How I Began to Slow Down and Simplify (Part 2 - Time)

Last week we looked at how slowing down for me began with money. Unfortunately, it took me longer to slow down with my time. This really looked like learning to drive, and I got whiplash quite often.

Realize There’s a Problem

Having two children within fourteen months automatically made me busy. At the time John worked by the airport. Since we lived north of the city, his commute was brutal. He’d leave the house around 5:30 am and get home after 6 pm.

That meant that all the burden of getting the kids up, out the door, and to my mom’s so I could get to work landed on me. It also meant I had to pick them up, make dinner, and feed them before John even got home. We were both exhausted - all the time.

There was a period of time where there were health issues left and right. John, my dad, and my mom were all sick at one point. I was doing all I had done before, plus trying to navigate the various health crises.

Since the kids were older, we had activities like dance, soccer, and piano. I was still trying to work so I had to find someone to keep the children if Mom couldn’t. We had also started homeschooling so I had to plan and make sure school happened.

I honestly don’t know how I got through that time period. I remember there was A LOT of prayer. A LOT. My prayers looked like SOS flares going up continuously.

Make a Hard Choice

I remember early on knowing I should stop working. So many of my problems would go away, and my schedule would slow down if I did that, but then who would I be?

I would be a stay-at-home homeschooling mom, and I didn’t like that identity. It took time for me to realize that was not my identity; but nonetheless, at the time I didn’t want to be “just a homeschooling mom”.

God had to work on my heart and soul for two years. Finally, we had made it through all the health crises. Life was at a point that I could have continued working.

There was one snag, I felt God calling me to homeschool full time, and the calling had been confirmed over and over again. It was time to quit my job and become a stay-at-home homeschooling mom.

Reap the Benefits

It was amazing. Eliminating my job (and my desire to be known as a working mom) created a slow down for which I will be eternally grateful. It did not eliminate stress, but it opened up time for a lifestyle that allowed for space in our day.

We were able to get our school done, spend time with friends, do things together as a family, and I wasn’t stressed over simple things like making dinner and cleaning the house.

Over time John’s career kept blossoming so we are able to take vacations and go out to eat. I still shop at Walmart, but I don’t have to take things out of my cart now. Choosing to be satisfied with less and spend less, allowed me to stay home, which allowed our schedule to slow down and not be so frantic.

I wish I could say that it had been a grand plan I prayed about and God revealed to me then I obediently followed. It was a grand plan, and God did reveal it to me, but I had no idea what was going on at the time. It’s only in hindsight that I see the wisdom in the steps we took and realize God was guiding us the whole way.