Sunday Simple

I have such fond memories of Sunday rituals from my childhood.  Sunday was a peaceful and restful time for the family.  Growing up, we would go to church and the afternoon was occupied with our main meal, nappies, reading the paper and genuinely relaxing in preparation for a new week.  In the evening if we were hungry after our gigantic Sunday afternoon supper, we would make sandwiches or snacks and then relax some more.  It brings a smile to my face to think of how we connected as a family.   In comparison to my current life as a busy Mom, it is clear that somewhere along the line, that tradition fell in-between the cracks.

I think it may have occurred around the time I became a mommy.  I am not blaming my little punkin but, I was working full-time and the weekends were my only opportunity to really catch up on the necessary tasks.  This became the day of laundry, ironing, cleaning up and food shopping.  Add in another kidlet, soccer games, school projects, youth group activities, home and garden projects and my days just ran into each other with no extraordinary distinction.

Hubby and I decided that “family time” would not just happen; it was something we were going to have to create.  When the kids were little, we established Sunday evenings as our time together as a family.  Each week we would rent a movie; and have a “picnic-style” dinner in the living room on the floor.  The kids thought life was great because we spread the tablecloth on the floor and finally got to watch television during a meal.  (Prior to that I believe we were actually the “meanest parents in the whole world” because “everybody” eats dinner and watches t.v. simultaneously!)  Anyway, we made an extra effort to turn down invitations and activities that occurred during that timeframe.  After 10 years, I am happy to report that we are still holding strong to that tradition but the remaining time of Sunday is far from simple.

I have concluded that if I want to have a “day of rest”, I have to deal more with myself than the outside world.  I am the one that thinks that if I just get one more thing done that day, it will mean less work during the week.  How ridiculous is that??  I end up adding another project down the line until the whole thing explodes again on Sunday.  So, my next project is to STOP!  Whatever has not been accomplished on Saturday evening will not be looked at until Monday morning.  I want our Sundays to be a time my children will look back and cherish as a special day.  Think I can do it??  I will keep you posted!

Do you have Simple Sundays?  How was it established and what do you do??