I am going to start a small segment of book reviews. I have read some books this year and have gotten a couple of ideas from each of them...but then forget the book title or exactly what it was about so here it goes:
Overall Rating: 7/10
Overall the read was easy and the author discussed actionable items to do to take advantage of those small minutes that moms (primarily) have throughout the day! She did not focus on the time that she is enjoying with her kids...so sometimes it sounded like she was just waiting to put the kids to bed to do her own activities. Overall a good book to remind us what we are doing with our 'extra' time.
The Fringe Hours was a book primarily geared towards Christian moms. I heard about it on a recommendation book club that I signed up for but did not get to attend. The author discusses how moms can feel guilty from taking time off.
A few questions I jotted down for myself were the following:
> Keep a watch for those imperfect moments
>What am I letting go of, in order to do the things I want to do?
> How do I take care of myself? What can I give myself permission to do?
I was listening to this audiobook right after having dropped my toddler to daycare and as I was walking my newborn. I felt guilty of that. I felt guilty because I am on maternity leave...and although I had told myself that it would be good for my toddler to go to pre-school to keep his routine, I also felt guilty that I was only spending time with one of them. I have thought again...and I am giving myself permission to just bond with my newborn and to be fully with both of them in the morning or right when I pick him up.
The author describes that there are pockets of times that add up to a lot over the days. For example in the morning, before everyone wakes up, or if you are waiting before the doctors appointment, or right after the kids go to sleep.
Do you know what you do with that time?
Because a lot of times I automatically scroll through my phone...and there are other things I could be doing! I used to love to take my book everywhere! Now just my phone.
She calls us to be prepared for those moments. For example just keeping your journal in the car or carrying a light book in your purse.
These are actionable things that I can do.
If you don't know what to do...the author invites us to be curious. Is there something that you enjoyed doing when you were a kid? Can you go back to that? Is there a class you could take, or someone that knows and is good at doing that thing?
I've been thinking...and although I'm even just starting to form a routine for having TWO boys...I know I am planning to take a pottery class next year. I am looking forward to that. I also want to carve time for a monthly massage.
What are you carving time to do for yourself?
