40 Days and 40 Nights

I been thinking the past few days on what to give up for Lent.  If I remember correctly Lent is a season of soul-searching, reflection and repentance.  The idea of giving up something for Lent is to repent for our wrong doings during the year.  We're suppose to give up something we do a lot and/or really like.  This year I thought very carefully about what to give up.  I didn't want to choose something that only benefited me.  I wanted to pick something that would also benefit my husband and daughter.  Giving up food items like chocolate, coffee, etc. are things I love and I might end up loosing weight because of it but it wouldn't impact my family directly.  Giving up facebook, twitter, or blogging  might free up more time but I only do these things late at night when my family is asleep.  I would probably get more sleep if I didn't spent time on them but again I don't think it would directly impact my family.

What I decided to give up was laziness and excuses.  That sounds very vague, I know.  Let me explain.  Ever since I had Izzy household chores and errands would suffer because I was too darn tired or it was too much of a hassle packing up Izzy to get them done.  I would say that they fell under the excuses, at first, and now under the laziness.  It negatively affected my family because Izzy missed out on socializing and a change of scenery by getting out of the house and my hubby didn't always have a clean house.  Another example is taking the dog for a walk.  Oscar missed out because he wasn't getting exercise, I wasn't either and my hubby ended up doing it at home.  That falls under laziness.

I see this as an multifaceted benefit.  My to do list will decrease.  My daughter will get more time playing "mommy's helper", get out of the house more and hopefully have more exposure and socialization time.  My dog will get more exercise.  I will get more exercise.  My hubby will have more free time from the slack I pick up.  

So mommies, if you observe Lent, what are you going to give up this year?  What are your two cents?