Here’s part of one reader’s comment after reading one of my menu plans: 

I don’t menu plan, because it seems to actually impair my ability to cook. :) Whenever I have done it over the course of our 10 years of marriage I have actually cooked less and become a big disgruntled, grumpy wife. I get discouraged that this is something that helps so many, so I wonder what is wrong with me. but–then my hubby just comes in and says, ‘just don’t make a list’. Brilliant man, that husband of mine!

You know I can’t live without my menu plan. (Well, I can live…we just don’t eat very well without my menu plan.)  And the above commenter doesn’t feed her family as well with a menu plan. I’m so glad she was honest in her comment.

Guess what? Not everything that works for one person will work for everyone else. And WE DON’T NEED TO FEEL GUILTY ABOUT IT.

God made us all different.  On purpose. He is very wise like that.

I LOVE this blogging world we are all a part of and I think it’s such a wonderful way to help each other and encourage each other and share the things we know with each other. But you all are a lot better than I am at all kinds of things. If I let myself, I could become discouraged about all the things I read about that you’re doing that I’m not doing.

For instance:

1. I haven’t made scrapbooks for my kids. I’ve barely written in their baby books.
2. Spelling is not my strong soot. Suite. Suit. Whatever.  Spelling duzn’t come naturally to me. I use spell check a lot and even then I stil mes up.
3. I am very directionally challenged. I will never know where “west” is, so don’t ask me to point to it.
4. I can’t get my bathrooms to smell good for longer than five minutes. (It’s a boy thing.)
5. I am terrible about hanging my clothes up at the end of the day.
6. I haven’t pulled out my sewing machine to make anything (or repair anything) for months. Who am I kidding?  Years.
7. There are crumbs surrounding my computer. 
8. I hate reading directions and fine print.
9. I seem to have some sort of phobia about learning a foreign language and have never made it past Pig Latin.
10. Driving a stick shift vehicle makes me break out in hives. Simply typing the words “stick shift vehicle” makes me break out in hives. And I also hate driving in big cities. In any vehicle.

I could keep going with that list, but you need to get on with your day.

My point is this:  If menu planning…or anything else someone encourages you to do doesn’t work for you…that’s okay. :)

I think it’s great to learn from each other. But if you finish reading a blog post or visiting with someone and are left thinking,  “Oh dear…I am so much less of a woman because I failed to alphabetize and color code the dry beans in my pantry…but when am I supposed to find time for that because I really need to sit down with my two year old and teach him to fluently write and speak German by 2:00 this afternoon…” then maybe you should give yourself a little break. 

Ask yourself the following questions that apply to you…

• Am I being lazy or am I being a hard worker?
• Am I doing what God wants me to be doing?
• Am I doing what my husband wants me to be doing?
• Am I taking care of my children the way I should be taking care of them?

Use your God given gifts and let other people use theirs. Take care of your family the way you feel God is calling you to take care of your family. Read and learn and be challenged by what people write and share…but only do what works for you and what you feel God wants for you. God calls you to be you…and that’s it!

Care to share? I’d love to hear something you’re really good at…and something you’d rather leave to someone else!! Like maybe I could come plan your menu  for you and you could drive me around in big cities?