One of my high-schoolers sent me an invitation on facebook to pray for this kid. Honestly, I usually do not accept these sort of invites if I do not intend on praying for the person. Or I may pray and delete. This time though I felt compelled to read this kid's story. As I read, I could not help but cry for this kid and his family and the abrupt change and disruption to their lives. There towards the bottom of the page was his Mom's blog. Please, read his story and join me in praying for Ian and his family. You can find the beginning of his story here.
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Waving My White Flag
I recently watched a clip about Moms that are going back to work in order to get away from taking care of their kids.
Today was one of those days where I could totally relate to the desire to do just that.
The nice thing about a "job" is that it is (usually) timed. I worked at an office from 8-5. I worked for a school from 2-6. The "job" does not come home with me. I can come home and relax after the "job".
Being a stay-at-home Mom is a 24/7 "job". It does not stop at 5 nor offer time for relaxation. Even after the kids go to bed, you have laundry and dishes calling your name.
Staying at home has been great. I get to be with my girls and teach them what I want them to know. I can decide (for now) who they hang out with and are influenced by. I get to love on them all day and grow a relationship with them that hopefully someday will bring us to friendship.
Not only are there those benefits, but I also can (somewhat) keep up with my household duties better.
Today though.... I wanted to just raise my white flag and throw in the towel.
Kaylee woke up (early) with extra energy that she must have had stored under her pillow from yesterday. She was in to EVERYTHING and constantly doing exactly what I just had asked her not to do. She ran around her room her whole nap time, never napping, and still had energy to finish out the day.
Ella woke up (early) and cranky. I think she is teething. Slobber and spit-up EVERYWHERE. She cried a lot today which usually is a sign that I forgot to give her her reflux meds, but I remembered today so again - teething??? Either way, she was not her usual laid back self.
Surprisingly, I did not let these early risers get to me (right away). Kaylee and I spent the morning playing tea and pretending to eat her alphabet magnets while Ella took her morning nap. Lunch time was when I started to get worn down. It is just so exhausting to say, "NO!" over and over and over and over and over again. (and over again) And tiring to discipline over and over again. And wearing to hear crying all day.
By the time bed time rolled around, I had nothing left to give except frustration.
It was interesting though because all I could think about was the kind of Mom I am being. Who am I to be a Mother to these two girls? I am so completely fortunate and blessed to be able to stay home and take care of them. Good or bad days. Sure, they are super exhausting a lot of the time, but it goes back to the fact that this time (while it seems long and drawn out today) that I have with them is going to fly by! How are they going to remember this time that they have at home with me? How will it effect our relationship in the future?
With those thoughts, I was able to keep my frustration and emotion in check while I finished bedtime routines and got the girls into bed.
The Lord brought a passage of scripture to my heart as well.
Proverbs 22:6
Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.
May God continue to mold and shape me (in spite of me) to be a wonderful example of who He is and bring glory to His name through me as a Mom (and a wife).
Today was one of those days where I could totally relate to the desire to do just that.
The nice thing about a "job" is that it is (usually) timed. I worked at an office from 8-5. I worked for a school from 2-6. The "job" does not come home with me. I can come home and relax after the "job".
Being a stay-at-home Mom is a 24/7 "job". It does not stop at 5 nor offer time for relaxation. Even after the kids go to bed, you have laundry and dishes calling your name.
Staying at home has been great. I get to be with my girls and teach them what I want them to know. I can decide (for now) who they hang out with and are influenced by. I get to love on them all day and grow a relationship with them that hopefully someday will bring us to friendship.
Not only are there those benefits, but I also can (somewhat) keep up with my household duties better.
Today though.... I wanted to just raise my white flag and throw in the towel.
Kaylee woke up (early) with extra energy that she must have had stored under her pillow from yesterday. She was in to EVERYTHING and constantly doing exactly what I just had asked her not to do. She ran around her room her whole nap time, never napping, and still had energy to finish out the day.
Ella woke up (early) and cranky. I think she is teething. Slobber and spit-up EVERYWHERE. She cried a lot today which usually is a sign that I forgot to give her her reflux meds, but I remembered today so again - teething??? Either way, she was not her usual laid back self.
Surprisingly, I did not let these early risers get to me (right away). Kaylee and I spent the morning playing tea and pretending to eat her alphabet magnets while Ella took her morning nap. Lunch time was when I started to get worn down. It is just so exhausting to say, "NO!" over and over and over and over and over again. (and over again) And tiring to discipline over and over again. And wearing to hear crying all day.
By the time bed time rolled around, I had nothing left to give except frustration.
It was interesting though because all I could think about was the kind of Mom I am being. Who am I to be a Mother to these two girls? I am so completely fortunate and blessed to be able to stay home and take care of them. Good or bad days. Sure, they are super exhausting a lot of the time, but it goes back to the fact that this time (while it seems long and drawn out today) that I have with them is going to fly by! How are they going to remember this time that they have at home with me? How will it effect our relationship in the future?
With those thoughts, I was able to keep my frustration and emotion in check while I finished bedtime routines and got the girls into bed.
The Lord brought a passage of scripture to my heart as well.
Proverbs 22:6
Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.
May God continue to mold and shape me (in spite of me) to be a wonderful example of who He is and bring glory to His name through me as a Mom (and a wife).
Monday, August 15, 2011
Good-bye
I hate saying good-bye.
Last week I was able to go spend some time with my parents while Adam was on a business trip. I usually stay home, but since I already had been with the girls for several days on my own (Adam was at GenCon) I decided some help would be nice.
It was so nice to relax and just visit.
I spent some time just hanging out at the house with Mom. We played lots of Angry Birds and watched some HGTV.
I hung out with Dad by playing my current game of choice, Carcossonne. Dad also got me hooked on the show Jericho. The only problem is that it is one of those shows that would give me nightmares if I watched it alone at night, which is about the only time I can watch it without the girls and Adam is not caught up to where I am in the series so I am stuck.
Mom took me out my last night there, which I know was hard on her since she was not having a good week with her health. This night in particular, she was feeling awful, but she really wanted to spend some time out with me. Dad watched my girls and Mom took me to the Mexican joint in town, which is fabulous. Then, we went to Kohls and Target just to look around. It was so nice to get to have some adult conversation with my Mom and not be interrupted by my girls. I am truly grateful that she made time for me even though she felt horrible.
My Dad is the "toddler whisperer" as he is the only person I know that can put my kid to bed and she not only stays there, she also does not cry about being there. It is incredible in an annoying sort of way. (I called him to find out his secret and it just does not work for me. Although, she cries less.)
Overall, the trip was a success. It was not fun driving all that way with both girls by myself, but I am still alive.
On my way home, I just kept thinking about how much it sucks that I don't live closer to my family. I miss them and wish I could see them more. I pray that we are not always this far apart. I want my kids to know my parents and be able to have some great moments with them and know see why I think I grew up with the coolest parents. Maybe someday...
I hate saying good-bye.
Last week I was able to go spend some time with my parents while Adam was on a business trip. I usually stay home, but since I already had been with the girls for several days on my own (Adam was at GenCon) I decided some help would be nice.
It was so nice to relax and just visit.
I spent some time just hanging out at the house with Mom. We played lots of Angry Birds and watched some HGTV.
I hung out with Dad by playing my current game of choice, Carcossonne. Dad also got me hooked on the show Jericho. The only problem is that it is one of those shows that would give me nightmares if I watched it alone at night, which is about the only time I can watch it without the girls and Adam is not caught up to where I am in the series so I am stuck.
Mom took me out my last night there, which I know was hard on her since she was not having a good week with her health. This night in particular, she was feeling awful, but she really wanted to spend some time out with me. Dad watched my girls and Mom took me to the Mexican joint in town, which is fabulous. Then, we went to Kohls and Target just to look around. It was so nice to get to have some adult conversation with my Mom and not be interrupted by my girls. I am truly grateful that she made time for me even though she felt horrible.
My Dad is the "toddler whisperer" as he is the only person I know that can put my kid to bed and she not only stays there, she also does not cry about being there. It is incredible in an annoying sort of way. (I called him to find out his secret and it just does not work for me. Although, she cries less.)
Overall, the trip was a success. It was not fun driving all that way with both girls by myself, but I am still alive.
On my way home, I just kept thinking about how much it sucks that I don't live closer to my family. I miss them and wish I could see them more. I pray that we are not always this far apart. I want my kids to know my parents and be able to have some great moments with them and know see why I think I grew up with the coolest parents. Maybe someday...
I hate saying good-bye.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
