The hardest time of the day

I remember 'late afternoon' took on a whole different meaning when I become a mother.
Everyone was tired and hungry, even me.  Or especially me.  That's how it was when I was raising my sons.

I found a talk by Julie Beck this week that I have been thinking about ever since.

Here is a small excerpt from it:

"...As I have talked to young mothers, and mothers with children at home-- those teenagers and young adults especially--they tell me that their most important shift to be at the top of their game, to the strongest lioness at the gate is the "swing shift."  That's the afternoon shift.  That's when everyone comes home hungry, tired, needy, and less lovable.  It is when you are hungry, tired, needy, and less lovable.  It is also the time of day when people are more teachable, when they are most grateful.  When we realize and prioritize our time properly, we don't expect to use all of our strength on the other two shifts so that the afternoon shift can be safeguarded and can be a time of strength and power.  We plan for times when the meals are there together, when we can create that home environment and when that family can gather, and you are the strengthening power and force in that family.  Remember that influence and power come when we prioritize correctly.  If you spend time elsewhere, you don't have it to give..."
(For her complete talk given April 29, 2010 go HERE.)

Interesting that the most difficult time of the day for many families is also the time of day when we have the most power to do good. 

Which brings us to dinner...


Or as The Food Nanny remembers from her childhood:
"All six of us gathered in our cramped little kitchen to sit at our big table for a celebration at the end of the day. The meal was so delicious it seemed to make our hurts and disappointments disappear for just that hour. We were together as a family, and that’s all that mattered in the whole world. We had something going on very special in our home and that something very special was
dinnertime.