Power Moms Unite

I had a good laugh this morning, when I saw one of my Facebook friends, had joined the Facebook Addiction Disorder Group.  Keep in mind, I was laughing because over the last 2 weeks, in spite of the holidays arriving, 5 children being home from school, my husband home from weeks of intensive business travel, I have spent a ridiculous amount of time playing on Facebook.  This morning, okay this noon— (it was morning when I got on the computer) I was shocked to discover glasses and dirty plates spread across the kitchen and basement, dirty laundry strewn from the boys bathroom to the mudroom door, where mismatched gloves littered the floor.  How did my house get so trashed? … I am humbling reporting…presence…

What is presence? Barbara Sanderson, PhD in her book, Talk It Out!: The Educator’s Guide to Successful Difficult Conversations, describes many types of presence; physical,  mental, emotional, and spiritual.  “ When we are fully present we are visible and people know where we stand on important issues.  Our communications are clear and delivered at appropriate times with attention to tone and noverbal impact.”  …hmmm, I think that would help the state of my house.

Webster’s dictionary defines “presence of mind” as “the ability to think and act quickly in an emergency.”  Given I live in a house with 5 children, ages 18 months to 13 years- an emergency is always on the horizon- as evidenced by the strewn dirty laundry (my 13 year old’s desperate search for clean pants) and the mismatched gloves (my 6 year olds frantic quest for any glove, regardless of size.)

…So my New Year’s resolution?  (…and for the record, I hate resolutions because by January 30^th, I’ve blown it—and I feel like a loser) is to “be present.” I can’t complain about the state of the house or the state of the kids, if I have checked out- via Facebook or any other medium.  I suspect this will be a mighty challenge in the face of starting a non-profit and initiating my foray into blogging.  …so I will keep you updated, as I struggle to balance work, family and play in a full house of kids with ADHD…