Rules & Guidelines

I'm thinking most people don't like to read a negative post. I understand that. That's much of the reason I hesitate to write today. But writing is also good therapy and anyone that truly knows me, knows that I am generally pretty positive and that these feelings will be fleeting.

Things around here have been rather busy, and now the crash. With the hectic schedules of sports, scouts, school activities, and end of the school year madness, I have been running around like a crazy woman trying to keep up and just barely keeping my head above water. I think it's safe to say that I'm truly 10 feet under. It became really necessary to make a rule in our home that the living room is only used for visiting guests and activities that are reverent-(ie) scripture reading, music, prayers, family meetings and home evenings. There are no toys, no lounging and no hoarsing around. These rules have helped me to truly survive.

What made me realize that there is nothing wrong in this attitude was that the children have several places where they can let out their physical energies, they don't need to have EVERY space to do these activities in. And as a bonus, it teaches them respect, reverence, and purpose.

Now when I have an unexpected guest, I'm able to take them into a room that is clean and tidy. A place that doesn't embarras them or me. I'm finding that setting rules and guidelines and enforcing them is a necessary and eternal principal. If not, there would be complete and utter chaos. So for now, I might barely be surviving, but at least I have a room that speaks calm and clean. 

And now, even when I'm just walking past, it speaks calm to me and feels like a place of peace and refuge from the craziness. This is necessary for my sanity.