I hope you found some simplicity in the weekend – ways which make sense for you and your family.
Mother’s Day was celebrated here with a few of my favorite things, and a gift to myself (which I’ll share about tomorrow)!
On to a new week…
Week #19 Learn to Delegate
Before you head off thinking this is for executive management and businesses, but not Mamas and their homes, hear me out.
You’re in the business of home management, and you are the home executive! If life holds work outside of the home (or you’re a work-at-home mom), then it’s ever so important to practice and exercise the art of delegation.
By this I mean knowing where, how and just when responsibilities should be shared. It’s asking for and receiving support and help in areas of need – all for the purpose of being released to do your most important work well.
“You’re going to wear yourself out–and the people, too. This job is too heavy a burden for you to handle all by yourself.” Exodus 18:18
Often though, we don’t release due to various reasons. I’m guessing the top ones could be:
- inability to let go of control
- fear of the other person ‘not doing it right’
- it takes too much time to teach another person
So if you’re able to do a job well, what’s the purpose of even thinking about handing it off?
Well, we’re created to be interdependent. Our worlds are surrounded by others who have different gifts and abilities, all by God’s design. We allow for the best in others to show by making room for them to work with us.
If you’re part of a family — you. are. a. team. Not a lone-ranger.
Mom isn’t meant to be the one doing it all, caring for it all, and taking it all on. Neither is Dad. Neither are the children, even if they’re old enough to really help out. The running of the home and the organizing of family life (even if it’s Mom primary focus and work) is a team effort.
Even with the family on board, you may still need outside support and help, and this is more than okay!
Through the years, I’ve hired regular babysitters and house cleaners, delegating work to them for a season. I’ve welcomed the assistance of gracious women from our church to help in various ways.
My extended family has pitched in and numerous friends as well. I’ve trained (and am still training :)) my children to share in the load of keeping house. As a homeschooling Mom, I’ve hired others (via online classes or live classes) to teach certain subjects.
Mom — learn the art of allowing others to help you. Remember God designed you for interdependence; it’s healthy and can be such a stress-reliever!
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Tips for Healthy Delegating
- resist the temptation to play the victim – so not appealing! and remember you’re not a failure for delegating
- don’t delegate work that is critical for you alone to do unless it’s an emergency
- some work needs to be eliminated and not delegated; know the difference, and nurture your ‘no‘ response
- be sure there’s time to train for the work (when time is of importance, it may be easier to do it yourself.)
- release the need for it all to be done exactly ‘your way’, establish a new standard
Whether it’s your family, hired help, a friend or Grandma…celebrate and joyfully welcome the idea of others walking alongside of you in your work!
Action Plan: What is your biggest area of need right now in one of your roles? Can you identify what help would be beneficial? Take time to think, pray and share this process with a spouse or friend for feedback and making a plan.
More to Read: Focus on the Family has a SUPER series of articles on this topic — Working Moms Need to Delegate, Share the Workload with Your Husband, and Give Chores to Your Kids
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