Juggling. That’s what being a stay at home mum can feel like sometimes.

We juggle routines, chores, work, meals, pets, appointments, church activities and quiet times always hoping we won’t let something drop. I know for me, trying to keep my diary clear of too many commitments is a constant challenge. I write for children, it’s my heart thing, and I write best in isolation. But in a family isolation is not that easy to find. It’s especially a challenge during the holidays when routine is out of balance and the children are at home relaxed and precious. This is when my writing times become scarce and I find myself more frequently with the choice to juggle or participate in something else. Something I call ‘Gentle Time’.

Gentle Time is that moment when I’m trying to squeeze in the answering of a pressing email before I stir the casserole on the stove, feed the dogs and call the big kids inside to wash for dinner, and the toddler comes up to me with his pretend phone.

“My phone’s not wor-ging”

And I groan. I’ve too many balls flying in the air to handle this one. If he could just go and play cars, or read Brown Bear Brown Bear again, I could finish the email and then fix the silly phone when I’ve got time! Often I feel like telling this to him, and if I do my tone is never gentle, but harried and cross and bothered. But Gentle Time is my chance to pause the juggling act and focus in on ONE. I choose to lay aside the other priorities and swivel in my seat to give this child my attention. I allow his stumbling speech to explain the problem – without rushing him, or forcing him to my schedule. And then, if it requires, I get up calmly and talk with him about finding the screw driver and replacing the batteries and putting the old ones where they need to go. Then he’s off again and I’m left in a moment of peace between roles where gentleness offers me a gift, reminding me that juggling isn’t what I’m all about. It’s love.

Note: Welcome to Penny Reeve, our newest author on Christian Children’s Authors. Penny is from Sydney Australia. Look for an upcoming post in which she will introduce herself. JDG