More often than not, at the end of the day, I realize that once again... I didn't get the chance to play Guess Who or Dress Up or Store. I didn't have the time to listen to his new joke. I don't know how her day was. I did ask but didn't really hear the answer. I rushed through story time and declined a request for another book. I was short tempered (on more occasions than I care to admit). And I tell myself... Tomorrow will be different. I know what's important. I will make sure that I sit and I play and I listen...really listen. I will laugh and I will love and I will enjoy them and me and us. EVERYDAY, from now on. But, more often than not, at the end of THAT day, I realize that once again... I didn't get the chance to play Guess Who or Dress Up or Store. I didn't have the time to listen to his new joke. I don't know how her day was. I did ask but didn't really hear the answer. I rushed through story time and declined a request for another book. I was short tempered (on more occasions than I care to admit). My life - and I'm sure many of you feel the same way - is insanely busy. How can I do it all? How can I ensure our bellies are fed when I'm tending cash at a make believe grocery store? How can I ensure we have clean clothes while I'm laughing uncontrollably at the joke of the day? How can I ensure that the cupboards are stocked while I'm enthralled in a deep conversation of the days events? How can I take care of everything and still be the joyful, carefree, fun loving me? How...? I need to realize that I can't do it all. Something's gotta give. I need to learn to let go. Laundry will have to sit another day. I'll pick up some dinner on the way home. I will turn off the radio in the car and listen to their stories. I will put little notes in their lunch boxes. I will make sure we all sit down together as a family for dinner. I will declare one night a week family night - no TV or computer or video games. And I'll make sure I'm there for each one of them. I have to. I want to. I don't want them to ever look back at their childhood and say that I didn't have time for them. NEVER. EVER.   (photo courtesy of Druyts.t/Wikimedia Commons)