Sometimes I wonder why God gave me this passion for cooking and baking things, yet absolutely no desire to exercise.
These are the things I ponder while I stuff myself with pumpkin pie, pumpkin bars, pumpkin muffins and the like.
Our after school treat today. I only get one chance a week to make an after school treat, so it has to be good. These fit the bill. YUM.
I love to read, and I tend to read A LOT of parenting books. I love books on discipline, homeschooling, and how to raise perfect children. Except that last one eludes me, so I stick with the first two. I love gospel centered parenting books, books that encourage me, inspire me, and make me want to be a better wife and mama.
But, sometimes, the best knowledge doesn't come from books. It comes from the day in, day out experiences of being a Mama. It's in the little moments of reading on the couch, coloring together, or handling an argument. It's in those precious moments where I bend down and soothe the crying child instead of running out of patience because they were running in the house and didn't they just spill that water on the floor that they slipped on?
Parenting is made up of thousands of moments just like that. Where we choose to run out of patience, or respond with grace and a Father-like, un-worldly love.
What have I learned in my seven and a half years of being a Mom? Well, way too much for one post, that's for sure. This list isn't all inclusive by any stretch, but these are the things that are hitting me fresh today.
1. Sometimes, babies sleep best when carried by their Mama.
I can read all the books that say not to use props and all about spoiling but SOMETIMES....sometimes? I'm just gonna hold my baby because I can. Because all too soon she will be busting out of this sling, on stable, sturdy feet of her own, running in the opposite direction, away from me. So right now, I'm gonna snuggle up to her and feel her baby soft skin against my own.
2. Children make messes. And I can either stress out about it or take a deep breath, relax, and work on a solution together. I just function better in clean, organized space. So I'm working on asking them to help clean up on a consistent, regular basis. In their own way, they can help, and it helps balance my burden while teaching responsibility.
3. Children have lots of energy, and love to explore (and make messes. Did I mention that?). These things are best experienced with my children. Instead of "hmmmmm-ing" through my day at the COUNTLESS things my children tell me, I stop and take a minute, sometimes even only a few seconds, to look at what they are talking about. I get down on the floor with them, dig in the dirt, ooh and ahh over a newfound bug (from a safe distance, of course, while threatening to withhold donuts for a year if it is thrown on me).
Sometimes it will be at convenient times and sometimes it won't, but it's always worth it to see the world from a child's eyes.
4. Babies make me happy.
Naked babies? Even more so. And especially this one. Those tiny parts and that chubby belly and rolly thighs and rubber band wrists and OH! I'm practically giddy with delight. And, I'm realizing, having a baby is the easiest part of parenting. She only cries, and I meet her needs quickly. She smiles and coos. It's not until she gets older that she will test my patience, talk back, and disobey. Right now, she's just this chubby bundle of sweetness. And I'm no Michelle Duggar, so I know eventually I will run out of babies, which is even more reason why I have to enjoy her NOW.
5. Children look up to their Daddies.
Children need their Daddies. I am who I am: nurturing and soothing, loving and calming. And how boring it would be if John were exactly the same! But thankfully, by God's design, he is who he is: silly and wild and rough and fun. There have been many times in our parenting that I am tempted to say "Not so rough!" but I don't. Because our kids love both sides, and it is good for them to experience the rough and tumble ways of their Dad. Of course, loving ways are mixed in there, too.
6. Children learn what they see and pick up on what they hear. Most often, when I'm struggling with a bad attitude from Ansley or quick-to-anger Christian, I can look in the mirror and discover where it's coming from. They are always watching, and it's SO important to live a life that is pleasing to God, because my children are only reflecting what they see.
7. Fresh air is good for everyone.
When all else fails and the day is whiney and school is disruptive, we head outside. There is something about being outside that seems to alleviate the stress of a bad day. Even Avery seems to enjoy looking around, and has yet to cry while we are outside. (But of course she's in the sling, so that could also be why.)
8. At the end of the day, or year, I pray that my kids remember a loving home, where they were encouraged and supported, where they grew in love for God and each other, where they learned to be kind and forgiving, and where they laughed way more than they cried.
What have you learned?
1. Assemble your children, and announce VERY EXCITEDLY that you would like a photo with them, since it's Mother's Day. And you're the mother. This works best when they are right in the middle of playing, because ALL children love to quit playing so they can take pictures with their Mama instead. And being a Mama is really all about timing sometimes.
2. Time the photo for right after the baby is fed, so she's happy and full.This will ensure that she isn't fussy or grumpy, making for an ideal photo.
3. Place the four year old right next to the baby. This way, when the baby spits up a small amount on his shorts, he can lose it. Four year olds losing it really make for great photographs.
This shirt really brings out his teary blue eyes, don't you think? See? I'm practically a professional. Stick with me, and you will have your perfect photo in no time!
4. Time the photo when the sun is at its brightest, so that the seven year old can complain loudly that she is HOT and wants to be DONE TAKING PICTURES. Ah, but she doesn't realize who she has as a Mama. WE ARE NEVER DONE!
The sassiness really brings out her freckles.
5. Never give up. Even when the four year old is crying and the seven year old is giving you the evil eye, don't lose heart. Even when the baby starts crying.
This is where the magic is.
You can hone all your mother skills to keep calm in moments like these. And remember, practice makes perfect.
Ah, there it is! The perfect shot. I'm pretty sure I'm in my happy place.
There are happy children in my happy place.
I hope your results are as good as mine with these five easy steps!
{Despite my joking, I do have three sweet children, most of the time, and I am very blessed to be spending my days with them.}
You may have heard me complain a few times about my camera. It's a Canon, and it tends to take blurry pictures. I'm sure it's not me. It's also big and heavy, and five or six years old. So the technology is zooming ahead, leaving me behind.
I guess I've been complaining loud enough for the people in my house to hear.
So for Mother's Day, I got a new camera! A Nikon. Ooooohhhhhhhhhhhhh.
And I have to say, it's MUCH lighter, hasn't had a blurry photo yet, and I haven't uttered a complaint about it yet. I am likin' it! So I've been playing around with my new camera all weekend.
So much so that Avery got a little grumpy.
(Only kidding. She got grumpy all on her own.)
I can also take pictures like this now without it being blurry.
And John even enjoys trying it out, so there are pictures of me. Gasp!
I even had the kids shouting take a picture of me Mom!
So, I did. Ansley even suggested I lay down in the grass for this one. I thought that was a good idea.
Christian collapsed on the ground because he's sad that he doesn't know how to swing himself. And quite honestly, I'm sad he doesn't know how to swing himself too, because my arms get tired while pushing and holding a baby. But Christian is energetically challenged at times.
And look!
We have younglings!
You can really use Star Wars sayings and phrases in all areas of life.
Squash, zucchini and cucumbers are coming up. So exciting! The kids are really enjoying watching out for younglings. Or, for the non-Star Wars fan, sprouts.
It was a great Mother's Day, enjoying my family and hanging out together.
Taking pictures, of course.
We aren't the kind to keep good news to ourselves. It's just not in us. We like sharing. And we want you to share in our joy. That's part of the beauty of life, isn't it? Sharing in the joys and sorrows. But this is a joy.
And I've held it in for two days now so I just can't stand it any longer.
Yes, this means.....
Praise God from whom ALL blessings flow!
We are grateful.
For some reason, Typepad made me re-enter my login ID and password - usually it remembers it for me. And for some reason, I was having trouble remembering it, and it wasn't letting me into my account. So I click on "Need Help?" to, well, get some help. And a screen comes up, saying in order for them to help me, I needed to enter my login ID and password.
How did we ever survive before the internet?
But, in reality, sometimes being a Mama can feel like that to me. Like, yes, I need help, but THIS isn't helping. You know that feeling? I need a better way to discipline, and yelling sure isn't cutting it. I need a better way to probe the heart of my child, but getting "I don't know" is doing nothing. I need to be more patient, and this fit of rage is not quite what I had in mind. I need to take advantage of those teachable moments, but sometimes I'm more caught up in "what's next?" to remember. Like I need some sort of message or sign, and this doing it on my own is for the birds.
{Summer 2008}
"Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace." 2 Corinthians 4:16 MSG
Ah, THERE'S my message. There's my help. Did you catch that? Not a day goes by. Not a day goes by that God doesn't pour out His grace on me. I was impatient? There's grace. I messed up? More grace. I yelled at my husband or kids? Even MORE grace. Not a day goes by!
Being a Mama is tough work. It's hard, sometimes it's thankless and demanding and exhausting and full of challenges. But then, at the end of the day, when I'm tucking my kids in bed, and they are smiling at me as they whisper "I love you", I breathe in the full grace of God. And I am truly thankful.
I think becoming a Mom makes you appreciate your own Mom so much more. So, Mom, even though it's been awhile since you've had young kids, I can now appreciate all the sacrifices, all the demands and challenges and love and grace that YOU extended for your children. And I am so thankful for your example, and the relationship you have with my own children.
{One of my favorite pictures - Summer 2008}
I feel passionate about my role as a Mama. Sometimes the weight of the burden is so heavy I fear I will be crushed. And so I pray a lot. And I try to remember grace - and to extend it to my own kids. I feel blessed to be called to this role, this role that I cherish and love and that brings me great joy.
I can't imagine missing out on:
* Sweet sloppy slobbery kisses from a two year old
* That first newborn smile (who cares if it was gas? It's priceless.)
* Hearing the squeal of "Look at THAT!!" over such every day things like a butterfly or smooth rock
* The smell of baby skin
* Hearing the high-pitched toddler discovering his voice can make different sounds
* Bursts of giggles over the silliest of things (and wondering why these moments must involve bodily functions??)
* Four words: "I love you, Mama"
* Adorable little chunky toddler hands
* All the joy, the laughter, and the love
I hope you take some time today to reflect on your own blessings in this wonderful journey called Motherhood.
Happy Mother's Day!
