by Kelli Bowen
All my life I have felt like I need to do more, accomplish more, work more, prove myself more. I keep myself so busy that I don’t make time for the things, and people, I should. I have friends tell me “I don’t know how you do it”, “you’re always doing things,” and the like.
I justify my work and my lack of being present a hundred ways: I’m showing my girls what it’s like to work hard, be independent, get what I need myself, this will be a good learning experience, etc., etc., etc.
Really I may just be showing my girls what it’s like to live on the edge of burnout.
I was talking with someone today about making time. He laughed and said he just turned two weeks of vacation back to his employer: he didn’t use it.
Hubby, the girls and I have been on the west side of the state almost a year. Before we moved, one of our justifications and a “Pro” for moving would be closer to the Black Hills. Hubby and I love the Black Hills (in the lesser awesome Dakota) but becoming parents made our trips much more infrequent.
As we roll up on our west river anniversary, we haven’t been to the Black Hills one time. We haven’t had our camper out in over a year. We haven’t had our boat out in two years. We haven’t made time.
We’ve been doing more, accomplishing more, proving ourselves more. Not this weekend. This weekend Hubby, the girls and I are going to make the time. It’s supposed to be quite warm on the western side of the state this weekend.
Instead of the edge of burnout, I’m going to make myself some family time and find the edge of a table with a good brunch.
Happy Mother’s Day week!
Kelli makes her home in Billings County with her husband, two daughters and a dog. She works for North Dakota's #1 tourist destination by day and tries to be an alright mom, wife, friend, and writer by night.
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