Spring is coming and with it all the extra duties of lawn and garden care. These are things that I can enjoy as long as I don’t try to tackle them all at once. If I can remember that the weeds always win, it’s nature’s way of reminding me who is really in charge, then I can work on them with a light heart and find pleasure. I am even finding ways to make peace with the moles who invade our yard from time to time by filling their holes with cat litter. It’s a win-win for both me and the cat. When it all becomes too much, I need to consider hiring help, because my role as CarePartner is full enough, I really don’t need to add full time gardener to it.

It is so easy for me to let life become overwhelming. I say let, because I have a choice about how much I am willing to take on. I know how much spare time I have during the day and when there might be opportunities to do extra tasks. We have a pretty strict schedule and taking on something new will mean that I have to give something else up, I have learned to accept that and prioritize my choices. There are things I do for and with my husband that cannot be changed, I understand and work around those. I also recognize that sometimes everything has to go by the wayside except caring for my husband, and I need to be prepared for those times too.

No matter how hard I try, there will always be more work than I am able to reasonably finish. I have been known to push myself to the limits and then pay for it with exhaustion and an achy body. My husband pays for it when I am cranky and too tired to be present for him. It is not healthy for either of us and is a signal that I need to slow down or look for outside help.

Spring is a time when I can look forward and create a realistic plan for the summer months. I can choose to care for either my yard and garden or myself. I think this year I will do minimal gardening so that I can spend more time enjoying the nice weather with my husband, not with the weeds.