Sometimes life throws you for a loop and your only option is to react and simply make the best of it. As a general rule, I like to plan ahead. I love checklists and schedules and all things organizational, and I’ve never met a planner I didn’t like. While I do have a tendency to pack far too much into a week, as long as things are going smoothly, I can usually manage.
The problem is that things don’t always go smoothly, and that is when the trouble starts. I get behind and then I get stressed and then I turn into someone I don’t want to be: A mom who spends too much time working and not enough time with my kids, teaching them what they need to know and creating moments to remember.
The past few weeks have been eye-opening for me, especially as I read through your answers to the reader survey I posted last week. I’ve realized that the time has come to make a few changes, and I hope y’all will be on board. My main reason is simply that there are not enough hours in the day, and my family must be my first priority. These girls will only be young for such a short time, and I don’t want this time to pass me by.
Until last month, I normally wrote 4-5 posts a week here on LWSL, including 2 shopping results posts. As it turns out, y’all are of 2 minds when it comes to the shopping results, and few of you were indifferent–you either love them or hate them! And that actually makes a lot of sense, since not all of you LWSL readers are coupon users.
So what’s a girl to do? Well, going forward, beginning this coming Friday, the shopping results & weekly shopping linky will have a new home on Saving Well Spending Less instead of here, and my own shopping results will be alternated with shopping results from Jenny and Alisha, my wonderful SWSL cohorts. Jenny & Alisha live in Mississippi & Pennsylvania, respectively, so I think it will be a fun change to see shopping results from other regions & stores.
Here on LWSL I will continue to feature the rest of the posts you’ve all come to know and love (or at least like)–DiY projects, snippets of family life, stockpile recipes, coupon & household tips, party ideas, & anything else that floats my boat (and if you have an idea, feel free to email me!) My goal will be 3 posts a week, on Monday, Wednesday, & Friday.
Finally, I just want to apologize if this post has seemed a little whiny. I don’t mean it to be. I love writing this blog, and I feel so lucky to have such a great “job.” The problem for me is that I love it so much, I sometimes let it come ahead of my most important job, which is MOM. As much as I love y’all, those two little munchkins of mine have to come first! Hopefully this new plan of mine will allow me to find a balance that works for everyone. Thanks for your patience, you guys rock.
P.S. Thanks again to everyone who participated in the survey. I will be notifying the gift card winner via email. I really appreciated all the feedback, both positive & negative. I love hearing from you so please keep those comments coming!
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Debi November 7, 2011 at 4:10 pm
I love what you are doing and completely agree with you! Family must come first, so do what you need to do to make that happen. The shopping results take so much time to post as well especially trying to make the math add up. It will be nice to see savings from Jenny & Alisha as well. You do an amazing job on your websites, so keep up the good work! You are awesome!
Ronda Cox November 7, 2011 at 4:23 pm
Ruth, I couldn’t agree with your decision more! There is no higher calling than that of being a Mom and it is a full time job. Enjoy every moment with your girls because it will be gone in the blink of an eye, mine are 33 and 21 and it seems like only yesterday they were so young. I know you will find the balance you are looking for and remember, you have taught us all well.
Crystal L. (Crafting & Rambling) November 7, 2011 at 4:37 pm
I totally get it, Ruth! I often struggle with the balance, and too much lately, I’ve found myself watching/thinking of my girls, and getting a little sad. They are growing up much too quickly (yes, only 7 & 5, but it’s going too quickly!)…and I realize that a lot of those “moments” are gone. Okay, before I start crying…I’ll just say “good job, Ruth!” You have made a good decision, and I look forward to seeing your posts (as always)!
Melissa N November 7, 2011 at 5:21 pm
Ruth, thanks for all you do. I Love your site and will continue to read your posts when I get the chance. Keep up the great work and enjoy your little ones every chance you get!
rosalind w November 7, 2011 at 5:55 pm
take care of your family first and the rest will follow. you are an awesome person
Kathy November 7, 2011 at 5:58 pm
Ruth –
As a full-time working Mom I know how hard the decision must have been for you, but I think you’ve made the best decision possible for yourself, Trouble & Princess. We all struggle with balancing our home and work lives, and I envy you the opportunity to be able to “scale back” a bit. I look forward to reading your posts!
Karen in NC November 7, 2011 at 9:16 pm
Agree – family first! Online family – somewhere down the list.
I would be interested if either you or some of your other LWSL readers have some ideas I can do for simple DIY Christmas presents/projects with my 3 year old son. He’s started to show some interest in hanging out with mom, and I want to do something with him that would be fun and also show some of his handicraft to the grandparents. Any craft idea or project idea will be welcomed!
Thanks!!!
Kim November 7, 2011 at 11:47 pm
Good for you !!!!!!! Like I posted when I did the survey ” Your family comes first ” You dont ever want to look back and say I should have spent more time with the girls,because you can never get that time back. So go and enjoy them
Michelle Woods November 8, 2011 at 11:43 am
I think that you are making the right decision regarding your family. My kids are 19 and 16 now and it seems like I blinked and they grew up. I hope that you take the time to enjoy these years. I am new to your site and I found it through your videos on YouTube. I wanted to ask you if you had any advice on shopping at military commissaries.
Jennifer November 8, 2011 at 12:14 pm
I’ll definatley watch for your shopping results at SWSL. I really like your videos and I hope you’ll continue them at the new home. Looking forward to seeing how savings in other states/stores works out, too. Will Jenny & Alisha do videos as well?
AMANDA November 8, 2011 at 12:26 pm
I know you are making a wise decision! I don’t have children myself, but i know if i had
them i would want to spend every waking minute with them! I have enjoyed your site
so far and enjoy your future posts. Thanks so much for the helpful tips, you have inspired
me to save more money!
Crystal November 8, 2011 at 4:39 pm
Ruth, let me just say that I have trouble with my own priorities and I do not have a BLOG! I want to thank you for the hard work you have put into this blog with all of your helpful grocery and coupons tips, along with your diy ideas!! I live in CO, but have learned so much from your coupon know-how that we have SAVED a ton of money for our growing family of 6! So thank you so much and I pray that God will continue to use you in a tremendous way to others struggling to make ends meat. It has been a blessing to us. Take care of that sweet family of yours. I applaud you for stepping back and realizing how important they are. Our lives are only but a vapor and before we know it, it is gone. So enjoy that time with your family! You are awesome!!!
shannon November 8, 2011 at 11:03 pm
So happy for you, Ruth. Sending you lots of love and support.
Jaime November 8, 2011 at 11:14 pm
I have wondered how you do it all!!! Good for you to taking a step back! I find my blog and my quest to find the best deals can sometimes be consuming! I TOTALLY get it! Thanks, as always for you being candid and real with us.
And if you miss a post on a Monday, Wednesday or Friday, DON”T WORRY ABOUT IT! Give yourself a break.
Blessings!!!
Melissa November 9, 2011 at 1:30 am
Ruth – I’m one of your “newbie” readers as I’ve only been following you for a couple of months now, but I want to congratulate you on putting your family first. I missed out on some great years with my daughter and husband due to a job I hated and finally gave it up about a year and a half ago. I’m back in school to become a nurse and I’ve pulled my family back together and I will never look back. I promise you will do the same! All of us moms have to give ourselves a break and realize when we either need help or need to slow down. Great job!
Melissa