I mentioned last week that I plan to start a new series called Building a Soft Place to Land. I meant it when I said that I hope it will be a dialogue. Mostly because if it’s all up to me, this will be a seriously short-lived series.
So before we get started, I’d love to hear about some of the things that you struggle with in your effort to create a home for your family. I’ll go first.
I struggle with:
- My attitude – This “creating a home” thing doesn’t come naturally to me so I can easily get grumpy about the whole thing.
- Being consistent in planning and cooking meals for my family
- Keeping things tidy
And that’s just the beginning. It’s your turn. Go.
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I have to say, Hello my long-lost twin!! I have the exact same struggles – it really is like you took the words out of my mouth.
The hard part for me is that I can have a really good day or two, and then in a matter of a few short hours, everything is back to disaster mode.
I know my hubby would love to see some consistency.
Hands down…meals! I don’t enjoy cooking. That may have something to do with being harassed by four precious children while trying. I don’t know…I’m just sayin. Definitely something I need to work on!
My challenge is to SIMPLIFY. I’m an empty nester, with a much beloved hubby of 38 years, 3 kitties that make me smile, and a dear Tennessee Walker Horse that melts my heart. I struggle with my desire to live a simplier, humblier home life, less house, less possessions, less fuss. Hubby likes big house, more stuff. We don’t live fancy, but still I feel weighted down by THINGS.
I want to transition to the “two spatula” lifestyle. Let me explain – I have 5 spatulas in my utensil drawer, we need two: one for the cast iron skillet, one for the non-stick. Hubby likes one for pancakes, one for this, one for that, and pretty soon you have 5 spatulas when you really only NEED two. Maybe even ONE would do it all…
I want to create THAT home, where life is simple and we want less, are CONTENT with less.
Blessings ~ Eileen @ Star’s Fault
s struggle with tiredness, over committing to things and then getting grouchy because I haven’t got the washing sorted
that’s the tip of the iceberg…but I’m pleased to say meal planner I have down to an art with the aid of my crock pot and OAMC I never really have to worry too much about what’s for dinner
Sarah
I think everything has already been covered!
Feeling at times overwhelmed by it all, yet feeling guilty as I am able to be a sahm, and that is such a privilege.
I want to enjoy these years, not spend the time nagging the kids to pick up after themselves!
I struggle with being content. We have a beautiful home in a great neighborhood, and it works very well for our family. Yet I’m constantly focused on all the little things I want to change, which takes away the enjoyment of the everyday.
it’s all difficult at different times. Sometimes I excel in one area, but then slack and struggle in another. It changes all of the time for me.
Meal planning and organization are big ones. My counter top gets seriously cluttered because I can’t find a good solution for the day to day junk.
Meals!! I have a hard time planning this. See Im a people pleaser and that means trying to make something that everyone will eat. Not as easy task with two teenagers and a 8 year old. When I do plan ahead its wonderful. Im trying very hard not to use fastfood as an escape plain. Also not an easy task. Im looking forward to hearing your plans. Maybe with your help and ideas I just may enjoy cooking again. Have a good one~
I definitely struggle to keep things picked up, sometimes it looks like a bomb exploded with children’s toys everywhere.
(I also detest cleaning – that probably doesn’t help.)
Probably my biggest struggle is time management, I can have the best of intentions but loose them all in what seems like minutes but is actually hours.
Also, I despise doing laundry! I don’t know what it is, but folding and ironing clothes drives me insane!
I agree with the whole meal planning thing…I just can’t seem to take the time to sit down and put together a weekly meal plan so that I know what we are going to ahead of time instead of scrambling at 5 pm. I try to do a nightly tidy so that the house isn’t a mess when I wake up in the morning…but I am inconsistent about the big weekly clean. The other thing I struggle with is indecision…I am afraid to start a project and then end up not liking it….so I wait and wait and wait and up looking at that can of paint that I purchased last May in hopes of repainting the powder room…does it ever end! Great idea for a post and series!
I struggle with prety much everything – healthy meal planning, keeping things in their place, organizing, things to do with the kids, my attitude, how to balance everything, the list goes on & on.
I can't wait for the series….I love your blog!
I would have to say meal planning. The whole process of it, choosing what to make, grocery shopping (Ugh! hate it), then cooking it. I dislike meat so it’s a constant struggle for me to handle and cook meat. I’d be happy if we could just all eat cereal every night…why won’t they go for that?
I have trouble with setting limits with the kids and getting serious about chores…I tend to let the kids walk all over me…then wonder why they don’t take me seriouly….
Let’s see, I have a list of struggles: Housework-its boring, meal planning-boring and takes f.o.r.e.v.e.r, and my biggest one is that decorating does not come naturally to me, and I would much rather be having fun outside than be inside. but I also think if my house was a place I enjoyed, it might be different. I look forward to reading your ideas.
My stuggle is the me time. I get so busy with keeping the house clean and trying to spend “quality” time with the kids that I never take time for me and after a few weeks I have a really clean house and all folded laundry and I am unhappy.
MERCY! as Jen said, this series has definitely struck a cord with many moms.
I actually have meal planning and laundry somewhat under control and will email you with what I do so that you can share some alternatives. I don’t have my own blog (yet? – still praying about whether it would jsut cause me to waste MORE time on the ‘puter or if would help me clear my brain!).
ANYWAY, my struggle is with my attitude toward my kids. Too many times, I’m snapping at them and letting “them interfere with my to do list.” My heart breaks when I think that I have probably left them (4 from age 4-11) with the impression that my to do list is more important then them. I want them to never doubt that I love them and that they are my priority. I dont’ want them to remember always having a clean house but having a Mom who loved them, played with them, listened to them, read to them, talked to and with them.
Cleaning! Yuck yuck yuck. Especially the bathroom. I always have to emergency clean before people come over, and that is stressful!
Staying on track. I am amazed at how little it takes to throw me off track. I no I do not suffer from ADD but I meal plan for a few weeks, keep my housekeeping up for a few weeks, and then one little thing and I am off track and I struggle to get back..
1. Waking up consistantly.
Sometimes its at 5:30 other times 9:30.
2. Being grumpy! I can be a grumpy grump face.
3. Taking care of myself. I don’t remember the last time I pampered myself. There’s not enough time!
Time management
Budget constraints
Keeping the house tidy and organized
We would amen all your struggles!! It seems there are never enough hours in the day!!!
blessings,
kari & kijsa
Keeping all six of us organized!!! Boy o boy does that one bite me in the butt.
Meal planning is another biggie. What’s for dinner tonight? Oh, crap the meat is still in the freezer!! Yeah, that’s me. Working on it though.
My biggest struggle is meal times, I did ( & must get back in the habit of) doing a 7 day meal roster, it made life so much easier, with then only 1 trip to the supermarket & a top up once or twice for fresh fruit & veges depending on what we are having.
My other issue is putting away the washing after it has beed washed & dried, it usually ends up in a big pile on the floor in our bedroom. I am going to designate 1 night per week wich will be purely for making sure the housework stays up to date
Sarah xxx
Shabby Roses & Pretty Things
I have a hard time doing it all at once. I can either have clean laundry and dinner on the table, or we can do all our school work and have no paper piles everywhere. Apparently it’s not possible to do both in my little world.
I struggle:
-keeping up with everything I want to do in creating/keeping my home: meal planning, activities with the kids, clutter-control, decorating, chores
-keeping my focus long enough to follow through on tasks
-developing and maintaining organization systems…so I have more time to work on new ideas.
ditto.
ditto.
and
ditto.
please, please help
can’t wait to read your series! thanks!
I know I am a little late here, but I wanted to jump on the bandwagon and share what my struggles have been and are. I think for me the biggest problem is that there is a pervading sense of unsettled-ness in my home. Being a military family we move alot. This time in my life feels almost like my own personal 40 years in the desert, just wandering around waiting for a home. I get lost in dreams of an idealistic future and all that I could and will do when we are settled, and miss out on the now and all that I could make of it.
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