Time Starved?

Read This....(If you have time)
Better yet, make time to read this!

Available HERE.

This is truly a book I could have written. Every page rings true. Being Time Starved is something we do to ourselves or allow to happen without realizing what happened. We choose so many "good" areas to give our time to and all of the sudden...life isn't so "good".

Individuals and Families are out of balance, out of focus, and in serious need of saying NO..even to "good" things.

Raising two sets of children, in two different decades has been eye opening. The world is a very different place as am in "round 2" of parenting. The peers, parents, attitudes, activities, media, fashion, etc. is rarely, supportive of family. I meet fewer and fewer "like-minded" parents and, at times, I feel like I am on my own private island as far as the direction I want to head with my family.

More and more, I have to say NO to very worthwhile activities in exchange for:

Sitting down as a family for Dinner on weeknights, Regular exercise, Household chores, Regular scripture study, Regular bed times, Homework time, Down time...just for conversation and play, and so much MORE.

I was discussing this issue with a friend who is a wonderful example to me of focusing on faith, family, and what matters most in life. I love this following thought from her Rabbi:

(I paraphrase here and hope to do justice to this concept)

"A generation ago, it was safe to assume that everyone in your "village" (friends, school, coaches, family, media, co-workers, peers, law enforcement, etc.) was on the "same page"

Communities were supportive of strong moral values and everyone was generally headed in the same direction. Kids could ride bikes all over and moms did not have to spend all their time shuttling kids and hovering over them to make sure they were safe. If a teacher called home to tell parents that there was a problem, parents went to the school immediately and supported the teacher. (If there was a dispute, a parent never yelled at a teacher, administrator, etc. in front of their children, it was handled behind closed doors without the child seeing or knowing, thus the child still had respect for teachers and authority) Sadly, today, although rare, there are some teachers who parents just cannot get behind and support. Parents have to protect their children at EVERY turn in EVERY area.

Now...There can be no assuming that anyone in your "village" is supportive of you as an individual or as a family. It is increasingly difficult to find those who are on the "same page" as you are. Parents who are trying to raise morally strong children have less and less support from the places they had support from as children. There are fewer positive role models and fewer adults willing to volunteer their time as Coaches, Scout Leaders, Room Moms, School Volunteers, etc."

With fewer and fewer people being on the "same page" I believe this is one of the greatest causes of being "Time Starved" We do more and more while we have to chase the wolves away from the door every day. Because there are less adults volunteering to help at schools and other activities, we end up volunteering for EVERYTHING our children are involved in or EVERY worthy cause that comes along and then some, leaving little time for anything else (like what matters most).

The very people you are trying to serve and support (your family) end up being short changed because you are just TOO busy...doing things for them or trying to make the world around them a better place.

I just hope this makes sense to you, the reader. And yes, this is a PEP TALK and reminder for me to get my balance in check!

I BELIEVE THAT A TIME STARVED FAMILY IS LED BY ONE OR MORE TIME STARVED PARENTS! PARENTS HAVE TO GET BALANCED, REVIEW GOALS, AND RE-FOCUS OFTEN TO AVOID STARVING OUR SELVES AND FAMILIES OF WHAT MATTERS MOST.

THIS COMES WHEN WE STOP COMPARING OURSELVES TO OTHERS AND WHAT THEY DO OR DONT DO, ETC.

Regardless of your season in life, there is something to learn or be reminded of within these pages. You don't even have to be married or have children to appreciate this book.

"The Time Starved Family" is very well written and organized. You can skip around and read the parts that you need the most or read straight through.

The author, DeAnne Flynn is a presenter at some of the Time Out For Women events this year. We did not have her in Orlando (darn), however, I still hope to hear her speak at some point. If you have the opportunity...read her book, or take advantage of hearing her speak! It will be TIME well spent!

Have you read this book or heard the author speak?

How do you keep yourself in balance?

Do you feel Time Starved or Out of Balance too often?

Did I do justice to the Rabbi's observations?