Defining Portion Control

Thanks to Mom for helping to name this blog.  We were shopping for iPad covers the other day and I was talking about how I'd like to write about balance.  Inside joke here...as the oldest of 4, I had a knack during Sunday dinners for counting out breadsticks, crescents, biscuits, whatever...because if you looked the other way, we'd be down 1.  Sorry all...I want my 2 crescents!!  I have been dubbed the portion control queen for years....mind you, I wish I could have portion controlled myself.  My temple is still in disarray.  Hence the 2012 goal to lose the baby weight - and be healthy enough to chase her!!

So portion control for me is balancing obligations at home - I can never keep the house in order, but I'm not so down on myself about it - as well as striving to be the best wife and mother I can be without losing myself in the mix.  As I type, I am counting the days until my Thursday dinner with a good friend - no kids, no hubby, just girl time with wine!!  Of course, in this mix, I've now added a book club that meets twice a month, a mom's group that meets twice a month, weekly Sunday school teaching and I'll be working on the 2012 VBS committee at church.  Part of me thinks I need to say NO, but the other part - I realize I'm filling my time with good soul fillers.  Very exciting and very glad to have a husband who strongly encourages my extra life-stuff. 

In efforts to figure out balance, I spoke to a woman at a recent church training (who knew that leading Jr. and Sr. High Sunday school would require so MUCH training) and like me, her background is in compliance (former accountant and internal auditor here - now turned mommy hoping to find meaningful part time work).  She has taken her father into her home after a divorce leaving him with no $$.  To balance work, church, her son's extracurricular stuff and keeping her house in order, she had Home Depot cut a white board for her so she can list her tasks.  Yep, us accountant-types like to cross off those completed tasks and see what we've done.  I guess it's like the accountability partners I read about in those self-help/how-to-get-the-most-of-life books.  I've never been so grateful to have no wall space for a whiteboard!!

So today, I dropped off little one to daycare, took over my home office and while I drink my morning caffeine and download some music, I type.  Next step - onto some kitchen and dining room cleaning, lunch with friend, grocery run and maybe a nap to knock out this cold once and for all.  I realize it's all about taking bites...one small portion at a time.