Interruptions - A "Question of the Week" from a group I enjoy

I know this is a week old but my delay in responding illustrates my point :)

I have spent all my years, until the last one, not having to cope with scatterbrainitis - a common irritation of SAHM's caused by lack of sleep, too much caffeine and cartoons. Last year I was diagnosed with MS in addition to some other health problems and between this and medication I began to find it difficult to concentrate or remember and I began to sympathize with my scatterbrained sisters more frequently.

Next to the fatigue this was easily the worst symptom for me. Focus, discipline and efficiency are my strong suits, usually. To be distracted by interruptions and forget what I was doing was/is exhausting. I have a whole new sympathy for anyone whose brain works this way all the time.

Interruptions are just going to happen. Coping is the issue of course. So speaking logistically more than philosophically I think it is really a matter of discipline.

Some interruptions call for immediate attention - like the dog throwing up, or a child throwing up, an escaping hamster or small fires. Others like email, phone calls, errands, and tv, yeah, not so much. So if it's bleeding, vomiting, flooding, burning, crying, involves shards of glass, or plutonium it gets immediate attention. For all else it is submitted to two tests: Is it a pressing matter of faith, family, school or my business? and Is this the time to handle it or should I work it in at a better time?

Even important matters like prayer requests can be managed. If I take a phone calls from friends when I really am busy, I could be 45 minutes and my day can go sideways. If they text me their specific prayer request they can rely on me to stop what I am doing and go to my kneeler and pray immediately. They also know that I will call and make uninterrupted time with them when it is best for my family in the afternoon, or evening. Sometimes it's a message that is urgent and of course then I call. But the machine screens the calls during work or school time. I take lots of grief from my mom about not answering my phone but I would accomplis nothing all day.

I have certain days and times I respond to emails. Some are immediate, some are flagged and others need no response.

I am a planner. I love menu plans but find myself resisting being a slave to an overstructured schedule and opting for a written rhythm instead and a general plan for the day, week, and month.

When my children were small I used a plan of centers, special toy boxes or treasure chests in each room so as I cleaned they came along and explored something that they could only enjoy in that room.

I came to accept early on that this job was not for the weak hearted, disorganized or the lazy. If you are weak hearted,disorganized or lazy God has given you children to help you overcome it! He has a wonderful sense of humor.

On a spiritual note, distractions and interruptions can be the work of the enemy. Not everything that is good, is best for us. Keeping our eyes on the Lord, our mind on our mission and listening to the leading (and even the complaints of our husbands) will often keep us on track. We cannot be everything to everyone, God is, not us. This has been tough for me to learn and I am still working through it.

Blessings,

Robin