The Abundant Wife

“How do you DO it all?”

I have to smile whenever someone asks me this question, because I know that I really don’t “DO it all.”  I think bloggers in general fall under the misconception that we do more than most people, because our lives are posted on the Internet for all to see.  (By the way, with the help of WordPress I can schedule blog posts weeks in advance.  I can sit down to write when I have the time, and stay away from the computer completely for days if necessary.)  In reality, bloggers don’t necessarily DO more than others, they just photograph it and write about it afterward.  Like everyone else, choosing to DO one thing, means that I am choosing not to DO another thing.

Here are a few of things I DO:

• I stay home with 2 toddlers all day.  I take them to the library once a week, I cloth-diaper them, bathe them, read to them, clean up after them, and prepare 3 meals a day for them.  I set and clear the table for every meal, wash the day-time dishes, put away all the dishes, and put away clean clothes.
• I read 1-3 books a month, read my Bible and write in my journal daily, and write 3-4 blog posts a week.  I take lots of photos and some videos.
• I keep our finances and schedule in order.  I see that everyone attends scheduled appointments, and cut everyone’s hair myself.  I do all the accounting, budgeting, and bill-paying for our family.
• I keep our home organized and attractive.  I do minor home-improvements, and keep our home guest-ready for the numerous social events that occur in our home weekly.
• I help my husband with his youth ministry responsibilities, from attending and hosting youth events to assisting with administrative chores.  I write update letters, take photographs and video, and occasionally find deals for him.
• I go grocery shopping once a week, and attend church and one Bible Study each week.  I call my parents once a week, and at least once a year we fly home to Maryland to visit our families.

However, there are a lot of things I have chosen not to DO:

• I don’t sew, scrapbook, craft, or even create my own artwork very often.
• I don’t wash our laundry, hang it to dry, or fold it.  I don’t do the dinner dishes, mow the lawn, or garden.  I don’t do our taxes.  (Thanks Brad for doing all of those!)
• I don’t clean the bathroom, vacuum, sweep, or mop the house more than once a week.
• I don’t buy organic or gluten-free foods, shop at multiple stores, or shop more than once a week.  I don’t even coupon or play the drugstore game much these days.
• I don’t currently have a newborn baby, I am not currently homeschooling, and I do not have to drive my kids to numerous extra-curricular activities.  I do not work outside of our home, get my hair professionally styled and cut, or exercise regularly.  For most of our date nights, we stay home and have our “date” after the kids are in bed.
• I don’t watch TV or read many magazines.  I don’t blog daily, and I don’t keep up with the ever-changing fashion trends.
• I don’t bake my own bread, and I still have not fully utilized the possibilities of crockpot-cooking and freezer-cooking.

There are only 24 hours in each day, so each of us must choose what to do with those hours.  Recently I have been reminded again that “Comparison is the Thief of Joy” and that saying “No” is not always a bad thing.  If you find yourself envying others, and wondering how they “DO it all,” take some time to reevaluate your priorities.  Are you making the time to DO the things that you value most?  If so, then be content with what you DO, and don’t worry about the things that you don’t DO.

What are some things that you have chose to DO or not DO at this time in your life?