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Grumpy Days…

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Today is one of those days where, I’m not sure what I missed, but something must have happened.  The reason why I say that is because it is rare that more than one person in my family has an attitude that is other that pleasant at that same time.  This morning is one of those rare occasions.  My husband and my older son are both a bit upset.  It is so much so that my older daughter asked why everyone looked so miserable.  She is only four and she recognized that there was something wrong.  I asked what the problem was, but I just received a series of blank stares.  as a result my daughter wanted to read this book this morning. “Even Kermit Gets Grumpy.”  This is very true.  We all have our moments. Like Kermit, even those of us who are always smiling have our moments.

It is my prayer today that my husband and my boys have great days.  I also pray for all of those people out there that find themselves being a little grumpy for no reason.  Lord be their joy.

For this very reason, I will make every effort to be positive and to smile… and now for the rest of my day.

A Mother’s Perspective

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Recently I have been talking to a couple different mothers about mothering. As I listen to them talk about their kids and their relationships with them, I realize that there are some things that I just don’t think or feel the same as they do…about. I don’t know if that makes any sense. It’s not that we disagree, but instead we don’t see eye to eye because our experiences are different.

For instance, one of the motheres expressed that she doesn’t want to breastfeed her baby past the age of one. I’m sure that many mothers feel this way, and this is their choice, but I don’t feel the same way. Each of my children weaned themselves. It wasn’t when I was ready, but instead when they were ready to stop that we stopped. So I have breastfed up until 11 months, 13 months, and 15 months. I also have a newborn, so I’m not sure how long I will nurse this time.

Another mother that I talked with expressed the fact that she can’t wait for her children to go to bed. By this I mean both nap time and bed time. As she explained this to me, it seemed that she was saying she waits for those times of day because things get to stressful.

I haven’t felt this yet. I have times throughout the day when I know that both my children and I need some personal time. These are moments throughout the day when, we each pull away and have some solitary time doing whatever we desire, within reason of course. I think this is what stops me from waiting for the moment when they will go to sleep. I actually enjoy the company of my children. Yet I think that a mother in a different stage of life may not want to be around her children as much. Especially if she isn’t doing what she needs to do for herself. I always take time for me. Even if it’s just a simple moment in the bathroom with the door locked…emphasis on the door being locked. Without these moments away, I would be no good to myself or my children. I think I would even come to a point of despising them for a lack of personal space. Do I think that’s a normal reaction? Yes I do. Do I think this has happened to this mother? Not yet, but if she isn’t careful it could happen.

Look let’s face it, we all have struggles. I know I do, but it’s the way that we deal with them that’s important. If I found myself in a situation where my thinking was always negative, I would do all that I could to fix it…aka get a new perspective on things.

This is what I’ve seen when talking with these women or even observing others. We have to be willing to think of the other side…the brighter side of things. No one is wrong in this situation, but there is a different way to see it. Each mom is different and so is her experience. Yet, it is our jobs as moms to make each experience the best. Why? It’s simple. We only get to raise each child one time. There won’t be another opportunity for breastfeeding them from birth again. That bond can only be built once. There is no coloring or dancing with them at age 2 or 4 again. I have to make sure that this experience that we have a memorable one. Not because I hated it, but because I enjoyed the moments no matter how wild the ride was…it has to be a good one.

It is my hope that other moms can think the same way. Don’t miss out in those great moments with your kids because you had the wrong perspective. Change the filter in your lens and see it a little different.

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The Challenge of Mothering

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There have been times when things aren’t going the way that I’ve planned…who am I kidding?! There are plenty of times when things don’t go the way that I’ve planned. There are the random things that my children do, which I immediately must respond to. Then there are the reckons that must be made a head of time and planned on accordingly. Either way, I didn’t plan on the processes that have to be take. As a mother in these instances.

The same is true everyday as I raise my children. We have our mishaps and misunderstandings. I have to make decisions knowing that everyone won’t agree with them…and they don’t. I take a bit of criticism and I see the slanted eyes looking my way, but I must still be the mother that I’ve chosen to be. Not the mother that was weaseled in to this decision or action and that situation. I have to be confident in what I have chosen for my children. This is apart of the challenge. Knowing that what I have chosen is right.

There is no easy way to go about this. The world could look at me or you at any moment and say that raising our children as Chrisitians is wrong. We’d have to proudly look at them and declare that they are the ones who have been misled. The thing is that all of my decisions as a mother have to be made this way. I have to be confident and ready to declare that anyone who challenges me has been misled. If I am unable to take that stance in any decision that I make, I ought not to make it.

I know this may seem a bit confusing to some, but there are others that understand completely what I am saying. I have just had a few instances where I felt challenged as a mom. I had to remind myself that God gave my children to me to mother. He did so because he knew what I would be like. He knew what I would in them and how I would love them. That’s right! I said, “how I would love them.” The how is very important. They need the love the way that I give it…and God planned it that way.

In all of this, it is my prayer that I never lose confidence in the way that God has led me to mother my children. I pray that when I am lost, God would guide me. I pray that he would continue to show me how to be more that I ever thought I could be as a mother.

Newborn Diapers

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I ran out to the store yesterday and picked up some diapers. As I looked for them, I saw that there was a limited selection for the Pampers brand, so I brought the pack of 36 diapers for $10 and some change.

Once I got home, we quickly began to use them. Now in wondering who was the genius that thought it was wisdoms to sell such a small pack of diapers to a parent with a newborn. From a money making perspective, I understand, but I want to buy a box of diapers and I can’t even find them to spend my money on. I guess I’ll have to take a trip to a bulk store to make my purchase…8 diapers between 4am and 7am is a lot…well, normal.

Stages and Ages

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The natural human tendency is to rebel. It is to go against a controlling dominant force in life and do the opposite of what is demanded, stated, or expected. It take a willingness to be obedient before a person actually walks in obedience. This is the same for both adults and children.

If you tell a child to sit and they are at a stage in life where challenging authority is important to setting boundaries, they stand.

If you have a child, you have experienced this. I know I have. I’ve been through this before and I’m going through this now. My children normally behave without a problem until they hit a new development stage in their lives. This is the point where we have to let then grow and to understand that they are pushing against the rules of our house and against us as a part of their development. With this in mind, they must still understand boundaries and limits, while being able to experience the freedom of choice and the consequences to actions.

Today I pray for wisdom as my children move from one stage to another. I pray that they would trust The Lord as they develop and have open hearts and that they are guided by wisdom.
In Jesus’ Name
Amen…

First Day of School…for moms

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Today, I did what I have always done as a mother with children in school. Yet, it seemed so different. It should seem different though. I am in a new state, with four children, on a new routine, and my boys going to new schools.

I’ve been up since 6:45am. That isn’t anything new because I’ve been up at that time before with my kids going to school and with my new baby. However, the thing that got me, was how long this day has been.

After taking my boys to school, I had to feed my baby and grab a bite to eat. Then we went to a doctor’s appointment. While there, they did another metabolic screening in my daughter, which made her very cranky. She still hasn’t recovered from that process. The gentleman actually squeezed her heel for about 20 minutes. He tried to assure me that he was not squeezing her heel. He was convinced, or at least seemed to be and wanted me to be as well, that she was only crying because she didn’t like him holding her foot. Honestly, I was frustrated because my baby was screaming and crying for so long. I asked him to stop so that I could sooth her a bit. He did and so did I.

After spending an hour at each of my kids schools this morning, I had to do the same thing this afternoon in order to pick them up. I’m not too happy about that. Why? Well, it’s because that is a total of 4 hours that I’m not sure is completely necessary.

I hope my boys enjoyed their day. The first day if school is always exciting. It is full of adventure. I remember feeling happy, excited, nervous, and scared all at the same time. They probably experienced the same feelings today. First grade and middle school have to be two of the most exciting times in a kids school career. I can’t wait to hear about their experiences.

For me the first day of school was draining. I didn’t have to spend time in any classes or anything, but I had to do plenty of work.