This afternoon Rebecca accidentally knocked over a ceramic bowl while she herself was falling off the unstable kitchen stool. The bowl shattered and pieces went everywhere. But Rebecca's sincere comment after the accident was: "At least I didn't die!"
Tonight we went to the interfaith Thanksgiving concert. We went, but...well...we missed the concert. We walked in as they were saying the closing prayer. We were standing at the back and as people were exiting we were receiving full credit for seemingly having been there. One elderly lady came up to us, and commenting on Theo in Warren's arms said: "What a good boy, to have sat through that whole thing!" Warren just smiled and responded to her: "He's amazing!" Well, we might not have sat through the concert, but we did sit through 3 hours of church today, so Theo does get some credit for being amazing!
Showing posts with label craziness of parenthood. Show all posts
Showing posts with label craziness of parenthood. Show all posts
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Clean house vs. happy kids
I've been wanting to share this story for some time now.
This is a story about my mom and a friend of hers. My mom was living in Germany at the time. There was a lady at church who was concerned (as we all are) about her housekeeping and trying to stay on top of things. She had a couple of young children and was frustrated with trying to keep things in perfect order. My mom felt inspired to tell her to relax about her perfect housekeeping and just enjoy her children more and the time she had with them.
Not long thereafter that woman was diagnosed with cancer and died within a short period of time. But before her passing she thanked my mother for the counsel she had given her. What a blessing that this lady could at least look back on the last part of her life with gratitude that she had spent more time with her children.
I think the frustration of housework is something that can really get us moms down. Some personalities more than others, but it's probably a common theme. I'm not a perfect housekeeper, but I've been trying hard to do the basics amid still trying to move into our new house. The thing is, if your happiness is based on having a clean house you'll never be happy, because it will NEVER be done. It can't be done unless you're not actually LIVING in your home.
So...I've been trying to acknowledge that fact and do my best to keep the house running and clean here and there, while not getting frustrated that it is never clean everywhere at once.
And at the same time I've been working hard (as any of my readers know by now) at enjoying these precious childhood years more. It's not that I've discovered the secret, but I have been more successful than in the past-of letting the present mess go, and just enjoying the here and now. And it's good. Really, really good. I like feeling this way and hope I can keep it up.
Tonight was a good example. My personality is to be very focused on the task at hand. Consequently I get frustrated if I'm being "thwarted" at what I NEED to do. It's a weakness and a strength. It means I can be very efficient and productive and disciplined (and a high achiever), but can lack some spontaneity and flexibility and get frustrated more easily by kids who are completely spontaneous.
I was hand watering some patches of grass that needed personalized attention. It was almost bedtime for the kids and I just wanted to get this done before it got any later. Of course water+kids=play and get soaked. They started by just putting their feet in my stream of water (which was annoying enough because it kept the water from going where it was SUPPOSED to be going). Then they tried to take more control over the hose as the water covered more and more of their clothing and the squeals of laughter escalated. The "natural woman" me wanted to be frustrated and say: "Just let me get my job done!!!!" but as I started feeling that way I remembered what was more important. Kids. Yes, kids, not grass. The results are below. Have you ever seen more joy in that little guy's face?
Those are the memories I want to keep in my head and heart.
This is a story about my mom and a friend of hers. My mom was living in Germany at the time. There was a lady at church who was concerned (as we all are) about her housekeeping and trying to stay on top of things. She had a couple of young children and was frustrated with trying to keep things in perfect order. My mom felt inspired to tell her to relax about her perfect housekeeping and just enjoy her children more and the time she had with them.
Not long thereafter that woman was diagnosed with cancer and died within a short period of time. But before her passing she thanked my mother for the counsel she had given her. What a blessing that this lady could at least look back on the last part of her life with gratitude that she had spent more time with her children.
I think the frustration of housework is something that can really get us moms down. Some personalities more than others, but it's probably a common theme. I'm not a perfect housekeeper, but I've been trying hard to do the basics amid still trying to move into our new house. The thing is, if your happiness is based on having a clean house you'll never be happy, because it will NEVER be done. It can't be done unless you're not actually LIVING in your home.
So...I've been trying to acknowledge that fact and do my best to keep the house running and clean here and there, while not getting frustrated that it is never clean everywhere at once.
And at the same time I've been working hard (as any of my readers know by now) at enjoying these precious childhood years more. It's not that I've discovered the secret, but I have been more successful than in the past-of letting the present mess go, and just enjoying the here and now. And it's good. Really, really good. I like feeling this way and hope I can keep it up.
Tonight was a good example. My personality is to be very focused on the task at hand. Consequently I get frustrated if I'm being "thwarted" at what I NEED to do. It's a weakness and a strength. It means I can be very efficient and productive and disciplined (and a high achiever), but can lack some spontaneity and flexibility and get frustrated more easily by kids who are completely spontaneous.
I was hand watering some patches of grass that needed personalized attention. It was almost bedtime for the kids and I just wanted to get this done before it got any later. Of course water+kids=play and get soaked. They started by just putting their feet in my stream of water (which was annoying enough because it kept the water from going where it was SUPPOSED to be going). Then they tried to take more control over the hose as the water covered more and more of their clothing and the squeals of laughter escalated. The "natural woman" me wanted to be frustrated and say: "Just let me get my job done!!!!" but as I started feeling that way I remembered what was more important. Kids. Yes, kids, not grass. The results are below. Have you ever seen more joy in that little guy's face?
Those are the memories I want to keep in my head and heart.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Am I an expert yet?
Yesterday in the comic strip "Baby Blues" it stated that parenthood is becoming an expert at a lot of things you don't want to do. Well, it's true. I'm an expert at sharing: have you ever let your kid pick the raisins out of your raisin bran just because he is your baby-even though he has his own bowl sitting right next to yours?
Last night was another classic parenthood experience, although I would say we definitely weren't experts at what we were doing.
We tried to go to a store to buy blinds for our whole entire house. For someone who does not make big purchases easily this was an overwhelming task. I had gone to the store twice before but there wasn't anyone who could help me in that department. So finally, on the last day of the sale, with husband and kids in tow we made it to the store. I knew the lady would be there because we had spoken several times that day and I had already given her my measurements. We were going to purchase blinds and be done with it. Warren had managed to get off work early just for this purchase. I was even a smart enough mommy to bring two strollers so both kids could be strapped in, cookies, skittles, starbursts, books, activities etc. This was going to work! Well, my activity bag lasted all of about 2 minutes. Joseph managed to get out of his stroller and wouldn't get back in, the kids were running all around the drapery displays, Warren could hardly keep up with them, the lady helping me was incredibly difficult to understand, she was going to leave at six (so I thought getting there by 4:30 was pretty good)... An hour and a half later we walked out, totally frustrated, no blinds ordered, candy all gone, starving kids, starving mom, unhappy dad. Do I have to do this until I become an expert?
Luckily for human kind and peace in the kingdom today was a perfect motherhood day. My baby boy woke up early from his nap but then went back to sleep cuddling with me and we both woke up perfectly happy almost two hours later. In the afternoon we had the most gorgeous weather and the three of us ate ice cream outside and played with the water and the sand and just enjoyed our new garden and being together.
Last night was another classic parenthood experience, although I would say we definitely weren't experts at what we were doing.
We tried to go to a store to buy blinds for our whole entire house. For someone who does not make big purchases easily this was an overwhelming task. I had gone to the store twice before but there wasn't anyone who could help me in that department. So finally, on the last day of the sale, with husband and kids in tow we made it to the store. I knew the lady would be there because we had spoken several times that day and I had already given her my measurements. We were going to purchase blinds and be done with it. Warren had managed to get off work early just for this purchase. I was even a smart enough mommy to bring two strollers so both kids could be strapped in, cookies, skittles, starbursts, books, activities etc. This was going to work! Well, my activity bag lasted all of about 2 minutes. Joseph managed to get out of his stroller and wouldn't get back in, the kids were running all around the drapery displays, Warren could hardly keep up with them, the lady helping me was incredibly difficult to understand, she was going to leave at six (so I thought getting there by 4:30 was pretty good)... An hour and a half later we walked out, totally frustrated, no blinds ordered, candy all gone, starving kids, starving mom, unhappy dad. Do I have to do this until I become an expert?
Luckily for human kind and peace in the kingdom today was a perfect motherhood day. My baby boy woke up early from his nap but then went back to sleep cuddling with me and we both woke up perfectly happy almost two hours later. In the afternoon we had the most gorgeous weather and the three of us ate ice cream outside and played with the water and the sand and just enjoyed our new garden and being together.
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