A conversation I had with Davis this week warmed my heart to overflowing. I know I will forget it if I don't write it somewhere. So, Blog, here you go!
I was relaxing on the couch in our quiet (what!? does that really happen?!) living room with just Davis (ah-ha! NOW I know how it could be that the living room was quiet...!). Davis saw my empty lap and said, "Oh! I think I need some cuddle time." Not a common request by him, I was glad to oblige. Up he climbed, rounded himself into a nine-and-a-half-year-old ball in my lap and just sighed a big contented sigh. I sighed happily with him and said, "Davis, you are turning out to be a really wonderful young man. You know that?"
"Well, YOU raised me, Mom."
"Aw," (big smile) "I had something great to work with, though."
Then he smiled just as big, hugged me tighter and said, "I love you, Mom. I really love you."
Showing posts with label motherhood. Show all posts
Showing posts with label motherhood. Show all posts
Monday, May 30, 2011
Thursday, March 12, 2009
The Truth Comes Out
I am having another one of those moments when I feel the weight of having four boys (funny - I accidentally typed "three" instead of "four" and had to backspace). Anywho, this "moment" has lasted about, oh I don't know, 11 days.
The first moment like this was when I was folding laundry for all six of us, all mixed together in one load. I was going crossed-eyed trying to figure out all the proper piles of jammies, pants, socks, and shirts. Remember that post?
This eleven-day moment is really a reprise of yesterday's post. And Monday's, too. Second verse - SAME AS THE FIRST! I am frustrated that I can't fit everything in to the day. I have so many things I want to be intentional about with my kids, yet the actual care and feeding of them and Ryan keeps on getting in the way (darn it!). How ironic: I could raise these kids a lot better if I didn't have any kids to raise. Ha!
I want to disciple my kids in the Lord, teach my kids how to be diligent hard workers, to know their Bible, to be good students, to treat their brothers well, to be generous givers, to memorize scripture, to love to read, to keep their room clean, to be helpful, to follow through to completion with a task, to ride a bigger bike, to obey the first time, to speak respectfully...
In a way I feel like I did when I was a first-time mom. You remember (or you are living it now) when you could hardly fold one basket of laundry throughout the course of an entire day; and it was all you could do to get dinner on the table - but you can forget about eating that dinner while it was hot... aw, who am I kidding?! I would have settled for just eating it warm! Nothing like cold mashed potatoes squishing around in your mouth.
Anyway, I am totally living in that place right now, where I am hoping that the laundry gets folded before a week goes by and we are actually digging through the baskets for clean undies. This week, four baskets sat clean but cold and wrinkly for two days before they got any of my attention.
And all day long the kids ask for my attention. They each have a mantra all their own:
Davis: Can we read another chapter out of ______ book?
Jackson: How about if we play a game together. Connect Four, or Rat-a-Tat-Cat. You choose. Or walking soccer, since you don't run. (Someday again, right pelvic floor?!?)
Weston: Pee-pees, Mommy! Pee-PEES!! Read? EAT!
Drake: Feed me, change me, put me to bed. BURP! Feed me, change me, put me to bed. BURP!Feed me, change me, put me to bed. BURP! Feed me, change me, put me to bed. BURP!...
And I love it. I want to read, play games, work puzzles, be silly, wrestle and cuddle at least once every day. But, honest-engine, there is not always time in the day for each of those things. In order for everyone to be taken care of - just yer basic feeding and care - takes nearly every moment I have. Now granted, I have a part-time job working for my husband that takes me away 15 hours a week. (Did I mention I love working with him?) But the bottom line here is life is full!
But my mother-in-law called me this morning. She is a loyal reader of my blog and read yesterday's post and said something encouraging that really blessed me. She has a great perspective on this because she loves living a life full of serving others and I believe it grieves her that she cannot be there 100% of the time for each and every dear friend and family member in her life (though she does everything she can to give everything she has... she has an incredible servant's heart). She reminded me that its okay to not get it all done. The yearning can leave you with a sweet taste in your mouth for a day to come when you can do more - that's called hope. In the mean time, be patient. This season is intense but short.
So, I am working through all this right now. I know I want to do everything I can to raise my kids well, but I must remember that I can't do it all right now. Not with an infant, anyway. But a day will come when I can give more attention, spend more time, be less scattered for the whole family. And I can live in that hope while still enjoying today.
The first moment like this was when I was folding laundry for all six of us, all mixed together in one load. I was going crossed-eyed trying to figure out all the proper piles of jammies, pants, socks, and shirts. Remember that post?
This eleven-day moment is really a reprise of yesterday's post. And Monday's, too. Second verse - SAME AS THE FIRST! I am frustrated that I can't fit everything in to the day. I have so many things I want to be intentional about with my kids, yet the actual care and feeding of them and Ryan keeps on getting in the way (darn it!). How ironic: I could raise these kids a lot better if I didn't have any kids to raise. Ha!
I want to disciple my kids in the Lord, teach my kids how to be diligent hard workers, to know their Bible, to be good students, to treat their brothers well, to be generous givers, to memorize scripture, to love to read, to keep their room clean, to be helpful, to follow through to completion with a task, to ride a bigger bike, to obey the first time, to speak respectfully...
In a way I feel like I did when I was a first-time mom. You remember (or you are living it now) when you could hardly fold one basket of laundry throughout the course of an entire day; and it was all you could do to get dinner on the table - but you can forget about eating that dinner while it was hot... aw, who am I kidding?! I would have settled for just eating it warm! Nothing like cold mashed potatoes squishing around in your mouth.
Anyway, I am totally living in that place right now, where I am hoping that the laundry gets folded before a week goes by and we are actually digging through the baskets for clean undies. This week, four baskets sat clean but cold and wrinkly for two days before they got any of my attention.
And all day long the kids ask for my attention. They each have a mantra all their own:
Davis: Can we read another chapter out of ______ book?
Jackson: How about if we play a game together. Connect Four, or Rat-a-Tat-Cat. You choose. Or walking soccer, since you don't run. (Someday again, right pelvic floor?!?)
Weston: Pee-pees, Mommy! Pee-PEES!! Read? EAT!
Drake: Feed me, change me, put me to bed. BURP! Feed me, change me, put me to bed. BURP!Feed me, change me, put me to bed. BURP! Feed me, change me, put me to bed. BURP!...
And I love it. I want to read, play games, work puzzles, be silly, wrestle and cuddle at least once every day. But, honest-engine, there is not always time in the day for each of those things. In order for everyone to be taken care of - just yer basic feeding and care - takes nearly every moment I have. Now granted, I have a part-time job working for my husband that takes me away 15 hours a week. (Did I mention I love working with him?) But the bottom line here is life is full!
But my mother-in-law called me this morning. She is a loyal reader of my blog and read yesterday's post and said something encouraging that really blessed me. She has a great perspective on this because she loves living a life full of serving others and I believe it grieves her that she cannot be there 100% of the time for each and every dear friend and family member in her life (though she does everything she can to give everything she has... she has an incredible servant's heart). She reminded me that its okay to not get it all done. The yearning can leave you with a sweet taste in your mouth for a day to come when you can do more - that's called hope. In the mean time, be patient. This season is intense but short.
So, I am working through all this right now. I know I want to do everything I can to raise my kids well, but I must remember that I can't do it all right now. Not with an infant, anyway. But a day will come when I can give more attention, spend more time, be less scattered for the whole family. And I can live in that hope while still enjoying today.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
I Only Need A Moment
My life right now boils down to a steady stream of moments (wonderful, joyful moments). I move from one child to another, meeting their needs. One child needs a hug, another needs an apple slice. One needs to report his bowel movement to me (so he thinks), and another needs to be rocked. The phone rings. The water is boiling. The husband has a question. I move from one moment to the next all day long until my head hits the pillow. And then I sleep for what honestly feels like a moment. Life is wonderfully full, and mighty busy.
Guess what gets lost in that busy shuffle? My time with the Lord. Every time I am pregnant I fall out of any and every good habit I may have previously established. And every time we add a child to our family, I have to essentially re-learn how to fit quiet times into my life. So, here we are again.
The thought of waking up even earlier (while night-time feedings still exist) is bone-shattering. Finding a chunk of time during the day is a struggle, and the baby is fussy in the evening and requires being held (I gladly cuddle my little monkey who seems to sense immediately when I pick up a book to read). I mention all these things not to complain - far from it... I love my existance - but rather to prove to you that my days are full. Can you relate?!
It occurred to me not too many days ago that 1) I need to lower my expectations for what qualifies as a quiet time, and 2) I need to think differently about my time. So rather than searching all day long for a fifteen-minute window of quiet (does such a thing exist?), I search for a "moment."
It's like this: the two big boys are playing quietly together, the 2yo is sitting on his bed recovering from a fit, and the baby is asleep for the time being. suddenly I realize Hey, I have a moment! Mind you, my sticky counters are stacked with dishes and I still did not get to the mailbox. Previously, I would have seen this "moment" to get either of these two things done. But knowing the moment is fleeting, I stop it all and move toward the couch. The mail can wait. The counters will get sticky again anyway.
A moment is just that - fleeting. Here and gone. So that's my expectation. I don't hope for long sessions of quiet, lest I dash my spirits, become frustrated and give up. Instead, I consider it a great success if I grab that moment with my Bible in my lap, even if I only read a sentence. Because, hey! That means I found my Bible. I sat. I breathed.
And then the moment is gone... success is declared.
Guess what gets lost in that busy shuffle? My time with the Lord. Every time I am pregnant I fall out of any and every good habit I may have previously established. And every time we add a child to our family, I have to essentially re-learn how to fit quiet times into my life. So, here we are again.
The thought of waking up even earlier (while night-time feedings still exist) is bone-shattering. Finding a chunk of time during the day is a struggle, and the baby is fussy in the evening and requires being held (I gladly cuddle my little monkey who seems to sense immediately when I pick up a book to read). I mention all these things not to complain - far from it... I love my existance - but rather to prove to you that my days are full. Can you relate?!
It occurred to me not too many days ago that 1) I need to lower my expectations for what qualifies as a quiet time, and 2) I need to think differently about my time. So rather than searching all day long for a fifteen-minute window of quiet (does such a thing exist?), I search for a "moment."
It's like this: the two big boys are playing quietly together, the 2yo is sitting on his bed recovering from a fit, and the baby is asleep for the time being. suddenly I realize Hey, I have a moment! Mind you, my sticky counters are stacked with dishes and I still did not get to the mailbox. Previously, I would have seen this "moment" to get either of these two things done. But knowing the moment is fleeting, I stop it all and move toward the couch. The mail can wait. The counters will get sticky again anyway.
A moment is just that - fleeting. Here and gone. So that's my expectation. I don't hope for long sessions of quiet, lest I dash my spirits, become frustrated and give up. Instead, I consider it a great success if I grab that moment with my Bible in my lap, even if I only read a sentence. Because, hey! That means I found my Bible. I sat. I breathed.
And then the moment is gone... success is declared.
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