Balance

I have learned a lot about balance being a first time parent. Balance plays such an important part in-

• my marriage
• my time with Abbie
• my relationship with God
• my friendships

It took a while to find a good balance in all of those areas. I will still always continue to work on the balance because it is a never ending process because life is ever changing.

I realized that as a first time mother, you want to focus solely on this new life that has come into your world. You obsess about schedules, feedings, if they are going to pee/poop too much or too little, if they are progressing like they should be, are they happy, if they are sleeping, and all the times when you have mini-meltdowns because of worrying SO much. Tom and I early on instituted "Date Night" where we go out and just spend time together. It didn't have to be fancy (usually it was just coffee and walking around Old Town) but it was time for us to catch up on what was going on with the other person. We have dinner as a family every night when I get home from work but it just isn't the same as one on one time with your spouse. If you don't have a balanced marriage how can you have a balanced child?

I remember the first time that Tom and I went out without Abbie. She was a few weeks old and we just sat there staring at each other not knowing what to do. We were so used to there being a little baby for us to take care of that we forgot how it was to just focus on each other. It turned out to be a great night of conversation ( mostly about Abbie) and just reminding the other one how much we loved and appreciated them. Last night was a "Date Night" and it was a blast. I LOVE just talking and laughing with Tom. He just gets me...and that is an AWESOME feeling.

I am working on the balance in my relationship with God still. That is one that I haven't quite gotten figured out. I feel like I could give him so much more of my time but then my selfish nature comes in and I end up sitting in front of the TV watching something totally vapid. Instead of watching "The Hills" (mock me if you will) I could have read the book that I am in the middle of. I could have spend some time in prayer and getting my heart right. I see all the missed chances to really connect with him.

So here is my new thought:

If you don't have a balanced relationship with God, how can any other relationship be balanced?