Do You Want to Be Hands Free?

"Mom, can you come here?"

"Just a second..."
More than a second later....
"Mom, CAN YOU COME HERE?"

"Yes, just let me finish this one thing." (really meaning let me finish these 5 things I am doing at the same time)
More than the time it takes to finish one little thing...
"MOM, ARE YOU COMING????" (in a whiny, crying voice or sassy, infuriated voice)

Has this conversation ever happened in your home?

Sadly, it has happened in our home more times than I can count. Way too often, I let technology, multi-tasking or helping others besides my family get in the way of being present and helping my own family.

Yes, I am a multi-tasker, which I used to think was a good thing. Now, I realize that multi-tasking is not all that it is cracked up to be. While I am typing away on the computer, listening to Christian music in the background, trying to stop an argument between my little girls, stir supper every couple minutes, and listen to my son practice piano, I am so distracted that I am not giving any of those things my full attention, AND I am stressing myself out in the meantime.

When did it get cool to have never-ending to-do lists and jam-packed schedules? When did "I am SO stressed!" become the thing to say?

Thankfully, no matter what damage may have already been done, this isn’t the way it has to be.

We can go back to sitting and doing nothing sometimes...and it being okay. We can cut out too many extra-curricular activities and still enjoy life. We can slowwwww down, doing one thing at a time and start to find those joyful, meaningful moments hidden throughout the whole day. We can get back to what matters most!

Thankfully, in my journey to slow down, become more grateful, and be a more present participant in my life, I was sent, Hands Free Mama by Rachel Macy Stafford to review. Not only has this book helped me develop strategies to find more balance in my life, it has helped me appreciate each and every moment of my days!

In July 2010, special education teacher and mother Rachel Macy Stafford decided enough was enough. Tired of losing track of what matters most in life, Rachel began practicing simple strategies that enabled her to momentarily let go of largely meaningless distractions and engage in meaningful soul-to-soul connections. She started a blog to chronicle her endeavors and soon saw how both external and internal distractions had been sabotaging her happiness and preventing her from bonding with the people she loves most.

Hands Free Mama is the digital society’s answer to finding balance in a media-saturated, perfection-obsessed world. It doesn’t mean giving up all technology forever. It doesn’t mean forgoing our jobs and responsibilities. What it does mean is seizing the little moments that life offers us to engage in real and meaningful interaction. It means looking our loved ones in the eye and giving them the gift of our undivided attention, leaving the laundry till later to dance with our kids in the rain, and living a present, authentic, and intentional life despite a world full of distractions.

So join us and go hands-free! Discover what happens when you choose to open your heart---and your hands---to the possibilities of each God-given moment.

Cara was provided this book to review from Booksneeze. No other compensation was given. All opinions expressed are 100% her own.