A couple of weeks ago, somebody asked me, “Why don’t you wear a watch?”

This person seemed surprised by the fact that I (a very busy woman with lots to do all the time) did not have this “essential” piece of equipment.  That question was quickly followed by, “Oh, do you use your cell phone?”

Brett thought that second question was very funny and chimed in, “No, Mom never has her cell phone.”

Now the person was really perplexed.  “But how do you know what you’re supposed to be doing and where you’re supposed to be?”

I gave the person the short answer – “There are lots of clocks around if I need to know the time.”

But the issue of why I don’t wear a watch is actually pretty foundational to my life philosophy.  So I thought I’d share it.

The truth is, I used to wear a watch when I was a new mom.  I wore one for years.  And then it broke.  And I didn’t have the time or the money to replace it.

And do you know what I discovered?  I was a MUCH better Mom and wife without a watch.  That may seem silly, but it is really true.

When I wore a watch, I was not fully present for my family.  I was always looking at the watch, trying to maintain my schedule and be where I was supposed to be and be ready for the next event that was coming.  I couldn’t take the time to just be in the moment because the watch was dictating where I was supposed to be and what I was supposed to be doing at that point in time.  Without a watch, I don’t focus on what time it is.  I just work on what is in front of me and more importantly work with who is in front of me.

When I wore a watch, I was more stressed and anxious because I was focused on what I had to do next.  I had to finish what I was doing because time was passing and the watch was telling me that I had to be ready or get prepared for the next upcoming event.

When I wore a watch, I missed opportunities that spontaneously arose.  I was so focused on time and what was supposed to be happening that I often missed chances to have a special moment with the children or teach them something.  I had to move on to what the watch and schedule said was coming up next.

Without a watch, I still have a loose schedule.  Without a watch, I still have time deadlines that I have to meet.  But I am more governed by people and what they need than what my watch demands.

Let me give you a simple example…

I can remember trying to get Brett, Colter, and Emery ready for church when they were little.  My watch kept telling me that the time we had left til we had to leave was dwindling.  So I got anxious and tried to rush and hurry the children.  And as most Moms know, the moment you try to rush your children, everything slows down and takes longer because something goes wacky.  This caused a lot of anxiety for me because “we were going to be late.”  Anxiety meant that I got cranky and became the kind of Mom I didn’t want to be.

Now, it’s a lot more complicated trying to get everyone ready for church.  But I don’t have a watch.  And I’m not constantly looking at it and watching it get later and later.  Do I still sometimes push the children because I know we’re going to be late?  Yes.  But it’s different.  I’m not sure how I can describe it except to say that without a watch, in some way, the people involved are more important than the minutes involved.

I’m not saying that not wearing a watch is going to fix everything (or that you’re a bad parent if you wear one!).  And there are many times I have to find a clock to look at.  But for me, life is much more peaceful and enjoyable without the pressures of having to constantly know what time it is.

So… I no longer wear a watch.  How do you feel about your watch (or lack thereof)?