As a mom and teacher, you find yourself in constant search of peace and quiet. A peace and quiet that seems to never materialize. Most of the time you don’t even realize you are searching for it until it suddenly appears and you’re sitting in your car at a red light and you can hear the wind blowing through the trees. The sound seems foreign and delightful at the same time. It makes you want to sit through the next ten red lights just to be able to fully enjoy it.
Most days I get tired of hearing any of the following: Momma, Mommy, Babe, Alicia, Ms. Alicia, teacher. You can add to that list the other teachers’ names my students sometimes call me. It’s not that I don’t like being called by name, it’s just the frequency with which I hear my names. It can get annoying quite quickly when you hear your name at least once a minute.
I love being a mom and I enjoy teaching, but moments when I feel like hiding are beginning to increase. I need to find “me time,” whatever that means. These days when I think of quiet time I am envisioning a beautiful, rustic agriturismo in Anterselva that we used to go to every year in the Dolomite Mountains. Its serene views and sounds of nature is what my soul needs. Yet, sadly, I cannot go there as we are on the other side of the world. Fortunately, I have the ocean. I simply need to find the time to get down there more often and sit; quietly watching the waves and sunset. This is easier said than done, but absolutely necessary for my sanity!
What do you do to find alone time?
The Cortes Odyssey 
I do less. If your stress levels are so high that you do not regularly sense peace and satisfaction in you callings, wife, mom, teacher, it is time to cut out or back on the overall amount of activity. Stop trying to prove you are faithful to everybody else. Your primary accountability is Jesus and your relationship, not your works. Your works are to flow out of your love with and for Jesus. You are not Steve, you are not Patti, you are Alicia. Serve as who you are. If you are struggling with that then in prayer ask Jesus to tell you who you are, his beloved child, and be revived in his purpose and call. Remeber to let examples of faith be just that, examples. Do not compete but take inspiration. I have people compliment me when they hear me preach or lead musically and they say, Oh you should do … . I thank them for the compliment but I deflect the should. The shoulds are not my call. I strive to stay in close contact with what Jesus has put in my hands and nothing else. That may change over time. He may give me something new but there is all kinds of good stuff I can do but don’t as it is not within my present call. Well, just some rambling thoughts from an old man. Be blessed in Jesus, today.
Great advice. I’ve actually been planning on doing just that, stepping back a bit and taking time to be with the Lord more. Thank you!