{"id":294,"date":"2022-02-23T15:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-02-23T15:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kendramartin.org\/mennonite-moms-refusal-to-do-it-all\/"},"modified":"2024-03-28T19:31:29","modified_gmt":"2024-03-28T19:31:29","slug":"mennonite-moms-refusal-to-do-it-all","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kendramartin.org\/mennonite-moms-refusal-to-do-it-all\/","title":{"rendered":"Refusing to Do It All: A Mennonite Mom Choosing Simplicity"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>My time is no longer just my own, and I am grateful for the privilege of having three little boys to love and raise for Jesus.&nbsp; With a four year old, a two year old, and a just-turned-one year old, the time within my day can have the tendency to quickly fill up.&nbsp; But what is it filling up with?&nbsp; Am I so busy with other very good things that I am neglecting what I really want to be doing in this season of life?&nbsp; When others ask how I am doing or how my week was &#8211; is the word \u201cbusy\u201d part of my go-to-response?&nbsp; Am I the mom that others are giving the badge as \u201cDoing It All\u201d? &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While I understand that this season is physically demanding as I change pampers, carry loads of laundry, take twenty bags of groceries into the house to save on trips back and forth, and lug strollers and bikes in and out of van; I truly believe this season of life does not have to be characterized by the word \u201cbusy\u201d.&nbsp; And I certainly do not need to live up to society\\&#8217;s expectations of Doing It All.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"819\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kendramartin.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Copy-of-Copy-of-Refusing-To-Do-It-All.png?resize=1024%2C819&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-879\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kendramartin.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Copy-of-Copy-of-Refusing-To-Do-It-All.png?resize=1024%2C819&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kendramartin.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Copy-of-Copy-of-Refusing-To-Do-It-All.png?resize=300%2C240&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kendramartin.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Copy-of-Copy-of-Refusing-To-Do-It-All.png?resize=768%2C614&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kendramartin.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Copy-of-Copy-of-Refusing-To-Do-It-All.png?resize=1536%2C1229&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kendramartin.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Copy-of-Copy-of-Refusing-To-Do-It-All.png?w=2000&amp;ssl=1 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity \\&quot;wp-block-separator\\&quot;\/\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">18 Things I Refuse To Do<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>I do not make my own Greek yogurt.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>I do not feed sourdough or kumboocha or kefir.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>I do not fold my children\u2019s laundry.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>I do not make my own bread.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>I do not wash all my fruits and vegetables with apple cider vinegar.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>I do not make my own cleaning supplies, soaps, or candles.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>I do not tend a large garden, flowerbed, or lawn.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>I do not do all my own house cleaning.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>I do not make desserts except for special occasions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>I do not can or freeze much.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>I do not wash the exterior or clean the interior my vehicle weekly.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>I do not schedule during-the-week evening events other than a bi-weekly date night, once-a-month ladies accountability with my church, and a once-a-month dinner with neighbors (<em>other than the occasional exception-to-the-rule<\/em>).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>I do not store or own many items that we do not use more then once a month within a years time.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>I do not sew most of my dresses (<em>consequently I have a small wardrobe).<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>I do not own a large home to maintain.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>I do not do \u201cDIY\u201d projects.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>I do not prepare foods a \u201cspecial\u201d diet such as Trim Healthy Mama, gluten-free, dairy-free, Whole 30, or keto.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>I do not coupon.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The items I listed above are all good items.&nbsp; I have done almost all of these items at some point in my life.&nbsp; But in the season of life that I am in now, I have not deemed them to be part of my main priorities.&nbsp; I have chosen to <em>let them go<\/em> this year.&nbsp; Maybe I will take some of them back next year and maybe not. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With everything you choose to pack into your life, you also are choosing to say \u201cno\u201d to something else.&nbsp; By saying \u201cno\u201d to these items, I am saying \u201cyes\u201d to living a slower life.&nbsp; \u201cYes\u201d to spending less than an hour a day to housework.&nbsp; \u201cYes\u201d to a daily devotional and prayer life.&nbsp; \u201cYes\u201d to intentionally training and teaching my children. \u201cYes\u201d to reading and researching and writing.&nbsp; \u201cYes\u201d to teaching at a homeschool co-op with my children.&nbsp; \u201cYes\u201d to helping my husband get Arrows Christian Academy up and running.&nbsp; \u201cYes\u201d to learning Spanish and visiting with my neighbors.&nbsp; \u201cYes\u201d to weekly walks to the library with my children.&nbsp; \u201cYes\u201d to daily outdoor time with my children. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And I understand that I am privileged that I can say \u201cno\u201d to some of these items.&nbsp; There are items that are out of one\u2019s control and cannot be eliminated.&nbsp; But I would guess that we all have items that we could be saying \u201cno\u201d to if we are finding \u201cbusy\u201d as part of our daily vocabulary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"819\" data-src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kendramartin.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Most-Important-Things.png?resize=1024%2C819&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-880 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kendramartin.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Most-Important-Things.png?resize=1024%2C819&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kendramartin.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Most-Important-Things.png?resize=300%2C240&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kendramartin.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Most-Important-Things.png?resize=768%2C614&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kendramartin.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Most-Important-Things.png?resize=1536%2C1229&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kendramartin.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Most-Important-Things.png?w=2000&amp;ssl=1 2000w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1024px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1024\/819;\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"819\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kendramartin.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Most-Important-Things.png?resize=1024%2C819&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-880\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kendramartin.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Most-Important-Things.png?resize=1024%2C819&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kendramartin.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Most-Important-Things.png?resize=300%2C240&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kendramartin.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Most-Important-Things.png?resize=768%2C614&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kendramartin.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Most-Important-Things.png?resize=1536%2C1229&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/kendramartin.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Most-Important-Things.png?w=2000&amp;ssl=1 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/noscript><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity \\&quot;wp-block-separator\\&quot;\/\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Are You Refusing To Do?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Knowing what you ARE called to do gives you freedom to let go in other areas.&nbsp; Taking the time to evaluate your priorities in this season of your life and seeking God on how He would have you best spend your time and energy allows you to eliminate the other good things that may be taking time away from the best things.&nbsp; If you want more guidance on evaluating priorities and aligning your life accordingly, <a href=\"\\&quot;\/blog\/new-year-level-up\\&quot;\">read this post<\/a> on how I start each new year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>My list is not your list.&nbsp; Do not let another person\u2019s list dictate your list.&nbsp; The items I eliminated probably will not be the same things that you choose to eliminate from your life. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Friends of mine reminded me of the the illustration of rocks, sand, and pebbles fitting into a glass. If you put all the sand and smaller pebbles in first representing the items in your life that are not as important, you will not have room for the rocks which represent the most important areas of your life.&nbsp; But rather, if you identify your rocks and make room for them first, you will still be able to have room for some of the smaller areas of importance such as pebbles and sand. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We live in a time when doing it all is celebrated, applauded, and admired.&nbsp; But at what cost?&nbsp; Is Satan applauding our \u201cbusy-ness\u201d because we are trying to squeeze the \u201cmost important\u201d things in after the sand and pebbles have already taken up most of our time?&nbsp; Let us normalize not <em>doing it all <\/em>so that we CAN do Kingdom work.&nbsp; I\u2019d love to know, what are you choosing not to do in this season of your life so that you are intentionally making time for the more important things? &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity \\&quot;wp-block-separator\\&quot;\/\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\\&quot;has-text-align-center\\&quot;\"><strong><em>Let us not get so busy doing all the good things that we push out the most important things.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>My time is no longer just my own, and I am grateful for the privilege of having three little boys [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":879,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center 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