My sister Leah has a great big wonderful Mormon family with 7 children. She lives in Idaho. She has a mantra she shares with me and I use it. "I am the calm in the eye of the storm."
I can imagine 2 boys wrestling on the floor, someone practicing the piano, someone looking for a buddy to play catch with, one is sick on the couch, one is playing dolls, everyone is hungry, dinner needs to be made, laundry is piling up, dog needs to be feed. There she is sitting on her bed nursing the baby reciting, I am the calm in the eye of the storm. She is a wonderful mother and she has everything under control in amazing ways, but somehow I can't help thinking she is getting just what she deserves. She probably thinks the same thing about me.
I love her and we are close, our whole family is, oh and we are adding one more, Mikell on March 16th, she is brave enough to marry my little brother, that completes the in -laws and I couldn't be happier. Geez, who knows what we all could have married? Hazel and CC took to calling her Miss. Mikell while they were dating, maybe we they will call her Mrs. Mikell when she marries Spence. Now I just have to hold my breath to see who Jennifer, Johnathan and Rob bring home onN8s side. Oh well, may we all get along and love each other.
Oh back to Leahs mantra. I have one too. Even though this is a challenge, I will continue. Sometimes I change it to say, Even though I am tired, I will continue. Or sometime I make a joke of it, Even though I feel like a clumsy ox, I will continue. It sort of resets my focus and helps me keep going til N8 gets home. Ahhhh, that glorious time when I hear the front door open.
Showing posts with label Being a parent. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Being a parent. Show all posts
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Thursday, October 27, 2011
These Are My Aims
I had several years before we had children to think of what kind of mother I would be. And years to think of how I didn't want to be. I thought, for all my waiting, I would be most patient and forbearing of women but I am not. I am just a good mother that does her best everyday and apologies when she does wrong. Children can be very difficult and exhausting. So to not lose my way, I work toward these aims.
My desire is to raise confident, well rounded, Christ centered children. If my children can handle this being foisted upon them, I feel like they can weather anything life throws at them.
They will have confidence to stand up for the right, treat all people kindly, ask questions (something I was really afraid of!) and develop new skills.
Well rounded enough to be diverse, educated and slightly cultured with a splash of athleticism, (that is a tall order but at least they have to try).
A Christ centered person can overcome and forgive the bitter struggles that happen as part of life. They can look to greater things and live knowing there is more than this life, they can live with God again.
To this end I try to manage our family so that my children can develop these values, abilities, characteristics, whatever you call them. I ask myself, have I given the girls chores that make them feel proud and accomplished? Have I shown them confidence and encouraged them in our activities? Do they feel comfortable asking questions? Do they know that what they do matters to me? Do I value them as creative, playful and helpful little people? Did I squish their initiative at all today or guide it?
Well rounded: Did they learn anything new today? Did we talk about the world and explore anything? What have they learned of music, painting, writing, history, body movement and sports?
Christ centered: How did I show my belief in Christ through my actions today? Did we pray? Did we talk about sharing, forgiving and gratitude? Did we read the scriptures? I know these children come from God. He imprinted in them such kindnesses and acts of generosity, I know they didn't learn it from myself or N8. They can be super rascals too, but sometimes I am simply in awe of these fine people around me.
Sometimes I really believe there is a rainbow smiling over our house. Not a moon or the sun, a rainbow. (Maybe it is just the new paint job.) In Bible times, the rainbow was Gods sign that He wouldn't flood the earth again, to me is represents forgiving. I wonder if I can apply that symbolism here. The rainbow is over our house because as a family we are learning how to get along and forgiving each other. The rainbow teaches me that even when we make mistakes our home can be a clean place of love and safety.
Gotta go, laundry is calling. Give me this mountain. (Joshua 14:12) Maybe I should do a post about how much I admire Caleb for his words and how often they have inspired me.
My desire is to raise confident, well rounded, Christ centered children. If my children can handle this being foisted upon them, I feel like they can weather anything life throws at them.
 |
| I think we've got the confidence in part |
Well rounded enough to be diverse, educated and slightly cultured with a splash of athleticism, (that is a tall order but at least they have to try).
A Christ centered person can overcome and forgive the bitter struggles that happen as part of life. They can look to greater things and live knowing there is more than this life, they can live with God again.
To this end I try to manage our family so that my children can develop these values, abilities, characteristics, whatever you call them. I ask myself, have I given the girls chores that make them feel proud and accomplished? Have I shown them confidence and encouraged them in our activities? Do they feel comfortable asking questions? Do they know that what they do matters to me? Do I value them as creative, playful and helpful little people? Did I squish their initiative at all today or guide it?
Well rounded: Did they learn anything new today? Did we talk about the world and explore anything? What have they learned of music, painting, writing, history, body movement and sports?
Christ centered: How did I show my belief in Christ through my actions today? Did we pray? Did we talk about sharing, forgiving and gratitude? Did we read the scriptures? I know these children come from God. He imprinted in them such kindnesses and acts of generosity, I know they didn't learn it from myself or N8. They can be super rascals too, but sometimes I am simply in awe of these fine people around me.
Sometimes I really believe there is a rainbow smiling over our house. Not a moon or the sun, a rainbow. (Maybe it is just the new paint job.) In Bible times, the rainbow was Gods sign that He wouldn't flood the earth again, to me is represents forgiving. I wonder if I can apply that symbolism here. The rainbow is over our house because as a family we are learning how to get along and forgiving each other. The rainbow teaches me that even when we make mistakes our home can be a clean place of love and safety.
Gotta go, laundry is calling. Give me this mountain. (Joshua 14:12) Maybe I should do a post about how much I admire Caleb for his words and how often they have inspired me.
Sunday, October 23, 2011
MUD
I lost all credibility and trust with the girls on Saturday. We walked with James and Quinn to 7-eleven. The girls only have eyes for slurpees, the redbox and balloons. I doubt they even know that facility really sells gasoline or more importantly nachos. Whenever we go there, its a banana/cherry mixed slurpee and "Mom, do they have balloons today? And can we get a show?" I always make them ask for their own balloons, as they usually give free balloons to kids. (Did you know?)
So we are walking out of there and CC has hers tied to her arm and Hazel asked me to tie hers to the stroller. I thought I tied it securely. About a minute passed and the red balloon just floated up to the sky. Hazel and CC just stared. Then they both started crying. CC because she is compassionate and Hazel because she just lost all the happiness in the world. It was too much for me, their sad, pathetic faces looking up at the sky to a balloon that will never come back, I just started to laugh. Nothing is more sad than little girls crying for their errant balloons. 7-eleven replaced the balloon but NO ONE would let me near their balloon not even to hold even for a second. I was the enemy. In fact at one point CC was holding so many things in her hands, rocks, sticks, slurpee, balloon, I offered to hold it and nope she would rather drop her slurpee than let her precious balloon fall into villainous hands.
I was trying to tidy up the girls room tonight and accidentally popped Hazels balloon. I hung my head in shame when she learned it. My name is Mud.
So we are walking out of there and CC has hers tied to her arm and Hazel asked me to tie hers to the stroller. I thought I tied it securely. About a minute passed and the red balloon just floated up to the sky. Hazel and CC just stared. Then they both started crying. CC because she is compassionate and Hazel because she just lost all the happiness in the world. It was too much for me, their sad, pathetic faces looking up at the sky to a balloon that will never come back, I just started to laugh. Nothing is more sad than little girls crying for their errant balloons. 7-eleven replaced the balloon but NO ONE would let me near their balloon not even to hold even for a second. I was the enemy. In fact at one point CC was holding so many things in her hands, rocks, sticks, slurpee, balloon, I offered to hold it and nope she would rather drop her slurpee than let her precious balloon fall into villainous hands.
I was trying to tidy up the girls room tonight and accidentally popped Hazels balloon. I hung my head in shame when she learned it. My name is Mud.
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