We Get it. You're Busy. Enough Already!

Welcome to November, Minimalist friends!  Is your calendar starting to fill up with school events, a party or two, and of course, family time for Thanksgiving and Christmas?  And yes, if you come from a numerous-parent household, doesn't the fun seems to exponentially grow as your patience decreases similarly?   You have our sympathies.

Busyness is a much discussed and maligned concept.  As minimalists, we want you to feel less busy so you can enjoy your time on the planet and decrease stress and freak-outs.  Yet, for some reason, it's still this honor badge people want to wear on their Mommy scouting uniform.  I recall a school volunteer parent meeting I attended in a room clogged with parents trying to hide under desks to avoid nomination to a committee.  One of the lead mom persons asked for volunteers for something, and added, "Look y'all, I am like THE busiest person in the universe, and I can make time for this".  Seriously.  She actually threw down that sword and asked a room full of parents to step over it.  I tried to organize a coup, but instead I hid under the desk with the others.

I am not having a Busy Olympics with you.  I'm just not doing it.

I have found most people who blather on about how busy they are do it for two reasons.  One, it's the honor badge.  You're super important and you have so much to do and everyone wants your time and what a star you are (sews badge on MomUniform)  The other is that you're a shirker, and you are looking for an excuse as to why you can't do something.  I always believe you have time for what you want to have time for.  If you want to work out, you'll find an hour to do it.  If you want to watch the entire second season of Stranger Things, well, you seem to eke out the time, don't you?

Busy Mom is a bullshit term anyway.  What person do you know who has grown an actual human, or been chosen to raise one, who is not busy?  You are completely responsible for the needs of shelter, food and companionship for a whole person?!?  That sounds like a busy day to me.  Whether you stay at home, work outside the home, or even as an heiress, because you have to hire and fire staff all the time.  It's work, people.

So take how busy you are and stick it -- deep in your calendar.  Make some time for what's important.  For you, it may be exercise; it may be a friendship or spouse you have ignored.  Carving out time shows you actually care about what you're making time for.  And whatever you do, do NOT tell us you're so SO busy.  Because we will organize a Mom coup and take you down.