I doubt this is an issue that will be going away anytime soon, so it’s something I need to regularly assess. 

It’s been difficult to find a balance between being productive and still being present in our family, specifically with our children.  We still have mountains of paperwork to complete and we have a two year old and a five year old to raise.  

Those two tasks are mutually exclusive, it would seem.

In order to ensure that our paperwork is filled out completely and accurately I’ve found that it’s not possible to leave it for after bedtime.  A half coherent answer is the best I can hope for with work done after 8:00 pm, so I’ve devised a new plan to help me knock some of the items off my to do list.  

My solution is hardly unique.  I’ve implemented the use of the one eyed babysitter in our home.  It’s worked well as a tool when I need it, but lately she’s become a bit of a mistress for the under five crowd. 

So today I kicked her to the curb for a week.  

I almost threw in the towel from 6 to 7 this morning.  Usually the boys watch a cartoon when the wake up and not being able to do that this morning was a killer for them…me…  Us.  By 7:15 though, the boys were happily playing together.  I loved listening to them imagine and play together without being tied to the TV. 

The whole afternoon was a little difficult, but I fully expect that being TV free will get easier for the boys.  But I won’t lie to you.  My productivity went waaaaaaay down today.  I was able to get some smaller stuff done, but my to do list is largely the same as it was this morning. 

But you know what?  I’m OK with that.  My boys take priority over paperwork and the TV, while useful, will be a tool that I can use when I need it but it will not be taking over my life or the boys’ lives.  

So say a prayer and wish us luck.  This could be a looong week!