Comments on: Just Say No http://www.girldetective.net/?p=1038 Reading, Writing, Movies and Mothering in Minneapolis, Mostly Mon, 11 May 2026 19:59:19 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: girldetective http://www.girldetective.net/?p=1038&cpage=1#comment-8953 girldetective Thu, 16 Aug 2007 20:26:52 +0000 http://www.girldetective.net/?p=1038#comment-8953 Amen to the never-ending dialogue in my head. Oy. Just so you know I talk the talk but am full of it, I have promised Drake I'll make him a pretend mud cake for his birthday, and entered the State Fair baking contests in--wait for it--SIX categories. One would probably have been plenty. Like you, LC, I try to underschedule the kids. One thing a day, at most, or we all go bonkers. Amen to the never-ending dialogue in my head. Oy. Just so you know I talk the talk but am full of it, I have promised Drake I’ll make him a pretend mud cake for his birthday, and entered the State Fair baking contests in–wait for it–SIX categories. One would probably have been plenty.

Like you, LC, I try to underschedule the kids. One thing a day, at most, or we all go bonkers.

]]> By: Lazy Cow http://www.girldetective.net/?p=1038&cpage=1#comment-8952 Lazy Cow Thu, 16 Aug 2007 06:13:50 +0000 http://www.girldetective.net/?p=1038#comment-8952 That is my goal too: a simple life. One of the ongoing annoyances I've recently cut out is junk/advertising mail, and it is so freeing not being tempted by almost daily Sales! Specials! Must Have Deals! that used to bombard our letterbox. Now I shop only when I need something. I am quite good at saying no to school or kinder activities, unless they suit me (selfishness or self-preservation?). For instance, I'm helping out 3 days next week because it is Book Week and I want to be around all the new books! I loved helping at the Cake Stall over the weekend with the kids, but I refuse to do any gardening working bees. There are enough mothers who are martyrs out there and love telling all and sundry how "Busy" they are and how many activities their children do. I take great pride in saying how lazy I am, but my kids are rarely rushed or stressed, and have heaps of time to just noodle around and be. I'm certainly not saying I'm perfect, but I really want to be a relaxed, yet competent mother and woman. It's a constant struggle, and the never-ending dialogue in my head about the right and wrong things to do is often exhausting. That is my goal too: a simple life. One of the ongoing annoyances I’ve recently cut out is junk/advertising mail, and it is so freeing not being tempted by almost daily Sales! Specials! Must Have Deals! that used to bombard our letterbox. Now I shop only when I need something.
I am quite good at saying no to school or kinder activities, unless they suit me (selfishness or self-preservation?). For instance, I’m helping out 3 days next week because it is Book Week and I want to be around all the new books! I loved helping at the Cake Stall over the weekend with the kids, but I refuse to do any gardening working bees. There are enough mothers who are martyrs out there and love telling all and sundry how “Busy” they are and how many activities their children do. I take great pride in saying how lazy I am, but my kids are rarely rushed or stressed, and have heaps of time to just noodle around and be. I’m certainly not saying I’m perfect, but I really want to be a relaxed, yet competent mother and woman. It’s a constant struggle, and the never-ending dialogue in my head about the right and wrong things to do is often exhausting.

]]> By: girldetective http://www.girldetective.net/?p=1038&cpage=1#comment-8951 girldetective Thu, 16 Aug 2007 02:11:34 +0000 http://www.girldetective.net/?p=1038#comment-8951 Thank you for your link, and I'll add it to the post! I searched your site three times, using the terms no, quotidian, interstices and rhythm, but those didn't bring me to the post I was looking for. "Making time" is a tough post. The world would be worse off if no one volunteered, and many of the things you give as examples are joy-bringing hobbies for others. One person's cooking and baking, for example, might be another person's birding. Overall, though, you're preaching to the converted with me, as evidenced by this entry. It's been a long journey to the ready no. It has taken practice, and experience. I wonder if it comes more readily to me because I'm an oldest sibling, and am used to being bossy. Yesterday, I was at a gathering that bored and annoyed me. So I left halfway through, and went home to help my husband give the boys their baths and read books. Sometimes not doing things requires time itself, like the time I'm spending lately taking myself off mailing and delivery lists so things don't even come into the house. But the payoff of extra time for the good stuff is well worth it. Thank you for your link, and I’ll add it to the post! I searched your site three times, using the terms no, quotidian, interstices and rhythm, but those didn’t bring me to the post I was looking for. “Making time” is a tough post. The world would be worse off if no one volunteered, and many of the things you give as examples are joy-bringing hobbies for others. One person’s cooking and baking, for example, might be another person’s birding.

Overall, though, you’re preaching to the converted with me, as evidenced by this entry. It’s been a long journey to the ready no. It has taken practice, and experience. I wonder if it comes more readily to me because I’m an oldest sibling, and am used to being bossy.

Yesterday, I was at a gathering that bored and annoyed me. So I left halfway through, and went home to help my husband give the boys their baths and read books. Sometimes not doing things requires time itself, like the time I’m spending lately taking myself off mailing and delivery lists so things don’t even come into the house. But the payoff of extra time for the good stuff is well worth it.

]]> By: MFS http://www.girldetective.net/?p=1038&cpage=1#comment-8949 MFS Tue, 14 Aug 2007 18:22:57 +0000 http://www.girldetective.net/?p=1038#comment-8949 Ah, the "Making time" post. Folks either hate it (and me for writing it) or they really identify with the need to say, "No!" http://mentalmultivitamin.blogspot.com/2006/08/from-archives-making-time.html You know, of course, that I appreciate the nod / link. Sending continued good thoughts as you find the daily rhythm and dance to it. Melissa Ah, the “Making time” post. Folks either hate it (and me for writing it) or they really identify with the need to say, “No!”

http://mentalmultivitamin.blogspot.com/2006/08/from-archives-making-time.html

You know, of course, that I appreciate the nod / link. Sending continued good thoughts as you find the daily rhythm and dance to it.

Melissa

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