February 21, 2007
ashes to ashes
Today is Ash Wednesday, so Charlie went to church this morning to get ashes. Of course, he’s never done this before, because I’m a neglectful parent and also not Catholic (any more), and last night as I was tucking him in, he said to me, “Mama, I don’t want to go to church.” Why not? I asked. “Because I’m SCARED,” he said. Hmmm, I said, what are you scared of?
“THE ASHES!” he said.
Of course.
I was telling Jen about that today, and she said, “They’re not PEOPLE ashes, are they?” I said, no, of course not, they’re the palms from Palm Sunday, and she said, “Oh, phew.” And then I started to wonder where CHARLIE thought the ashes came from.
Hmmm.
Wade and I went to a funeral yesterday, and then out for lunch, and while we were waiting for our barbecue, Wade said, “I wouldn’t choose to have a religious service for my memorial, but I can see how it would be comforting for people. And really, the memorial is for everyone else, not the person who has died.” He thought some more and then said, “You can do whatever you want when I die, just don’t have the coffin there.”
“Oh no,” I said, “I’m cremating you.”
“Good,” he said.
I’ve decided that for Lent this year, I’m going to give up multitasking. I’m going to do ONE thing at a time, as much as I can: read or write or be with my kids. Because all sorts of things–Charlie’s fear of the ashes, my friend’s father’s death–have been making me think about what I might be missing while I’m doing three other things.
For forty days, I am going to wait until after carpool to check my e-mail, turn my computer off when the kids come home, keep the kitchen table clear of all my various projects so we can eat without chaos. I’m going to count time in smaller pieces, in half hours instead of in huge blocks of work time, and do one thing at a time.
I’m tired of feeling like I’m missing half of my day doing things I can’t remember later. I don’t think it’s the things I’m doing, I think it’s the way I’m doing them–I do too many things all at once. And while this is sometimes inevitable (right now I am writing this while the laundry goes, for example) I think I can pare down and pay more attention to what I’m doing.
For forty days, at least.
Posted by Susan @ 1:52 pm • Uncategorized
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February 21st, 2007 at 4:13 pm, An Iowa Mom Says:
Good luck … I don’t know if I could do it.
I was going to try and stop procrastinating (sp?) and actually accomplish my To Do List everyday … one thing at a time, rather than a little bit of this and a little bit of that … which never adds up to me actually crossing something off my list.
I shall try!
Again … best of luck to you!
February 21st, 2007 at 4:22 pm, Wendy Says:
I need my multitasking to keep my mind off food. I have decided to do my best to follow the fasting guidelines given by our church.
I have already screwed the pooch, today, by missing church and having meat. I can only get better, right?
Good luck
February 21st, 2007 at 4:39 pm, Busy Mom Says:
At least they’re not boogers on his forehead, like someone at my house thinks.
February 21st, 2007 at 5:13 pm, Kelly Says:
Here, here! What an excellent idea. I’ve never given anything up for Lent before, but I think I’d like to give this a try.
February 21st, 2007 at 5:47 pm, Anonymous Says:
As a former Catholic myself, I salute you for having a Lent list. I hope you manage it (and I’m sure you will). I read somewhere that all our multitasking is actually detrimental to our brain functions. You’d think it made us less likely to get Alzheimer’s, but that may not be the case. Perhaps I’ll try your list myself.
February 21st, 2007 at 5:48 pm, chilihead Says:
Um, that was me up above. Again forgetting how to post a comment like a regular person…
February 21st, 2007 at 6:03 pm, Rocks In My Dryer Says:
“I’ve decided that for Lent this year, I’m going to give up multitasking”…LOL…and yet, very profound.
February 21st, 2007 at 6:33 pm, Mary Tsao Says:
A noble endeavor! And I write that as I answer email and write a blog post.
Let us know how it goes, k?
February 21st, 2007 at 6:55 pm, educat Says:
Beautiful thought. I started to flesh out this idea, and have decided it will be my own post.
February 21st, 2007 at 7:41 pm, educat Says:
…and by that I meant a post on my own blog. I don’t know that I can be trusted with a keyboard right now.
February 21st, 2007 at 8:17 pm, Katherine Says:
Blogging and laundry don’t really count as multi-tasking (unless you’re blogging between throwing individual items into the laundry).
Let us know in a week or so if it seems to be working.
My Lenten discipline is to work on my finances. I deposited checks today - that should count.
February 21st, 2007 at 10:12 pm, Annika Says:
Every year I give up Catholicism for lent. It’s working out pretty well for me so far. (I should mention that I am the daughter of a lapsed Catholic and never had any religion whatsoever growing up. So take my declarations as you will.)
February 21st, 2007 at 10:58 pm, Melissa Says:
You want to borrow my schedule? It’s not working for me, but it DOES have only one thing at a time.
February 21st, 2007 at 11:22 pm, dani Says:
This is really an interesting concept. Sometimes I am so PROUD of how much multi-tasking I can do (laundry, dinner, dishes, feeding 2 year old)… but you are right. Laundry can wait and maybe I’d have a better day if I calmly sat and hung out with my kid while she ate.
February 22nd, 2007 at 2:29 am, Granny Says:
Elcie was asking about Ash Wednesday today. I’m not Catholic but I had the general idea.
I’ve never been good at multi-tasking unless drinking coffee while surfing blogs and watching Law & Order late at night counts.
Good luck with it. I do know what it’s like to be so busy with what I might think is important that I miss out of the little things that really are.
February 22nd, 2007 at 10:19 am, candace Says:
What a good idea. Brilliant, really.
February 22nd, 2007 at 2:07 pm, Anne D Says:
Very noble! Seriously, it is hard to give up the multi-tasking and be in the moment. I too feel like I am flying through life. Your post is a good reminder to sloooooooooooow down!