ML Interest Tag: grocery-shopping

3 Simple, Doctor-Approved Rules for Healthy Grocery Shopping Runs

By Missy Woodruff

Photo: PxHere

Recently a patient asked me for some very basic advice about food shopping.  A recent widower with no experience cooking for himself, his diet centered around eating one meal a day at a local diner, with cereal or canned spaghetti representing a special effort at home.

Listen Doc, I’m not looking for a cooking class, but just tell me real quick, what’s the healthiest way to eat? I mean, what do I get at the grocery store?

Knowing his limited culinary ambitions, and his genuine interest in having me cut to the chase, I offered three simple rules for healthy grocery shopping, pared down to the most minimalistic and efficient guiding principles I could think of:

#1. Keep to the outside perimeter.

In the typical store layout, all the refined, processed, packaged, chemical-laden, corporate-engineered food and snacks are stacked in the middle aisles. That’s because in the center aisles, shelf life is long and therefore nutrients are scarce. Along the outside aisles he could range free among the greens, fruits, lean meats and dairy, and avoid yellow #5 in the process!

#2. Load up on plants. 

The beautiful thing about rediscovering fruit and vegetables as food is that these can be eaten with minimal preparation, have been engineered naturally by selection over millions of years to be nutritious, and constitute the foundation of healthy eating. Cut up a red pepper and dip into hummus. Spread peanut butter on an organic gala apple. Learn to sauté garlic with greens and a pinch of salt.

#3. Eat as your great-grandparents would eat.

Surging obesity, diabetes, and even cancer rates can at least partially be attributed to a carbohydrate-heavy, over-processed food supply rife with high fructose corn syrup, hydrogenated fats, and mystery chemicals. Read the ingredients, and if they weren’t eating it in 1899 then maybe we shouldn’t either.

FYI: Eating Healthy Isn’t Cheap or Easy—But It’s Worth It

The bill might be more expensive to shop this way, especially since low quality coupon foods, frozen franken-dinners, and corn dogs of all shapes and sizes will not make it into this man’s shopping cart… but I think it is better for him to pay on the front end and enjoy the pleasant feeling of a body sustained with real foods, than to see me and all my doctoring friends, with a host of medical problems born of the modern grocery store.

Back in the day we had a tribe to show us how to pick edible mushrooms in the forest, and how to catch fish. Now we have logos and boxes featuring cartoon characters. Most of us have little time or interest in learning about nutrition, and conflicting rules about how to eat healthy.

So these were three simple rules I tried to pass off as good advice, in between my own pressured, manic bites of home-cooked leftovers as my lunch for the day… perhaps better and certainly faster than the local Mc-trough.

I'm Missy, a mother of three and a middle school drama teacher at a private school. I'm obsessed with my Vizsla (dog), traveling, and the musical Hamilton. I also enjoy writing and sharing fun parenting stories, which is what brought me here.

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How to Thrive during COVID as a Working Mom

By Dana Look-Arimoto

Photo: istock

Constant multi-tasking. Overflowing schedule. Running errands. Prepping meals. Cooking Meals. Taking care of the kids. Long days. Long nights. Being a working mom has never been easy. And COVID threw a giant monkey wrench into our carefully cultivated routines. Now, everyone’s home—all the time—and somehow we’re still supposed to keep this operation running like before?

Working moms, listen up! I know we’ve all developed our systems and routines to fit our lifestyles, and are very proud of what we’ve been able to achieve with them. But we are in uncharted waters now. We can’t keep trying to manage things the way we did before.

And change is upon us again as some states start to open up with restrictions, and we will probably experience change once again in the coming months.

But never fear! There are ways to thrive in these turbulent times if you’re willing to make trade-offs. Here are four key steps that will help you manage the increased stress and responsibilities resulting from COVID:

1. Say No. Alright, let’s start with the hardest one. You’re going to have to say no to some things. I know, I know. As a working mom, it often feels like the world is expecting you to hold it up on your shoulders, and any utterance of the word “no” will cause it to collapse on top of you. This is fiction! The reality is that adapting to the changes taking place is not all on you, and you’re allowed to say no. In fact, I’m requiring it. You have to say no to things that de-energize you, even if they didn’t before the pandemic. For example, if you enjoyed, or at least didn’t mind, doing the dishes after dinner but now the activity leaves you drained, don’t do it!

Now, this doesn’t mean to just let those things drop (although I have seriously considered switching to paper plates). Bring in the family and divide up the household chores. Maybe you cook dinner but your son/daughter loads the dishwasher after. Or you can put the laundry into the washer and dryer, but your partner can fold and put away the clothes once they’re done. If you have younger kids, here are some age-appropriate chores so you won’t have to re-do the dishes after your five-year-old does them.

2. Ask for Help. This is a very crucial point and it ties into the previous point. If you take nothing else away from this article, remember this: asking for help is okay. It took me a while, and quite a few meltdowns, to learn this lesson, but admitting when you need assistance and reaching out is not a sign of weakness or defeat. No one is making it through this alone. Start by asking for and offering support in your own home. Then once you have a good system there, reach out to ask and offer help in your community and neighborhood, and, finally, at your workplace. The only way we get through this is together.

For me, one of the ways I ask for help is after I get home from grocery shopping (mask and all), one of my daughters or my husband helps me unload the car and put everything away. It’s a small task but not having to do all that alone, or at all, gives me a little breathing room and support.

3. Do Not Wait for Burnout. Just because the world has gone crazy, doesn’t mean we get to ignore our mental health. Not only is burnout still around, but it is going to sneak up on your like never before if you’re not careful. Before COVID, I was the type of person who had no problems focusing and could sit down and work for hours on hours without needing a break. In the past few months, I find myself often staring out the window, my mind a hazy blank. There’s just so much going on that it’s overwhelming us mentally, whether we consciously realize it or not. So, make sure you are taking time to relax and practicing some de-stress exercises.

4. Split up Roles and Responsibilities at Work. Task sharing doesn’t stop at home, although it is a little trickier at work. But that doesn’t mean it can’t be done! Splitting up your responsibility at work can seem really scary because we want to seem in control and completely fine at work. So, how can we tell a co-worker or boss, “Actually, could you or someone else handle this?” First, you have to remember that if you overwhelm yourself with tasks just for the sake of having a lot of tasks, your performance will suffer. We’ve got more on our plate than usual outside of work so adding to it is just going to make it overflow. If you know a specific task at work is not your forte, see if a colleague who enjoys this type of work is willing to take it on, or trade the task for something you love. Splitting up tasks like this sets you and your team up for long-term success.

Dana Look-Arimoto is a mom of two daughters, four dogs, and the founder and CEO of the leadership and executive coaching company, Phoenix5th. As an international speaker, author of Stop Settling, Settle Smart, and the host of “Settle Smarter” podcast, Dana is working to help people everywhere achieve work-life integration.

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8 Easy Ways to Get Your Kids to Eat More Vegetables

By Suzan Chiang

When my son was younger, he used to say, “Mmm, mommy, this is delicious! Can I have more broccoli?” In his extraordinary growing aptitude of learning what fresh vegetables and fruit meant to a healthy mind and body, my young son was interested in almost every kind of veggies and fruit. Now, several years later, something changed to his palate and now only enjoys certain kinds of veggies. While he still loves a plethora of fruit such as pineapple, mango, apples, and berries, his taste for vegetables has dramatically changed.

It’s true that our palates and tastes change as we go through different stages in life. I once used to enjoy mushy textured fruits, but after pregnancy, I couldn’t bear the texture. I’d assume the same goes for most children in that their parents fed them various types of vegetables just to get some nutrition into their bodies and perhaps teach them about eating healthy. That was mostly what I did for my son—got him to try all kinds of vegetables and force-fed him a few of the not so popular ones. And then I realized that was probably the downfall. I found what my son liked and I kept giving them to him. In turn, he grew tired of the taste and flavor and now won’t even touch them. 

So, I learned a few tricks along the way and I’d like to share them here with you. These are all fairly easy ways to incorporate more veggies into your children’s life.

1. Let them know at a young age that fresh veggies are best. Give them vegetables that are easy to recognize and available such as carrots, broccoli, and lettuce. If they see these common vegetables in their meals, they’ll think it’s just a normal part of eating.

2. Expand your kid’s palates by adding more vegetables such as corn, spinach, and sweet potatoes into their meals. Try fresh corn from the cob or frozen, and try sweet potatoes Tempura-st‌yle.

3. Take your kids grocery shopping with you. Let them touch and smell the various vegetables in the market. Then have them choose 1 or 2 vegetables they’ve never tried before. If kids have the power to choose, they will most likely be interested in eating them.

4. Don’t limit your child’s taste for veggies. Don’t be afraid to let them try a rare or unusual vegetable such as rhubarb or kohlrabi. Sometimes the most unusual vegetable has the most nutritional benefit.

5. Let your child help you with cooking. Depending on the age, have them help you chop vegetables or peel them. The hands-on technique helps strengthen the relationship between making your own food and enjoying eating them.

6. Let your kids plant a mini garden of vegetables. Easy to grow vegetables are radish, carrots, and bell peppers. Depending on the climate and area, these typically grow within a couple of months.

7. Let your kids see that they can add vegetables to their smoothies. Add mild-tasting vegetables such as spinach and daikon. And more vibrant ones such as beets and carrots.

8. And what’s the best way to show them that? Eat them yourselves, of course! If they see their parents or siblings eat vegetables on a daily basis, then they’ll think it’s the most natural thing in the world to do.

I am a mom first and foremost. I might not be a supermom, but I am constantly learning and growing.Topics I stand with are parenting, the environment, and living a healthy and happy lifest‌yle. I work at an elementary school and I have 30 years experience in the health industry.

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ALDI to Expand Curbside Grocery Pickup Availability to Nearly 600 Stores

by Jennifer Swartvagher

ALDI is making grocery shopping easier as we head into the summer months. The popular store will be expanding its Curbside Grocery Pickup to offer even more options to customers. After a successful pilot in select markets, Curbside Grocery Pickup will be available in nearly 600 ALDI stores across the country by the end of July.

ALDI Curbside

“Our Curbside Grocery Pickup pilot was quickly embraced by our customers and demand for this service has continued to increase. We’re pleased to be bringing this service to customers across 35 states over the next several weeks,” said Jason Hart, CEO, ALDI U.S. “We are always looking for ways to make the ALDI shopping experience even more convenient and accessible for everyone. Whether shopping in-store, or online for delivery or pickup, we’ll continue to be here to safely serve our customers.”

At shop.ALDI.us, customers can access the full selection of ALDI exclusive products and exciting ALDI Finds.  To find the nearest ALDI store that offers Curbside Grocery Pickup, please visit shop.ALDI.us or open the ALDI mobile app. Shoppers simply fill their online carts with fresh and affordable products and select a pickup time and location at checkout. Designated parking spots are clearly marked when they arrive at their ALDI and an employee will load groceries into their car.

—Jennifer Swartvagher

Featured photo: ALDI

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Finding Your Goodness During Quarantine

By Amelia Johnson

Every day I sit across from my son’s face, and watch him do zoom calls with his class. This time, this weird strange time has brought about so many different emotions and feelings inside of all of us. Some have found that they can handle it. They can get through, and some have found that it’s just too much.

Mostly I’ve seen bread. So much baking. The virus has changed our world in so many ways, for the better and for the worse. We have found love in many different places that we didn’t think we could find it—in our neighbors, in stores, in delivery people, and mail carriers. Everyone has had to step up their kindness game. There are acts of love every day I see on my walk. Chalk on the ground telling you to keep going, that there is a universal love, that we’re all in this together. Neighbors checking in on the elderly, asking if they can do grocery shopping, their cars washed, if they need anything. Delivery people with masks and gloves, risking their lives to keep going for you!

I have figured out the things that work and don’t work for us, and I guarantee it’s not the same for everyone, but it helps to hear stories. It helps to find the goodness or the good moments in the day or week. Homeschooling is hard for me—mainly because I am not a teacher and I have a precious son who wants me to be a part of every single assignment—but also because I have a 5th grader who’s common core math is way above my head.

The other hardest thing for me has been navigating grocery shopping and cooking (and baking) for my son with celiac. I used to have a grocery routine. I would go to three different stores to find the right gluten-free food product. Now, I mostly count on grocery delivery and some of them don’t get it right. Although this is a minor problem in the overall world right now, it’s been a bit of a challenge. And, baking gluten-free (which I want to do as stress relief) isn’t going too well.

I am lucky. I know that every day. But navigating the world now and the whole way of finding the stuff that is needed to sustain a gluten-free diet is just different and hard. I have had many missteps, and my poor family has eaten it with smiles. “Oh Mom this is good!” But it was not good—I tried it myself, but I think they know that everything is hard now and want me to feel okay too. I did make one amazing gluten-free deep dish pizza though!

We have tried to keep busy with crafts, online museums, shows of love and gratitude online, and connecting with friends and loved ones through Zoom and Facetime. Drive-by birthdays and zooms have become the norm, and do bring love and happiness to my kid’s faces. We made armor out of the cardboard boxes that we got (after leaving them to quarantine outside for three days.) We have put up messages with Magna-Tiles on the garage door about the virus (they stick because they are magnetic.) We’ve caught lizards in the backyard, and made cards and love notes to send to many of our friends and family so they know we’re there for them.

Try, try try, I implore you to find a moment in a week for yourself, to have a self-love moment. We all need it. We all need the seconds in the day where we can say, I’m doing my very best, I’m working as hard as I can at keeping a normal house, a normal-ish life.  Even if it’s a bathroom break that’s a bit longer than usual. Take that time for yourself. You’re doing great!

 

I am a stay at home mom with two kids who are 9 and 11. My family is one of the most adventurous that I know. We believe in learning through experiences! I started a website about interesting places we have found in Los Angeles to do with kids. 

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Now OpenTable Lets You Reserve a Time to Go Grocery Shopping

by Jennifer Swartvagher

Grocery stores are reducing the number of patrons to further enforce social distancing rules. OpenTable has partnered with participating grocery stores to limit how many people are shopping at a given time. Just like you can make a restaurant reservation or join a waitlist, now you can reserve your shopping time or join a virtual line in the OpenTable app.

There are two ways to utilize OpenTable’s new service. You can reserve your shopping time. Just like when you reserve a table at a restaurant, you can reserve a time to enter a store. You can also join an online waitlist if you haven’t pre-reserved your time slot. Instead of standing in a physical line outside of the store, you can enter a code on your phone to join a waitlist. Then you can wait for your notification while you sit in your car, away from any crowds.

grocery shopping mask

Reserved shopping times are rolling out in San Francisco and Los Angeles, and they’ll be coming to more stores soon. You can access the list right on the groceries page in the OpenTable app.

—Jennifer Swartvagher

Featured photo: Anna Shvets from Pexels

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A Love Letter Home: I’ve Been Where You Are

By Elizabeth Quon

As an American ex-pat I’ve often joked about living in the future and being 13-14 hours ahead of my parents in New Orleans, we pretty much are. But now I’m truly seeing what it’s like to be ahead in time as the U.S. begins to face what we’ve been living with for weeks. Yes, I’m talking about the new Big C: COVID-19.

I’ve been pretty quiet about the pandemic on social media, choosing to focus on my virtual 5K, silly memes, and thoughtful quotes. For one, it seemed enough people were speaking up already and if I said my piece, would I be contributing? Would I be helping in any way? The long and short of it is absolutely not. I’m not a doctor. I don’t work for any government. I’m a wife and mother and have been for over twenty years.

I guess this makes right now my time to shine because I can speak up and tell you what certain parts of your future will probably look like. While I certainly don’t have all the answers, I have practical knowledge on some things, and if I can offer reassurance in any way, make suggestions that can lessen what you feel weighs heaviest on you, then I’m glad to do my part.

At the end of February when the Prime Minister of Japan requested all schools across the nation close through the end of March, asking people to work remotely, you would have thought the end was nigh. It’s a now-familiar scene to you all, you’re experiencing it currently.

But it didn’t take long for things to settle. After the initial few days, the hoarding craze dissipated. The city grew much quieter, subways grew emptier, festivals and celebrations were canceled. In Japan, encouraged (not enforced) social distancing was put into effect, so I understand what you are seeing, what you are hearing, what you are experiencing. Like grocery shopping, several areas of life have returned with a sense of normalcy, and we’ve been checking on one another, maintaining support, but continuing to be considerate in our day to day.

Oh yes, we’re also still washing the heck out of our hands.

You will get there, too. By nature, the Japanese are a community-minded people, so it’s not terribly surprising that gradually the rest of us also picked up on that calm, remembering we are also a part of that community even if it’s for a brief time. But it was an important reminder that no matter where we are in this world we take care of one another by thinking of one another.

We’ve been doing that in different ways, and it began before our children’s DLP’s (distance learning plans) started. This is a big one and I empathize. With schools closing this will have its challenging moments. Single parents, environments where both parents work, children of varying ages, no one has a monopoly on who it’s going to affect hardest because it will affect everyone. It will test you. Thankfully, over this past week, we’ve seen a blessing of sources that are online and whether your school has a DLP in place or not, this is fantastic! Virtual museum explorations, art programs, online orchestral and operatic performances. The arts are being kept alive! Check out this link for many amazing virtual museum tours. It’s a great way to explore the world from the comfort of your home.

For academics, sites like Khan Academy, Prodigy, Explore Learning, and Zearn have been used in the classroom for years and are still encouraged with distance learning. But don’t forget one of the best classrooms, the outdoors! Get your children (and yourself) outside to work off some of that energy. Clear your mind, reset your body, have dance parties, do YouTube workouts. Your physical and mental health are important, and even 10 minutes outside in the fresh air or in a room by yourself will do wonders.

And now a gentle reminder from your friendly neighborhood ex-pat.

Remember to step away from the news and Facebook. Turn them off and do something nurturing instead. Let’s see fewer pictures of empty shelves and more gestures from full hearts. There is frustration and worry in a time like this, there is heartbreak as well, but if allow yourself to consider it, there are also blessings in disguise. We are being given time that normally isn’t afforded. In a safe manner (yep, I’m throwing that very effective social distancing at you again) many of us now have the opportunity to reconnect with family, catch up with friends, moments to share with our children that may have been otherwise missed. We are being forced to slow down.

Initial panic is beginning to give way to community consideration and thoughtful conversation, virtual hands are sharing recipes and pictures of family breakfasts. Netflix recommendations are being suggested, books we’ve put aside are being read, games we’ve had on shelves are being played, and the glorious music from the balconies of Italy are filling our feeds. This is not a request that you forget what’s happening outside, but more that you don’t overlook what’s happening inside either.

From the bottom of my heart, I feel for what you are going through. My prayers are constant but my hopes remain high. I’ve seen glimpses of everyday normalcy, a slow but steady return. We’re not there yet, there’s still a way to go, but every morning it feels just a little closer. I’ll take that and breakfast with my family. Let’s use this time to savor the good and learn from the things we want to change. With level heads, compassionate hearts, and a little time, corners will be turned. I feel confident about this.

I’ve been where you are.

   

 

This post originally appeared on https://www.hominyandhome.com.

Elizabeth has traveld and lived around the globe with her family of four, but no matter where they are their ties to the South follow. She is celebrating their last year in California as they transition back to Japan, and hopes you'll enjoy their day to day, sharing recipes, traditions, travels, and family anecdotes.

   
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Here’s How I Have a Zero-Stress Holiday and So Can You

By Amber Stevens

The beautiful orange, yellow and crimson leaves and changing brisk weather is proof that fall is here. I love it and to be honest, it’s my favorite time of year. It’s a time that we are anticipating the holiday season while also looking forward to spending much needed time with our loved ones. However, though this time of year should be one of great joy and refreshing, for some, it can be a time of great anxiety and stress.

I understand that planning, cooking, shopping, decorating, entertaining, etc. can be a lot on anyone’s plate. However, I believe we can all have a great holiday season—one that we fully enjoy without having an adult tantrum. So friends, I’d like to offer some tips on how to make this holiday season your best yet.

1.  Take a deep breath. Just relax. Yes, you have a lot to do but with a little strategic planning, you will be just fine!

2. Do a little at a time. Don’t cause yourself unnecessary stress by doing it all in one lump-sum. Stretch your tasks out. This will require you plan ahead. If you procrastinate, you’ll be forced to do everything at once and that isn’t fun for anyone.

3. Get Help. I will be the first to raise my hand and admit that I often try to do things all by myself. But the holidays aren’t suppose to be a one-person production. The holidays should be a time of celebrating family, with the emphasis on family. Your loved ones will enjoy and be excited about the festivities even more if they have a part in helping out. 

4. Be thankful. If you change your mindset about your tasks, it will be much easier to do them. Instead of thinking, “Ugh, I have to go grocery shopping,” think, “I’m thankful I get to buy groceries.” Instead of dreading the crowded stores and long lines think “I’m thankful I have a family I get to give to” (or just shop online where there are no lines).

5. Give to others. Sometimes we forget that some people aren’t as fortunate as others. Some people are very lonely during this time of year. Some people are separated from family members who serve in the armed forces. Some children receive little to no love because their parents are incarcerated. How can you help? You can reach out to a local organization that helps families in need. You can write a letter to someone who serves in the armed forces thanking them for their service. You can invite a lonely neighbor over for dinner. These are just a few ideas.

I hope these tips have helped you. Even if you don’t do everything on the list, try at least one thing. Remember, have fun this holiday season. Enjoy your loved ones. Eat extra dessert. And laugh so hard you cry.    

Hi Everyone. I’m Amber. I’m a wife and mom of 2 beautiful princesses. I was born a creative and I’m learning to find creativity in every area of my life. I’m a lover of all things beautiful but I’m also drawn to the broken because there’s always room for restoration. 

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Where Will the First Amazon Grocery Store Open?

by Erica Loop

Amazon is going into the grocery store business—and we aren’t talking about Whole Foods. Last spring reports surfaced citing the soon-to-be opening of Amazon grocers. Now, according to CNET, the first of the brick and mortar retailers is about to open—in California!

Reportedly the retailer confirmed, to CNET, the 2020 launch of an Amazon grocery store in Woodland Hills, California. Even though Amazon is already hiring for the Los Angeles area store, the company hasn’t said if it will continue the expansion with more non-Whole Foods markets.

photo: Courtesy of Amazon

An Amazon spokesperson told CNET, “When it comes to grocery shopping, we know customers love choice, and this new store offers another grocery option that’s distinct from Whole Foods Market, which continues to grow and remain the leader in quality natural and organic food.”

While Amazon’s existing grocery retailers, the cashier-less Amazon Go stores, don’t expect to see a checkout-free model here. Instead, the yet-to-be-named store will have the same type of cashier-staffed checkouts you’re used to.

—Erica Loop

 

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There’s no time like the present.

By Kathee Foley

“Today is a gift. That’s why they call it the present.”

Or, how about the most cliché saying: “Time flies!”

Whatever your favorite or most hated cliché saying about time is, there are so many because time is so important to us. We hate to waste it. Then we want it to pass quickly. Then we realize we don’t have enough of it.

How do we utilize our time and make the most of it? How do we grapple with this love-hate relationship with time? I’m not trying to suggest ways to squeeze as much as you can into your waking hours or give tips on how to be super efficient and  check everything off your to-do list. It is funny though that I’m now bringing up my awesome Passion Planner that I use to hand-write my weekly schedule, goals, dreams, and doodles. But it’s not my endless to-do lists or calendaring that I want to share. What I want to share is something that I find so simple and silly at the same time. There is a section for your daily focus and I often pencil in mindfulness or being present. And then I never do it. Such a seemingly easy thing to do, yet so hard and silly that I have to be reminded to do it.

What’s the best way to define “mindfulness”? To put it simply, it’s being present in the moment. Being present and aware of your feelings, thoughts, and body. I think this is a good start if you want to be more mindful of your time. My mind moves at a million miles per minute. I am a self-proclaimed multi-tasking queen, but that comes at the expense of never being fully present wherever I am. Or never getting to the big things that will make a real impact. A recurring problem for me is story time with my son at night. I love reading together and we do it every night, but as I’m reading Steam Train, Dream Train or Are You My Mother? for the thousandth time, I’m constantly thinking about what to do once he falls asleep.

I start to read, “Through the darkness clickety-clack…” And as I’m reading the words, my mind wanders and I think about how many loads of laundry I can get done tonight. And I ask myself whether or not I should bake muffins for tomorrow. I try to remember the things that I need to order from Amazon. “A whistle blares out in the night,” I continue, while reminding myself to schedule a gas delivery at work tomorrow so I can run out of the office and start the long trek home without having to make any stops. And this goes on and on until I finally whisper, “chhhhhh…goodnight.”

When I was kid, I saw this saying somewhere. “To say ‘Time is money’ is an insult to time.” I think it was a billboard or maybe a commercial on TV. I didn’t have enough life experience as a kid to truly grasp the meaning of it, but I get it now. More than ever.

I currently find myself in a job that I absolutely hate. I find my mind wandering to places I want to be or to things I wish I could be doing or to people I’d rather be spending my time with. When I think about how fleeting time is, I often see these flashes of my son quickly growing up before my eyes. Then my mind darts back to my college years and how I ended up where I am today. Should I have gone to school elsewhere? Should I have taken my chances with this or that? Should I take my chances and take a big risk now? I can’t go back and change things, but I can embrace the here and now and realize that there’s no time like the present. 

Years from now, when Tyler is in school or away at college, do I want to look back on how amazing my multi-tasking was? That I could seemingly be the most put-together mom who didn’t shirk my parenting duties or work because I just did it all? Or how I was so good at establishing routine and order? Probably not. I want my memories to be filled with the nights (almost every night) that my two-year old stayed up later than he should because we were cuddling and getting lost in storybooks about trains and night owls. I want my memories to be filled with the countless times we pushed toy trucks around and used our imaginations to be silly and make up games and songs and laughed until we couldn’t breathe. Not the way I rushed through our bedtime routine so that I could quickly move onto chores and meaningless stuff. You have to run a household and do adult things like laundry and grocery shopping, but most times, those things can wait. The laundry will still be there in the morning as much as you don’t want it to be. You can always run to the store or order groceries. But you can never replace or replenish that precious time.

When I’m retired years (many many years) from now, whether I’m rolling in piles of cash, or living frugally, do I want to see the same monotonous routine day in and day out? Just mechanically going through the motions? Do I want to remember hating my job and being stuck where I was because I didn’t do anything about it? No. I want to remember the risks I took, the projects I worked on, and the lessons I learned. I want to think back and remember that even if I failed along the way, I pursued the dreams that were most meaningful to me. I want to be able to go to sleep every night knowing that I contributed to my family, community, and self to my fullest potential. That I filled my life with people and things that added positive value to it, and that in turn, I did the same.

It is important to have an awareness of time and understand how valuable it is, but it’s worthless if you don’t act upon that knowledge. For me, it’s a work in progress, but I aim to be present in the moment and I aim to thoughtfully spend my time in ways that reflect what I value. The time is now!

♡

Hi! I'm Kathee! I hope to inspire and find inspiration in my everyday. I love to share stories and I enjoy opportunities that allow me to be creative. Family, food, crafting, and planning are my passions. I'm excited to join the Red Tricycle community and can't wait to connect! 

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