial hairs as I age and making sure to spend at least 20 minutes of non-screen time with the boys are all activities that help my soul.
First and foremost before all of the above, however, is spending time in the Word to check myself, my attitude and set my mood, expectations and heart for the day.
What helps you keep your brain and spirit in check? Do you have any must-do’s to share that help keeping you going in life?
Enjoy that sun out there today, gonna be a beauty.
-Becky
