Do you ever feel like if you blink, a month will go by? I blinked and now it’s the end of April. Granted being very sick this month didn’t help. Days flew by as I daily melted into the couch and a 15 minute run to the grocery store caused me to need to take another nap.

Now that I’m on the mends, I realize in one month — school is out. How did my daughter’s first year of middle school fly by so fast? Time just doesn’t slow down.

Each summer, my daughter and I come up with a plan. Some days the plan works, other days it’s a bit faulty. Working from home has its difficulties at times as my office door is usually open but does not display a sign, “Don’t interrupt me, I’m busy.” Nevertheless, I wouldn’t trade it for the world. I just need to keep my priorities straight.

When it comes down to it, I’m a mom first before I am an employee. My responsibility is first with nurturing, teaching, and raising my daughter. Working for my employer is secondary.

When my daughter was born, never were my thoughts, “Great, now she can tag along through life while I do my thing.” Instead, my convictions circled around how to be the parent God intended me to be.

There are days, I have to remind myself of that. Days when work demands turn a relentless squeaky wheel. Days when chauffeur duties and errands consume my time. Time flies …

My daughter and I sat down this week compiling a list of things we’d like to do this summer, how we’d like to spend our time, activities we’d like to do. I’m not sure how and when the working hours in each day will play out, but those details are secondary.

After working eighteen years in the legal field, I’m grateful for the opportunity to work from home now. It’s been two years since I made that decision. It meant giving up much, but in reality … I was only trading for something better.

This summer we’ll be making memories, learning new things, and building our relationship. That is my priority.

Take time for your children. Show them they top your list!

We need time to dream, time to remember,

and time to reach the infinite. Time to be. — Gladys Taber