- I avoid sleeping in. This makes me and everyone else feel bad. 7:30 is the latest I will lie in bed.
- I have a definite schedule. Especially when I don't feel like it, my home needs to have a rhythm to it. Knowing what we should be doing next keeps me on track and actually lessens my fatigue by keeping chaos at bay. My day is broken up into blocks--morning cleaning and breakfast, Bible time, quick clean up, lunch, clean up, table time (academics) quiet time, afternoon free-play, dinner and clean up, movie time, bedtime routine.
- I try to keep errands and appointments to one day a week--and even try to minimize those.
- I simplify. If I don't have the energy to keep up on my laundry, then I definitely do not have the energy for scrapbooking, sewing, gadding about to different activities, spending time of the phone or the computer. Although I must say that, if I do get a handle on the basics, my pregnancy months are times that I can indulge in creative activities.
- I concentrate on the basics. For me, a messy house makes me feel worse and worse. Even if I have to forgo homeschooling for a week, I will take my limited energy every day and shore up my home--catching up on the laundry, cleaning and organizing a closet or cupboard a day, washing the windows, etc. Getting my children involved in the process (even giving the 2yo a spray bottle of water and a rag) is a good way to keep them occupied and feeling included. The feeling of accomplishment is so rejuvenating!
- I have a quiet time daily. This is in early afternoon. I have trained my children that this is time for them to have quiet, too. I have found that, no matter how sleep-deprived or exhausted I am, even .5 hour in sleep will give me a boost of energy to get other things done. Of course, this is also the time when I meditate on the Word and talk with the Lord--which is the most important of all!
- This is a good time to train the younger children to take over tasks before the baby comes. This takes time and patience, but it is worth it. Children sometimes balk, but there are so many benefits to keeping them involved in daily chores.
- I don't always have to direct my children--they get the greatest pleasure if I am just "there"--paying attention to what they are doing.
- All through the day I snack lightly and drink lots of water.
- I try to get to bed at a decent hour.
- I don't fret when I experience insomnia--I try to use that time for good and be thankful.
Sherry
Posts
Sherry,
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like a great plan. I like how you don't fret about things like insomnia,but find a way to make it work for you.
Thank you for sharing!
What about morning sickness? I really would like to have another baby but there never seems to be a right time.
ReplyDeleteMy kids are allowed 1 outside activity at a time and that time is coming up soon... this spring and summer( 3 of my 5 children will be playing baseball and 1 taking a class once a week.) If the Lord were to bless me with another baby soon , I don't know how I would manage to get them to all these activities when I'm feeling sick.
I'm thinking of waiting until all those activities pass.
Dear Anonymous,
ReplyDeleteIn my humble experience, if I waited until life was smooth to have a baby, I wouldn't have even had one! And, yes, I too suffer with some pretty bad morning sickness.
At one point, I had 6 children, the oldest 9, and was pregnant and going through morning sickness with no. 7. I had to drive my dear husband back and forth to work everyday (he worked the shift from 3:00 PM to 11:00 PM, meaning I had to load up the kids in the car--car seats included--at these weird hours) plus all 6 of the children got the chicken pox--2 at a time, for 2 weeks at a time, meaning that for 6 weeks of my early pregnancy sickness I had to care for sick children. God helped me through it all, no one died, and the baby from that time is such a blessing!
Sherry
I'm glad to hear that you have experience with morning sickness. Some women don't have it or don't have it all that bad. I had it so bad last time. I just wonder how others manage to do anything when they feel like they are going to throw up just by standing up :o) let alone running around all over the place. I'm trying to just let go and trust the Lord with it but at the same time I have all those thoughts running around in my head , like is this the "responsible" thing to do, having another child. We don't have health insurance right now....I would plan to have another homebirth, Lord willing , but if the need to be in the hospital came up we would have a hefty bill to pay. I admire your trust in the Lord in this area and reading here encourages me.
ReplyDeleteand what I like is that because you are pregnant, you need more rest, and you share much more with your readers...
ReplyDeleteI suppose once the baby will be there you will be back as "before"! (much less often!):-)))))))))
Thank you so much for posting this! It was the encouragement that I desperately needed right now. I have worked hard at trying to get things organized before our new little one arrives. I recently put together a schedule and my homemaking binder, but when I couldn't seem to get things together the first few days, I was quite close to giving up. I'm going to give it a shot all over again tomorrow. I have high hopes now. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteI am 42 and longing to have another baby but my eldest is 17 and my youngest is 11.
ReplyDeleteWouldn't that be too big of an age difference? Aren't I "too old" to have more children?
Awesome! I'm not even pregnant and have been battling this for several months. Many things jumped out to me on your list. I'm going to apply them and hopefully will see a huge difference. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteGod Bless,
Karen aka Lil Momma
btw, I've always dreamed of having 14 children. I'm totally impressed & in awe. :-) You are blessed!