Mother of the Year!

After hearing, "I don't like it!"  from my oldest (who has NEVER even tried the item she emphatically doesn't like) for the um-teenth time I said this- "You know!  Sometimes you're a picky pain in the ass!"  Yep, you read it right...I said, "pain in the ass!" to a 9 year old.

Don't worry though, she already knew the word...in fact, she introduced me to "ass-head."  That's a whole 'nother story! ;0)

So, the lesson in this story?  There's no need for anyone else to put their hat in the ring, so to speak, I won the "Mother of the Year" award hands down with this one!  :0)

Validation-How to get it in about 2 and a half hours. Perfect.

My husband took all three of my children out for a little while tonight so I could have some "quiet study time."  It was wonderfully thoughtful and I appreciated it immensely.  I accomplished exactly what  I needed to in the 2 and a half hours that they've been gone.

Exactly  2 hours and thirty minutes ago, that they all climbed in the mommy van and drove away leaving the most wonderful hush throughout my house.

Perfect.

It took me 2 hours and thirty minutes to read my assigned chapters, write out my postings and take a quiz.

Perfect.

Exactly 2 hours and thirty two minutes later, my husband called me from the grocery store.

"What do you need from the grocery store that's quick?" (kids talking loudly in the background)
"Um, hamburgers, rolls, bread, decaf coffee...jelly...cereal..."
 "I said quick..." (kids laughing loudly in the background)
"Um...what's not quick about peanut butter and jelly sandwiches? "
"No!  I meant, quick tell me what you need tonight because I've reached my limit!!!" (kids now even louder)
"Oh! Just jelly, bread and decaf is fine...I'll do the shopping later in the week."
"Fine."
Click.

Yep, that's it folks!  It took my husband exactly 2 hours and 32 minutes to "reach his limit."

Perfect.

I know what you're thinking...why is that Perfect??

I'll gladly tell you why...

I am with my kids non stop every day of the week (minus school hours-which aren't long enough ;0), by the way) and I reach my limit once every few days.  Maybe longer if it's a good week.

That, my friends is total validation, is it not?  I'm not a horrible person for losing it every so often when I've not only reached my limit but went beyond it because I didn't get to drive my kids back home to their dad.  Validation, indeed!

See? Perfect.

Feeling pretty good about myself right about now, how about you?

Motherhood, the other kind of juggling...

So, as I sat here crocheting a hat for another baby, my baby (ok, he's two but as he is my last--FOR SURE--he is still my baby) brought me two baseballs and asked me to juggle.

"Mommy doesn't know how to juggle, honey," I replied
"Pleeeeeez, mommy...juggle da balls....pleeeze!"
"I'm sorry, buddy....I really don't know how to juggle, would YOU like to give it a try instead?" I asked trying desperately to buy some more time to finish my hat.

*sigh*

When I sat down to write this blog my next line wasn't supposed to be *sigh*, it was supposed to be, "The truth is, I DO know how to juggle, just not the way he wanted me to."

The more I thought about it though, the more I had doubts and went with the former instead of the latter.

Why is that?  Why do we doubt ourselves as mothers?  I mean, really.  The TRUTH really is that  I know how to juggle (minus the three physical objects that most people associate with juggling).

The three "balls" I currently juggle are:  I keep my kids alive and (mostly) well. I am starting a business and working hard at it everyday. I am into my second course this semester and currently maintaining a 4.0 ( just this semester, though--I really have a 3.35 overall--damn that 1.9 GPA I earned my first year at BCC, it still haunts my cumulative-oy!).

See? I'm keeping three things up in the air at all times.  One of these days I'll be so good at it that I can add a few more "balls" to my routine, you know like-taking better care of myself, staying in better contact with friends (which is closely related to the previous one) and maybe, just maybe keeping a clean house.

I'm not holding my breath for that last one (and thankfully neither is my husband).   ;0)

So there it is...I'm a juggler, which is fitting in this circus of a life that is mine.  :0)   Now, the question becomes, how do I make my version of juggling as entertaining to a two year old as a keeping three baseballs in the air?

Cooper steals the show!

Some days I am left wondering about my abilities to parent.

I am reminded of a role I played in a BCC Children's theater production, many years ago.  You see, I played a "Blue 2", Yes, blue in color and the number 2. My character was also "blue" emotionally because I said everything twice.  Yes, yes...I I was was a a blue blue two two.  :0(

Foreshadowing perhaps?

Today (and most days) I've had to repeat myself at least twice for everything I have said.

Scene: Larkin house

Me:    M (insert Maddie or Molly here they're both equal offenders this morning) wake up please, it's time for school...get up please, it's time for school.

...M stop playing and eat your breakfast...STOP playing and eat your breakfast!

 ...M, go brush your teeth...GO brush your teeth!!

...M, get dressed...M stop tattling on your sister and get DRESSED!!!

...get your shoes on, get your SHOES ON!!!!

...brush your hair...I SAID BRUSH YOUR HAIR!!!!!

...M, what are you doing? Why are you just standing here on the porch when your book bag is inside??

Not me:   Huh?  What??

Me:  I SAID, M, what are you doing?  WHY ARE YOU STANDING ON THE PORCH WHEN YOUR BOOKBAG IS INSIDE?????

End scene.

Yes, I better end it there because I'm sure you get the point.

Maybe it's wasn't foreshadowing at all.  A Red two might have been more accurate. Or, maybe the blue will set in once I've had time to digest what just happened here.  I have been a stickler for routine and yet there appears to be a failure, on my part, to teach self motivation and the very important listening skills.

Yep, the "blue" will kick back in when the pain from hitting my head on a brick wall subsides, I'm sure of it.

*sigh*  It's 8:12 a.m. and I'm spent!

Oh, wait!  This scene just added to today's show:

Scene: Larkin kitchen

Cooper:  Mommy, don't be sad...be happy, like this (big cheeesy grin appears on Cooper's face), see?

Me:  How can I not be happy with a smile like that?? Coop, you are a super boy!

Cooper: Um, mom...whassa super boy?


Yep, that's my boy! I think I'll play the role of  a happy mom now.   :0)

Oh, tonight I'll be sure to hug and squeeze my girls extra tight.  I'll keep trying to teach the lessons and I have faith that some day they'll learn to do things without having to hear the instructions twice.

Faith and hope.

My first HOO are you...

I stumbled onto  a new crafty blog, Night Owl Crafting,  and I just love it!  Each Tuesday she posts a few questions for you to answer on your own blog so everyone can get to know "hoo" you are! And with that terribly brief explanation...
 

 

Here are this week's questions!

1. What are your favorite 3 things about fall?  

 I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the colors of the changing leaves, reds, oranges, yellows,  I love the crisp cool air, I love wearing my jeans and long sleeves. 

2. Are you a football fan and if so who is your favorite team?

I have stumbled off the "football path" but I'm working to find my way back.  I was always a Cowboys fan growing up so I think I'll get back on their wagon. :0)  It helps that my girls cheer for the local peewee football team, who just so happens to be called the Cowboys.  

3. What is your favorite fall scent?

 Spiced Apple

4. So you have seasonal allergies?

Yep. 

5. Have you started Christmas shopping yet?

Is it December yet? ;0)  I'm a late shopper.  You'd think after this many years of shopping I'd have learned to start earlier.  Ah, well...see you in December retail wallet busters

So, a beautiful sister-friend reminded me about this blog today.  She stopped by and read what I had to say.  I decided to stop in and see what I had to say as well.  Gosh, it's been almost a year since I blogged here last.  At that time I was just getting ready to embark on my new adventure as a stay-at-home mom, wondering if  there was going to be enough -- enough money, enough whatever and whether or not faith and determination would be enough to be successful. Was I going to be enough?  My sweet, sweet sister asked me if I had found my answer after being home for almost a year.  The truth is I still don't know.

I guess I would offer this:

Some days there's enough...there's enough money to get what we need, enough time in the day to get what we need done and enough of me to go around.

Some days there's not enough...there's not enough money to get what we want, not enough time to get what we need done and not enough of me to go around.

Lord knows my faith hasn't been present each day, nor has my determination. This job is the hardest job I've ever had.

If I'm being honest, I have focused on the latter far too often this past year.  I'm not proud of that, but as a responsible person should, I will own up to it.  I want to be better.  I want to focus on the positive;  after all, that's what I preach to my kids all the time I don't want to be one of "those" people who are all "do as I say, not as I do."  Nope don't want to be that person.  Guess I'll have to work on that.

Ha!  I have a lot  to work on but I suppose this will be a good start.

So,  I don't know the answers but the beautiful thing is -- our kids will love us even on the days that we aren't enough.  They may not like us every minute, we may not like them every minute but the unconditional love between a mother and child will get us  through even the worst of days.

We are moms, we can do anything and will do anything to take care of and protect our children...it's what we do and that HAS to be enough.

Love

Another Stay-at-Home Mommy coming to a Larkin house near you...

...or maybe not so  near to you.  But just a phone call away! 11 days and counting!  Although, that 11 days doesn't factor in the 5 sick days I plan to use (in lieu of lose) between now and the 29th, not to mention the field trip I will be chaperoning on the 22nd.  Yep, I cannot wait! New adventures are just-a-waitin'!