How do you do it all?

A few months ago, a friend asked, "How do you do it all?!?"  Well, uhm...I don't...or at least not well.  The question came after learning that I had just finished reading a book for fun, and my friend (a new home schooler) was wondering how in the world I managed to pull it off given the fact that I have a husband, seven children (four of whom I homeschool), a soap business, an organic produce business, and a myriad of other obligations and responsibilities.  

The truth of the matter is that no one can do it ALL, or at least not well.  Something's always gonna give, and in the day and a half that it took to read my book, I didn't garden, I didn't make soap, I declared a half-day of school, I skipped the laundry, I didn't answer the phone, I left dishes in the sink, I have no idea what my children ate, and I stayed up until 3 am!  (To be quite honest, I'm not even sure that I brushed or bathed during those 36 hours!)

I am a firm believer in the "Law of Good Enough"--not  necessarily in every aspect of life (there are some areas that consistently require our best effort) and definitely not all the time, but I believe that it is important to recognize when "good enough" (or even "not at all") may actually be better than "best".  

For example, let's say that you've decided to take a toothbrush and a pumice stone to the toilet to make it look like the day it was installed.  You've squirted the cling gel, swished with the toilet brush, and done the preliminary wipe down.  You're poised with your (old!) toothbrush and have your pumice stone at the ready.  You're just about to dive in when your eleven-year-old bursts in excitedly and tells you that she's finally mastered her back walk over.  What do you do?  Do you say, "That's nice, honey..." and go back to your toilet, or do you call it "good enough", give it a flush, and give your child your best?  (Now some of you may be disciplined enough to return to the toilet once the gymnastics demonstration is over.  Me?  Not so much.)

So how do I do it all?  I don't.  Sometimes, the best thing for all involved is for me to go on a "staycation" (a stay-at-home vacation) and let things slide.  I declare half-days of school.  We have cereal for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.  (My husband works nights, so I can get away with this from time to time!)  I swish instead of scrub.  I stay up late and sleep late.  I let the "Law of Good Enough" (or "Not at All") carry me from point A to point B without guilt, but not in every area and not all the time.  And after the final chapter of my book is read (and I've had a good night's sleep!), I return to the cooking, and cleaning, and gardening, and soapmaking, and homeschooling with renewed vigor until it's time for another "staycation" (or gymnastics demonstration).  Now about that toilet...

How do you do it all?  I'd love to know your secrets!

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